New development planned for Stadium Village

A new multi-purpose, high-density project has been announced for the blocks between Oak and Ontario streets on Washington Avenue.

The project, called Campus Crossroads, will be built by Opus Corporation, pending city approval.

If the project is approved by the Minneapolis City Council, the Oak Street Cinema, Campus Pizza, and other Stadium Village businesses will be displaced to make way for a new housing development.

The development will be as tall as the Oak Street parking ramp and will serve housing and retail building, Cam Gordon, Ward 2 City Councilman, said.

Gordon said that larger, denser development makes sense because the location is near to the University, the hospital, and will be near the new light rail line.

Store owners on the current property now are looking for other locations to set up shop. Jim Rosvold, owner of Campus Pizza, one business that will be displaced by the Crossroads project, said since he has been in Stadium Village he watched the area change from an independent business hotbed to an area populated by franchises and chains.

"I think (the Campus Crossroads development) will be good for the Village because it builds density," Rosvold said. "It's sad to see the nostalgia go, but I think in the long run it will be good for Stadium Village."

Opus also built 22 of the 24 buildings on the University of St. Thomas campus.

Construction will begin - if the city approves - spring 2009 and will be complete by fall 2010, according to the Star Tribune.