Lowry & Penn Development
The City and Hennepin County asked developers to share their best ideas for new buildings at Lowry and Penn, and now we want your feedback on the final proposals.
Dates
Nov. 2024 - present
Project phase
Developer selection
Location
Lowry & Penn Avenues
Neighborhoods
Cleveland, Folwell, and Jordan
Overview
The City and County invited developers to submit creative ideas for building on land we own at Lowry and Penn Avenues. We didn’t tell them exactly what to build, but we gave them helpful information like zoning rules, site details, and community goals.
Seven teams sent in nine proposals, and we chose five projects for additional consideration. You can read short descriptions of each proposal. We are asking for your input through a survey. Your feedback will help us decide which projects move forward.
Proposals
Name: Penn & Lowry
Proposers: John Aish, John Aish, Inc., and Stephen Obayuwana
Site location: Penn East Site
Description: Four-story building with 5,000 sq. ft. of commercial space for a local market and deli and 49 units of affordable apartments.
Name: Penn & Lowry Cultural Corridor
Proposers: Christopher Webley, NEW RULES Development Corp.
Site location: Penn West Site
Description: Five commercial spaces for creative businesses.
Name: Sankofa
Proposers: Carmeann Foster, Rebound, Inc.
Site location: Penn West Site
Description: Multi-story building that includes:
- First floor
- Community event space
- Mobility hub
- Wellness suites
- Upper floors
- Apartments for college students with four bedrooms
- Safe housing for teens and short-term care for kids in foster care
- A center for youth to learn job skills, start small businesses, and join creative activities
Name: The Pennlow Collective
Proposers: Victoria Yepez, VY Enterprise
Site location: Penn West Site
Description: Between 16 and 26 units of affordable ownership townhomes.
Site location: Penn East Site
Description: Six-story building with 12,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 89 affordable senior apartments that support intergenerational living.
Community engagement
Open house
We held an open house for the community on Oct. 9. Visitors met all four development teams and ask them questions about their project ideas. Each team shared displays to show what they’re planning. We asked everyone at the open house to take a survey.
Online survey
Deadline for comment is Friday, Oct. 31
The survey asks what matters most to you—like the kinds of housing, businesses, and community spaces you want in the neighborhood. The last question focuses on design features that are important to you. Don’t vote for your favorite project. We want to know which building features and uses matter most to you. We will use this information for the final project evaluations. It will also help us make recommendations based on community input.
Next steps
- Survey results will be shared here in Nov. 2025
- We’ll share our recommendations with the City Council and County Board in early 2026.
Contact us
Jamie Radel
Community Planning & Economic Development
Phone
Address
Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415