Recent content from Dee DePass

For Minnesota hotel industry, normal could be a year or more away
The hospitality sector has taken a devastating hit from COVID. But with vaccinations rising, operators predict a brighter 2021.

Medtronic to build campus in Colorado; may add 1,000 jobs there
The medical device maker said the project, which is to be completed in 2022, won't affect its Twin Cities operations.

Second half of 2020 tough for much of Twin Cities commercial real estate
Apartment and industrial properties stay strong while offices and hotels struggle, report says

Twin Cities added 1.2 million square feet of storage space in 2020
The metro now ranks among the 10 largest in the U.S. for storage units.

Red Wing Shoes launches first global ad campaign
Spots feature real people and tout the brand's 'Out of Fashion' theme.

Best Buy, UnitedHealth partners in $1M marketing fellowship program to boost diversity
New BrandLab fellowship program, which Wunderman Thompson also is contributing, starts with 16 fellows this spring.
![“[Recycling] contributes $15 billion to the state’s economy and 36,000 direct and indirect jobs,” said the MPCA’s Laura Bishop.](https://chorus.stimg.co/22315898/ows_679a5139_1bd4_4b9b_a82c_21a21ee821e9.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
4 Minnesota recyclers receive grants totaling $400,000 from state program
The Recycling Market Development grants range from $50,000 to $149,000.

Shuttered Sam's Club in St. Louis Park will become a corporate headquarters
400 employees of Loffler Companies are slated to move from Bloomington under consolidation plan
Industrial real estate sector soars due to COVID, e-commerce
Leasing in the Twin Cities and nationally was strong, helping sector avoid vacancy woes dogging other market segments.

Graco plans to build Dayton facility for two of its operating divisions
Company expects to move 225 workers from Minneapolis HQ.

Cleveland Cliffs says no thanks to Walz's U.S. Steel partnership idea
Cliffs CEO said the company has own remedy to Hibbing Taconite ore shortage in northern Minnesota.

First residential lots to hit market at former Ford plant site start at $475,000
The parcels go on sale Monday and are set to become a mix of custom-built single family homes.

Ads with Minnesota ties will make Super Bowl appearance
Humorous ads for Sleep Number beds and Cenex will hit regional airwaves during the big game on Sunday.

Whittier neighborhood property being redeveloped in first-of-kind deal with Mpls.
Deal should help a minority resident buy small business property in Whittier

Pandemic has Twin Cities law firms stepping up efforts to downsize offices
As leases expire, firms are looking for less space as remote working takes hold.

Twin Cities construction plunged again in December
Total building starts were down 27% in December, but residential was up 2%.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux invests in national engineering firm
Deal for stake in Minneapolis-based firm diversifies tribes holdings beyond casinos, hotels and retail.

Boston Scientific to pay $1B for portable heart monitor maker in Eagan
Preventice Solutions worked with Mayo Clinic to develop cardiac monitors.

Twin Cities office vacancies rise to 19.9% in fourth quarter
National report says a 2021 recovery likely won't take hold until the second half of the year.

Construction to begin on apartments at former Flyte Tyme Studios site in Edina
The 70 apartments are aimed at renters making 60% or less of the area median income.

After riots, St. Paul's Midway works to turn blight to bright
After years of challenges including light rail construction and last summer's rioting, St. Paul's Midway area is rebuilding and recovering.

2021 looks to be slow for construction firms in U.S. and Minnesota
After a rocky 2020, project delays and cancellations expected to continue.

$50 million apartment building to go up in Midway area of St. Paul
Apartment will have 220 units near the Raymond Av. Green Line rail station

$50 million apartment building to go up in Midway area of St. Paul
Apartment will have 220 units near the Raymond Av. Green Line rail station

Downtown Mpls. parking lot made famous by Prince sold, will become office building
Marquette Av. parking lot made famous by Prince is expected to become offices.

Detroit firm buys Riverplace office complex in Minneapolis
Sale and future renovations involve four Main Street buildings on banks of Mississippi River

COVID will leave lasting mark on state's office and apartment projects
Builders are altering projects and amenities with safety measures.

Andersen, Marvin to distribute more than $48 million in profit sharing
Some 10,000 employees will split profits at Bayport window and door maker.

Duluth Port Authority buys Duluth Lake Port dock for $950,000
The 7.5 acre dock is part of city's plan to update and refurbish the area.

'Somali mall,' Walgreens on Lake Street in Minneapolis set for $40M redevelopment
'Somali mall' and Walgreens — damaged in the unrest following the killing of George Floyd — would become apartments, office and retail space.

Vaccines big issue for Minnesota businesses: 'Every employer has a decision to make'
How aggressive can those who write the paychecks be in persuading their workers to roll up their sleeves?

To make ads connect in COVID era, Minnesota agencies go for jugular, funny bone
Health care providers, others try to get public's attention on COVID.
Canadian firm buys environmental firm Wenck in Maple Plain
Stantec gains engineering workers, new U.S. market.

Minnesota officials approve new lease for stalled Mesabi Metallics project
The approval of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' lease amendments came after much debate.

Minnesota considers new lease on defaulted mining project in Nashwauk
Governor and state executive council will review plan Wednesday.

See the transformed Rand Hotel Tower after $110M renovation
The transformed hotel opens, but battles COVID-19 as it invites guests to celebrate Rufus Rand, who served in two wars.

