What's going on with the former Kmart site
at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue?
Design Concept Open House
Please join us at the upcoming family-friendly open house to see the design recommendations for the New Nicollet roadway and the public spaces on the site. You will be able to engage with project staff, enjoy free food and activities.
Thursday, March 7th, from 5-7 p.m., at the Abyssinia Cultural Center, 322 W Lake St, 3rd floor
Thursday, March 7th, from 5-7 p.m., at the Abyssinia Cultural Center, 322 W Lake St, 3rd floor
Site History and Context
In 1977, Kmart and SuperValu leased 10 acres of land after the City of Minneapolis sold the site to real estate investors. This development closed the block of Nicollet
Avenue between 29th and Lake Street, creating a barrier that affected the community, local businesses, and the landscape of south Minneapolis. Today, the City owns this site again, and plans to construct Nicollet Avenue to reconnect with Lake Street. With community input, the site will once again serve as a commercial and cultural crossroads, reflecting the needs of the community who currently lives here. Full site history and context is available here. |
Guiding Documents
The City of Minneapolis' Kmart Project Expectations document describes what we know will happen on Nicollet Ave and the Kmart site based on established City policies including the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the Transportation Action Plan, and many others.
The Kmart Public Engagement Framework goes into detail about how the City of Minneapolis is asking the public and key stakeholders to play a role in redeveloping the former Kmart and reconnecting Nicollet Ave. Below is a snapshot of the Phase 1 Engagement.
The Desired Outcomes Document outlines the most important elements to prioritize and achieve through this redevelopment process as identified by community members during the first phase of the public engagement process in August 2022 through January 2023.
Below is a snapshot of the Phase 1 Engagement metrics, with the full overview of all the activities, conversations, and outreach strategies utilized available in the Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary.
The Kmart Public Engagement Framework goes into detail about how the City of Minneapolis is asking the public and key stakeholders to play a role in redeveloping the former Kmart and reconnecting Nicollet Ave. Below is a snapshot of the Phase 1 Engagement.
The Desired Outcomes Document outlines the most important elements to prioritize and achieve through this redevelopment process as identified by community members during the first phase of the public engagement process in August 2022 through January 2023.
Below is a snapshot of the Phase 1 Engagement metrics, with the full overview of all the activities, conversations, and outreach strategies utilized available in the Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary.
Project Timeline
This process is a long one! Currently, we are in Phase 2, Part 2.
Ways To Get Involved
Engagement that happened throughout the summer and fall of 2023 clarified the recommended designs that will go before the City Council and the mayor in the first part of 2024. Here are some ways to engage:
Engagement that happened throughout the summer and fall of 2023 clarified the recommended designs that will go before the City Council and the mayor in the first part of 2024. Here are some ways to engage:
Click below to sign up for project updates, view more background information,
and to be notified of upcoming engagement opportunities!
Lake Street Alignment Process
Prior to the formal public engagement process through the City of Minneapolis, the McKnight Foundation and Cultural Wellness Center supported a series of listening sessions with different stakeholder groups across the Lake Street corridor to envision policies, programs, and investments reimagine and rebuild Lake Street with racial, economic and environmental justice at its core.
This project aimed to listen to residents, and business and property owners, and to build on and align efforts that have already started along the corridor. Conversations and concepts developed during this process will be carried forward and incorporated into the engagement work around the Former Kmart & New Nicollet Ave project. For more information, visit lakestreetalignment.com.
This project aimed to listen to residents, and business and property owners, and to build on and align efforts that have already started along the corridor. Conversations and concepts developed during this process will be carried forward and incorporated into the engagement work around the Former Kmart & New Nicollet Ave project. For more information, visit lakestreetalignment.com.