Planning Commission approves 228-unit 7 Points redevelopment at Hennepin and Lake with conditions

The Minneapolis Planning Commission voted 7–0 on July 21 to approve a five‑story, 228‑unit residential development on the southeast corner of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, a project commonly called the 7 Points Redevelopment. The commission granted an amendment to the site's planned unit development and approved the site's plan review with added conditions requiring an electronic control gate on Vacated Gerard (subject to public safety approval) and four 20‑by‑20 foot murals on the south elevation of the existing shopping center.

Staff presented the applications as a Conditional Use Permit amendment to allow a new 228‑unit building and a Site Plan Review. Hilary Devorek, Principal City Planner in the Land Use Design and Preservation section of the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), told commissioners the project meets site plan and landscaping requirements and recommends approval. “This project does meet those landscaping and screening requirements. I apologize, there was a typo in the staff report. This project does meet those landscaping and screening,” Devorek said.

The approved building would replace the southern portion of the existing mall and create a U‑shaped, five‑story residential structure with an interior courtyard and resident amenities on the ground floor. The project proposes to use up to 113 of the existing 731 spaces in the attached parking ramp under a contract with the ramp owner (North Pond). Devorek said…