Minneapolis resets George Floyd Square redevelopment after Agape rejection

Minneapolis City Council’s June 11 vote against the Agape proposal reset the Peoples’ Way redevelopment at George Floyd Square just after city staff had recommended the group for exclusive development rights. The city’s earlier announcement made clear that recommendation was only one step in the process; council approval still would have been needed before any exclusive rights or land sale could move ahead.

The timing adds to the disruption already unfolding at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. Construction started June 8, and the city says the intersection will stay closed through late 2027 while the corridor is rebuilt. That means drivers will need detours, and nearby residents and businesses should expect a long stretch of access changes around parking, loading, transit service and foot traffic.

Why the overlap matters

For the square’s neighbors, the biggest consequence is uncertainty. The redevelopment plan is not settled, and the street work is already underway. Those two tracks will shape how people get to homes, shops and the memorial area for the next several years.

The city’s reconstruction packet also shows the project is moving forward on the infrastructure side. The Climate and Infrastructure Committee materials put the street reconstruction estimate at about $14.9 million and advanced the special-assessment process toward a public hearing. That does not settle the development question, but it does show how much is already in motion.

What to watch next

The next issue is how Minneapolis restarts the search for a redevelopment path for Peoples’ Way. For commuters, nearby business owners and residents, the practical takeaway is the same either way: George Floyd Square is headed into a long period of construction and civic rethinking at the same time.

Sources

• City of Minneapolis — City names Peoples’ Way developer
• Minneapolis Climate & Infrastructure Committee agenda packet
• MPR News — George Floyd Square council vote report