A major redevelopment could be on the horizon for Seven Points mall in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis.
The southern portion of Seven Points, formerly Calhoun Square, could become home to a new seven-story mixed-use building with 264 residential units and commercial space. Doran Cos., in collaboration with Seven Points owner Northpond Partners, is proposing the design to the city’s Planning Commission Committee of the Whole at its Feb. 24 meeting.
The development is estimated to be a $150 million investment, said Blois Olson, spokesman for Northpond.
“Northpond’s vision is: You have to bring people living and being there all the time,” Olson said. “You have to increase the trips.”
The current planned redesign — located at 3001 and 3003 Hennepin Ave. and 1409 W. Lake St. — includes a grocery store and restaurant at ground level. There will be 115 underground parking spaces for the grocery store and residents will have 116 spaces on the second floor of the building plus access to the adjacent existing parking ramp.
The redevelopment would mean the demolition of sites that are currently home to furniture store CB2 and were formerly occupied by Kitchen Window and a Famous Dave’s BBQ restaurant.
“We are very excited about this potential redevelopment project and believe it will be transformational and a great benefit to the city,” wrote John Ferrier, president of Doran Architecture, in a project narrative found in city planning documents.
The architecture aims to “preserve the existing historic charm,” and will take inspiration from the historic brownstone buildings in the south Uptown area. It will also take inspiration from the 1917 Geanakopolis Building, which has been redeveloped into what is now Seven Points.
The redevelopment aims to improve the street experience with a public mural, outdoor seating areas and landscaping.
“In summary, this project will stimulate local businesses and bring commercial vitality back to the 7-Points Retail Center,” according to planning documents.
The applicants are meeting with nearby neighborhood associations throughout the first weeks in March for further feedback.
A longtime Minneapolis destination, Uptown has recently been plagued with bouts of turmoil and business closures.
An overnight mass shooting in June 2020 less than a block north of Seven Points left one dead and 11 injured. About half a mile away from Seven Points, a shootout occurred between two people at Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street last August that left seven people injured.
Last June, a federal task force shot and killed Winston Smith, a 32-year-old Black man, on the top floor of the parking ramp owned by Seven Points, setting off weeks of protests and occupation of the nearby empty lot. This led to vandalism of the parking ramp and nearby businesses.
Multiple businesses have shuttered because of the pandemic or other neighborhood issues. Juut Salon Spa closed its location across from Seven Points in June, as unrest was ongoing. In the announcement of its closure, the company noted ongoing safety concerns.
“It has become more and more evident that Uptown continues to struggle with store closings, social unrest, crime, and street closures,” Juut said in a June 13 Facebook post announcing the shuttering. “We would be heartbroken if anything were to happen to our team members or clients.”
But while restaurant turnover was high at a site about a block north of Seven Points, Chicago-based Trilogy Real Estate Group is still betting on Uptown. A seven-story, 146-unit apartment is in the works at 2841 Hennepin Ave.
“That submarket is doing pretty well, all things considered,” Olson said.
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