Ford picks Minneapolis-based company to develop former assembly plant site
Ford Motor Company has picked Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies to develop the 122-acre former Ford assembly plant site in St. Paul.
Ryan said it will work with the city on a detailed development plan but provided no financial or other details.
In a statement, executive Mike Ryan said his company is excited to have the opportunity to bring the site back to life.
"We know this will not be a small undertaking," he said. "The city of Saint Paul and numerous stakeholders have invested tremendous energies in re-thinking the site over the past decade, and this gives us a great basis for our work"
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St. Paul City Council member Chris Tolbert represents the neighborhood around the Ford site. He said the city wanted a developer with local roots.
"I think the neighborhood and the city of St. Paul are pleased that a developer with a good track record in the Twin Cities and St. Paul was picked," he said.
The city's master plan for the site envisions between 2,400 and 4,000 housing units, along with a mixture of commercial and office development. That plan also sets aside a fifth of the property for public parks, trails or open space.
Ryan Companies has developed a number of high profile projects including Downtown East, a nearly $600 million, five-block mixed-use project in Minneapolis.
Founded in 1938, Ryan has nearly 1,300 employees in 15 offices and has completed projects in 38 states.