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Nearly 40 commercial, retail and housing developments are completed, under way or in the planning stages along the Central Corridor light-rail line under construction in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Metropolitan Council officials say.

The Metropolitan Council has awarded $8 million in grants to help with site design and acquisition, environmental investigation and cleanup, demolition or public infrastructure for 12 of the projects. Funding is pending for two more projects, including the Chittenden & Eastman Building in St. Paul.

“Transit-oriented development is a major focus of the Metropolitan Council,” said Chairwoman Susan Haigh in a prepared statement. “This kind of improvement in density makes our community more efficient, livable and inclusive.”

One of the upcoming projects includes the rehabilitation of the historic 19-story Soo Line Building from office space to 250 market-rate housing units.