New Nicollet Park Potential acquisition and development of a new park on the former Kmart Site at Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street
Project Location
10 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Location MapProject Manager
Colleen O’Dell
Phone: (612) 230-6469
Email: codell@minneapolisparks.org
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Language Resources
Correo Electrónico: preguntas@minneapolisparks.org
Email: suaalo@minneapolisparks.org
Key Documents
Status
Current Phase: System Planning
Anticipated Construction Timeframe: 2025+
What's New
The City of Minneapolis is seeking development proposals for New Nicollet Phase 1
The City of Minneapolis (“City”) is looking for developers with creative and community-focused ideas to redevelop the first phase of the New Nicollet site, formerly home to Kmart. The City opened a request for proposals (RFP) for Phase 1 of the project at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue on Oct. 6, […]
New Nicollet (Former Kmart Site) Survey Open Through November 8
MPRB staff are in consultation with the City of Minneapolis to potentially add a new public park to a 10-acre redevelopment site owned by the City on Lake Street. The City […]
Timeline
Milestones (anticipated project schedule by month/season)
Summer 2025 – anticipated construction of a reconnected Nicollet Avenue road and bridge from Lake St to Cecil Newman Lane
2026 – anticipated conveyance of land from city to MPRB for new park
2028 – anticipated community engagement and concept design of a New Nicollet Park, with construction possibly beginning the following year
History
2018 – City purchased Kmart site following the company’s bankruptcy
2021 – Collaborative project discussions began between City and MPRB to include a public park with housing and commercial development at the site
2022 – City launched New Nicollet Redevelopment project including community engagement, cost estimates, and design concept exploration
Nov 2023 – Kmart demolition completed
May, 2024 – MPRB and City Council approved an MOU outlining cooperative intent to create a new park on a portion of the former Kmart site at 10 West Lake Street.
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New Nicollet Developer/Non-Profit Mixer Event
October 22, 2025
4-5:30 pm
Centro Nicollet (2412 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404)
Interested site developers/non-profits can meet the project team and ask questions.
Background & Funding
Background
The City of Minneapolis owns approximately 10 acres of land between the Midtown Greenway, Lake Street, 1st Avenue, and Blaisdell Avenue. This property is referred to as “New Nicollet (former Kmart) site.” The City plans to reconnect and reconstruct Nicollet Avenue between 29th Street and Lake Street, and to develop a high-density, mixed-use, walkable district on the rest of the city-owned site.
MPRB adopted the Southwest Service Area Master Plan in 2020. This plan identifies a need to acquire additional public parkland within a “park search area” that includes the Whittier neighborhood. The New Nicollet site is also located in this park search area. Both the City and MPRB have been in consultation since 2021 about conveying part of the site for parkland, and both wish to work collaboratively to create a new park at this location.
Park Board Announcements
There are no announcements at this time. Please check back soon.