Bloomington Central Station Tour

Bloomington Central Station (BCS), is a successful mixed used, transit-oriented development resulting from years of planning. With grounding in the City of Bloomington’s South Loop District Plan the neighborhood has redeveloped from a suburban office/industrial area to a thriving neighborhood.

BCS was once an industrial and office park known for being close to the Mall of America. With the arrival of light rail, City Officials and Staff saw the opportunity to make this area one of the most livable communities in the Twin Cities Metro. The area is not only served by transit, it is 5 minutes from MSP airport, and is only a 15 minute drive to both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. It is walking distance to trails in the National Wildlife Refuge and to Mall of America. This balance and mix of amenities is second to none. The City created the South Loop Development Plan to create a long term vision and guide public and private investment. With the foundation in place, the Bloomington Port Authority partnered with the McGough (developer) to bring the plan to fruition. Seven phases have been built to date, with 1,500 housing units, a hotel, grocer, and office headquarters open or under construction, this area has transformed into a thriving neighborhood. The development has benefited from Tax Increment Financing, new mixed use zoning districts, flexibility from the City’s inclusionary zoning ordinance, and infrastructure improvements funded through a City development fund.

BCS was born out of traditional small area planning. Creative financial tools and public private partnerships have supported development. Over time, approaches to zoning and affordable housing requirements have moved the development goals from just getting units to getting units that support the City’s equity goals.