Leonard, Street and Deinard’s skills and experience in the redevelopment of brownfields is unsurpassed among law firms in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Our clients rely on us for thorough knowledge of state and federal brownfields programs, including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup and Petroleum Brownfields programs, and benefit from the productive relationships we have developed with agency staff.

Leonard, Street and Deinard has the largest group of full-time Real Estate attorneys, and the largest group of MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialists, of any firm in Minnesota. Our Environmental Law attorneys, several of whom have scientific backgrounds, understand the technical issues that are inherent in brownfields projects. This allows us to spot and address nuanced legal issues that less experienced attorneys may miss. Our technical knowledge also allows us to work effectively and efficiently with environmental consultants to ensure that our clients’ objectives are achieved. The attorneys in our Public Finance practice have considerable experience in public and tax-increment financing, which often play an important role in funding brownfields projects.

Our attorneys understand both the challenges of financing brownfields projects and the procedural and substantive requirements of the various funding programs that are available. We assist clients in identifying potential funding sources, obtaining the support of governmental entities and preparing the required applications. Our efforts have secured millions of dollars in grants, low-interest loans and tax increment financing for our clients’ projects. 

We represent public and private developers of brownfields, as well as lenders. One of the firm’s major clients in this area is the Saint Paul Port Authority, which has earned a national reputation for innovative redevelopment of industrial brownfields. Many of the Port Authority’s brownfield redevelopments are completed through innovative public/private joint ventures.

Our attorneys also have been instrumental in the drafting and enactment of brownfields-related legislation, including Minnesota’s Land Recycling Act and the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act.

Representative Projects

• Beacon Bluff Business Center (industrial/office park, Saint Paul, MN)
• Target Field (new Minnesota Twins Stadium, Minneapolis, MN)
• Former Joslyn Manufacturing Superfund Site (office/warehouse development, Brooklyn Center, MN)
• Hoigaard Village (mixed-use development, St. Louis Park, MN)
• Great Northern Business Center (industrial park, Saint Paul, MN)
• Westminster Junction Business Center (industrial park, Saint Paul, MN)
• Williams Hill Business Center (industrial park, Saint Paul, MN)
• Baldinger Bakery (commercial bakery, Saint Paul, MN)
• River Bend (office development, Saint Paul, MN)
• Former Globe Building Materials Site (future use TBD, Saint Paul, MN)
• West Side Flats (mixed-use development, Saint Paul, MN)
• Hi-Lake Center/Corridor Flats (mixed-use, transit-oriented development, Minneapolis, MN)
• Midway Shopping Center (retail development, Saint Paul, MN)
• LA Fitness (fitness center development, St. Louis Park, MN)
• River Run (residential development, Minneapolis, MN)
• Lodge at Little Canada (retail/office development, Little Canada, MN)
• Garfield Business Park (retail/office/warehouse development, Duluth, MN)
• Former Schnitzer Iron & Metal Site (Saint Paul, MN)
• Former Franklin Avenue Super America Site (Minneapolis, MN)
• Former Quadion Fay Site (future use TBD, Chicago, IL)
• Former Mounds View School District Office (future use TBD, Mounds View, MN)