Ryan Companies Closes On 122-Acre Former Ford Site

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Dec. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryan Companies US, Inc. announced today that it has completed the purchase of the 122-acre parcel of land owned by Ford Motor Company in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul. The City of Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved a redevelopment agreement on December 4^th, defining the private/public partnership with Ryan and paving the way for the $61,000,000 purchase of the site. Ford Motor Company sold the site after nearly a 100-year history of operations and after completing extensive clean up and remediation of the former industrial uses on the site.

The closing signals the next major step in the redevelopment, which has been in the planning stages for over 10 years. Once developed, the project site will contain approximately 3,040 market rate housing units, 760 affordable housing units, 265,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space and 50,000 square feet of civic or institutional space. The project also features over 55 acres of public and open space including four new City Parks and the preservation of two little league ballfields.

Weidner Apartment Homes Partnership Announced
Also announced today is the partnership with Weidner Apartment Homes in the development of the market rate apartment facet of the redevelopment plan. As part of the closing transaction, Weidner has purchased several parcels for residential development over the next decade.

"Weidner is a perfect partner for us at the Ford site as they bring a unique combination of financial strength, national market expertise, and long-term ownership perspective," said Mike Ryan, North Region President for Ryan. "Dean Weidner is a visionary, a trusted partner, and from the start, has been on board to push the limits on quality of design for buildings and public spaces." 

Weidner and Ryan Companies are currently working together on the development and construction of the 318-unit Daymark multi-use project in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. 

"The Ford site redevelopment is a once in a generation opportunity and we are thrilled to be a part of this transformative project," said Greg Cerbana, Weidner's VP of Public Relations. "The Twin Cities are an important market for us, and we are incredibly excited to join Ryan and add to our footprint in Highland Park."

Project for Pride in Living and CommonBond Announced
Affordable housing partners have also been established for the redevelopment. CommonBond Communities and Project for Pride in Living, Inc. (PPL) have signed on to support the project's delivery of the significant affordable housing on the site. As part of the redevelopment plan, the City mandated that 20% of the housing units are developed as affordable. The project's affordable housing units will be delivered at a range of affordability levels in several projects that are geographically disbursed throughout the site. 

Ryan Companies plans to break ground in the spring of 2020 on the redevelopment project, which is expected to span over a decade with an aggregate development value of over $1.3B. A project website has been established at FordSiteStPaul.com for development updates.

"There will be several more announcements regarding partners, retailers, and users in the months and years ahead, and the real estate closing is a significant milestone in the overall redevelopment of the Ford Site. We are grateful to all those that have supported and challenged us along the way - especially the City of Saint Paul, the residents of Saint Paul, and Ford Motor Company," said Tony Barranco, Ryan's Senior Vice President of Development.

Ford Motor Company was represented by CBRE in the land sale.

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare and senior living. Ryan development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. Ryan has nearly 1,300 employees in 16 offices and has completed projects in 39 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com.

About Weidner
Founded in 1977 by W. Dean Weidner, Weidner Apartment Homes is a recognized leader in providing a wide variety of quality rental housing options in each of the communities it serves. Weidner is currently ranked as the 15^th largest apartment owner in the US on the NMHC top 50 list.  With more than 270 buildings, and just over 55,000 units owned and self-managed, Weidner is known as a long-term holder of its real estate assets, and is committed to excellent customer service, responsive management, and sustainable living practices.  For more information, please visit us at www.weidner.com. 

SOURCE Ryan Companies US, Inc.