Featured Projects
NEOO has embarked on a journey to transform the way business is done, beginning with a focus on Black small businesses without access to commercial real estate expertise. NEOO has added additional services to non-profit organizations, local government and community development champions.
Ramsey County
Public Engagement, Implementation Strategy, and Inclusive Policy Analysis
St. Paul, MN
The Ramsey County Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan was designed to achieve a county-wide economic development strategy, that centered around inclusive economic growth while strengthening competitiveness of our region. The strategy prioritized racial inclusion in future investments and other critical funding actions around housing, job creation, workforce development, and place-based investments. The plan was developed in the heart of the COVID-19 crisis and response, and quickly adapted innovative solutions.
NEOO led the public engagement and strategy sessions with leaders to ensure residents, businesses and diverse communities were well-informed throughout the entire process. Ramsey County Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan. This includes shifting from in-person to a digital engagement strategy during the onset of the Pandemic.
Notable strategies included social media engagement, surveying, website engagement, door-knocking, community forum and virtual information sessions.
JXN Tech District
Master Planning, Project Finance and Development Jackson, MS
The JXN Tech District, located in the heart of downtown Jackson Mississippi sits on 14-acres of currently vacant lots and dilapidated buildings. The $150M project is phased to include over 400 units of housing, 50,000 SF of innovation spaces that include an electronics lab, maker spaces, creative offices, training center, a food hall, art studios, and co-working spaces. The District will also be home to a large downtown event center, open-air markets and public trails.
The project is led by Dr. Nashlie Sephus, an Applied Science Manager for Amazon, Inc. and native of Jackson, Mississippi (Shady Oaks). Sephus partnered with NEOO to lead execution on the master planning and development plan for the site.
Upper Harbor Terminal
48-Acre Riverfront Master Plan
Minneapolis, MN
$302M in Private Development 20+ Acres of Public Amenities
We led the development master planning and community engagement efforts for Phase One of the Upper Harbor Terminal Redevelopment process from 2016 through December of 2018 in conjunction with First Avenue Productions, and United Properties. The project broke ground in late 2021, led by the United Properties Development Team.
City of Brooklyn Center
81-Acre Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Brooklyn Center, MN
$300M+ Total in Private Development, 750+ Units of Housing and a 30,000 SF Entrepreneurship Incubator and Market Plaza
NEOO Partners is serving as the City of Brooklyn Center’s Owner’s Representative in the development of the 15-Acre Pilot Site. Additionally, NEOO is acting as the Engagement Manager to ensure diverse voices in one of MN’s most diverse city are present, active, and vocal at the development table. As part of the Owner’s Rep work, NEOO is shepherding the Public-Private Partnership between the City of Brooklyn Center and the development team consisting of Alatus, People for Pride in Living and Resurrecting Faith World Ministries.
In addition to the master plan work, NEOO led the feasibility and market analysis for the entrepreneurship market and plaza that is planned on the site. The space is approximately 20,000 SF, specifically geared towards Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and immigrant businesses as a solution to aid the development of small businesses in Brooklyn Center.
Victoria Theater Arts Center
Owner’s Representation + Development Management
St. Paul, MN
The Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) officially purchased its building at 825 University Avenue, a major step in a 12-year journey to transform the vacant building into an arts and community space. The 100 year-old theater has been held by the Land Bank Twin Cities since 2014 on behalf of VTAC, as community members have advocated, dreamed, and fundraised for a creative home made by and for the residents of Frogtown and Rondo.
VTAC retained NEOO for owner's representation and development management in addition to closing the remaining funding for VTAC, and support on-going design, programming and construction work that will be coming soon.
Enger Golf Course
10-Acre Destination Development Plan Duluth, MN
$80M+ Total in Private Development, 150+ Units of Housing, Townhomes, and Small Event Space
The NEOO partnered with Consortium and Sunnarborg Development in the site development plan for a 10-acre housing development atop the City of Duluth Enger Golf Course Driving Range. The Master Plan was developed to aid the City of Duluth and Duluth Parks and Rec in the long-term planning of Duluth’s park and golf amenities. NEOO served on the development, project finance, and engagement aspects of the partnership.
The Neighborhood House Project
St. Paul, MN
Neighborhood House is a long standing social service organization serving Saint Paul’s West Side Community. After a competitive RFP process for owner’s representative and development project management services, Neighborhood House retained NEOO to oversee the renovation of The Wellstone Center and to facilitate the creation of a new integrated service delivery center. These projects support Neighborhood House’s work in Saint Paul’s West Seventh Street corridor.
Through our “people-first'' real estate framework, both projects will meet the needs of staff, residents, and communities who rely on Neighborhood House well into the future. NEOO has led focus groups with staff, completed various online surveys, held conversations at several neighborhood events, and door knocked to understand the needs of the program participants in both the existing and planned facilities.