Minneapolis Met Council awards $4.6 million in TOD grants

The Metropolitan Council has awarded $4.6 million to four transit-oriented development (TOD) projects along Metro Transit's Green and Blue light-rail lines.

The grants support development aimed at improving mobility via mass transit and generating economic investment and jobs.The council's investment leverages almost $216 million in private funds and nearly $26 million from other public sources, Met Council officials said in a press release.

The projects will support development near rail stations on the Green Line and its future extension, as well as the Blue Line. Expected outcomes from the investments include providing 361 affordable housing units and more than 1,500 new permanent and temporary jobs along the corridors.

One project would acquire land near the Green Line's Dale Street Station to provide retail, commercial and office space, as well as affordable senior housing.

The grants were awarded as part of the council's Livable Communities program, which was launched in 1996. To date, the council has awarded nearly 1,000 grants to communities, totaling $351 million.