Minneapolis ad agency pairs with historically Black college in diversity effort
Solve reached out to Morgan State in attempt to recruit people of color to its ranks and the advertising industry.

Founder of what would become Periscope Ad Agency dies at 95
Wally Simpson's agency used emerging technology and lots of family help.
The Stable acquires Jacobs Marketing in a made-in-Minneapolis deal
Jacobs Marketing, started in 1982, is best known for its retail marketing muscle.

Minneapolis offers energy grants to small businesses hurt during riots
Businesses can apply for grants of up to $40,000 to upgrade energy efficiency in rebuilding.

Resurgent north Mpls. neighborhood boasts $125M in projects
As the Capri renovation nears an end, other projects are moving forward

United Properties plans 186-unit senior living complex for Minnetonka
United Properties project will include affordable and market-rate pricing

Dollar General coming to Nicollet Mall in 2021 with urban format
The DGX store in the vacant Andrus Building space aims at millennials.

Sherri Anderson, Adopt A Family organizer, dies at 53
If some people seem put on Earth for a purpose, Sherri Anderson surely was placed to shine light during hard times.Born three years before her…
Cirtec Medical plans to add 200 jobs in Brooklyn Park
Med-tech manufacturer using state help to lease site near Brooklyn Park headquarters.

Target reopens E. Lake Street store heavily damaged in riots
The reopening is viewed as a sign of progress in a hard-hit south Minneapolis area.
Bloomington med-tech firm raises $70 million for back pain therapy
Med-tech firm moved to Bloomington from California two years ago.

Lee's Liquor Lounge building in Minneapolis on the market
The owner of Lee’s Liquor Lounge in Minneapolis is trying to sell the building and band venue that had become an institution over the decades.…

Downtown Minneapolis tower RBC Gateway already has 17 of 37 stories built
The project is on schedule and should have 22 floors by the end of the year.

Indianapolis firm buys Deluxe campus in Shoreview, plans major redevelopment
Scannell Properties expects to break ground on the Shoreview property in 2021-22.
All Thrivent's new Minneapolis headquarters needs now is employees
The $125 million project is the latest building to rise downtown, but it will sit largely empty until at least January in an abundance of caution.

Workers return warily to the office, as employers embrace slew of safety measures
Upgraded air filters and plexiglass dividers help employees feel safer.

Calhoun Square gets new name, with remake to follow
Redevelopment to reopen Lake and Hennepin entrance, add mix of office and retail.

St. Paul office market holding up in pandemic as vacancy rates decline
Downtown St. Paul office vacancies fell this year, despite the pandemic

Former 3M med-tech business to get new headquarters in Woodbury
Drug-delivery business building HQ in Woodbury.
Fueled Collective won't reopen in Uptown after riots destroyed office
Offices of Fueled Collective were badly damaged in May's social justice riots.

North Minneapolis business owner moves forward with apartment/retail development
Demolition is set to begin next month on the building site on W. Broadway.

IDS Center's Crystal Court to get $5 million makeover
A seven-month project will introduce taller trees, new seating and a revamped water feature to the "social skyscraper."

Safety issues just add to uncertainty facing Minneapolis commercial real estate
Unrest, violence has some commercial leasers now considering their options.

Retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Lillehaug returns to Fredrikson & Byron
He stepped down from the Minnesota Supreme Court because of early Parkinson's.

Radisson Blu Hotel-MOA will lay off 95 workers due to COVID-19
Hotel cites "catastrophic loss of business" caused by pandemic.

Mortenson set to break ground on second Destination Medical Center building in Rochester
New phase of Discovery Square project will be part of a massive downtown redevelopment.

You've heard of modular homes? Mpls. just got its first prefab apartments
Factory-built units trucked in from Owatonna are being stacked in place in south Minneapolis.

Seven-story apartment complex to rise on W. 7th St. near downtown St. Paul
The developers say the new building will be workforce housing for hospital staff and entry-level downtown employees.

Radisson Blu Minneapolis Downtown to cut 126 jobs due to COVID-19
Hotels, airlines, convention-related businesses and stores have been greatly disrupted by the global pandemic.

Ambitious Dayton's remake in downtown Mpls. clashes with new reality
After three long years, the former Macy's in downtown Minneapolis is ready to reveal itself as the stunningly converted Dayton's Project office tower. But there's a hitch: There are no signed tenants.

Medical building project approved for St. Louis Park
The redevelopment will replace vacant offices and warehouses.

Work resumes on Minneapolis apartments stalled by Thor bankruptcy
Two years after construction was halted by bankruptcy, new players have resumed building at Park and Franklin avenues.

Plan for U.S. Bank site in Edina includes 23-story apartment tower
The bank is teaming with Mortenson and Orion Investment to transform the branch location.

State overstated permanent job cuts at Xcel Energy Center food vendor
DEED has corrected layoff record for Levy Premium Foodservice.

541 food workers laid off at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul
Levy slashes staff as the pandemic fallout cuts sporting events, concerts.

Minneapolis officials looking for developer for Public Service Center block
City seeks partner in developing Public Service Center block.

Minneapolis looks to its own backyard to lure visitors to local businesses, restaurants
Carmichael Lynch directed an advertising drive for small businesses that has hit billboards, social media.

Robin Lynn Anderson, always quick to help, dies at age 64
Her death has left her family and friends reeling: She was a constant in their lives.

Industrial building going up in Eden Prairie north of I-494
Opus broke ground Tuesday on building with the hope of wooing tenants