Owners and developers of real property rely on Leonard, Street and Deinard to provide transactional, governmental relations, and litigation services through an interdisciplinary team of attorneys from our Real Estate, Environmental and Government Relations practices.

Our land use experience encompasses all facets of the development and construction process, including zoning and subdivision approvals, licensing and permitting, environmental review, historic preservation, shorelands and wetlands, environmental remediation and brownfield redevelopment. In particular, we have had considerable experience, and success, in siting controversial uses, including homeless shelters, student housing, pawn shops, and asphalt plants, in urban, suburban, and rural settings, through negotiation when possible, and through litigation when necessary.

Our Environmental attorneys have been at the forefront in some of the area’s highest profile environmental review matters. We provide our clients with strategic advantages when it matters most in the review process and in the heat of contested hearings or related litigation. Our lawyers have successfully guided a number of large, controversial projects through the environmental review process, while achieving minimal impacts on our client’s development schedules and project goals.

Our Real Estate Litigation attorneys help clients obtain and protect ownership and development rights. Specifically, we assist our clients to secure development approvals, obtain just compensation for land taken by condemnation or other governmental action, and challenge overassessment, overtaxion and improper classification for real estate tax purposes. We have extensive experience in resolving real estate disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation, covering the full range of real estate issues, including landlord-tenant disputes, mortgage, contract-for-deed and mechanic's lien foreclosures, construction disputes, purchase agreement and option agreement disputes, title clearance, title insurance coverage and land use matters.

Leonard, Street and Deinard has handled the following matters in the area of land use:

• DeLaSalle High School Athletic Facility.  Assisted urban high school in obtaining development approvals for an athletic field on historic Nicollet Island, from the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, City Council, Planning Commission, and Heritage Preservation Commission (“HPC”), the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Finance. 
• AIMCO; Calhoun Beach Club Apartments, Minneapolis, MN.  Represented owner of historic social and athletic club and hotel and new luxury multifamily tower in connection with governmental approvals for restoration of historic structure.
• People Serving People, Supportive Housing, Minneapolis, MN.  Acquisition and land use approvals, including rezoning, for a homeless shelter on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis for People Serving People, Inc. 
• City of Minneapolis, MN, 1999 Zoning Ordinance.  Counsel to the City of Minneapolis in connection with restatement of the zoning ordinance.
• JPI; Jefferson at Berry, St. Paul, MN and Jefferson Commons-Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN.  Obtained project approvals of student housing projects in Motley and Prospect Park-East River Road neighborhood of Minneapolis for Dallas based developer.
• Seven Corners Student Housing, Minneapolis, MN.  Obtained project approvals for joint venture of Atlanta and Dallas based developers.  Our services included land assembly, local counsel lending opinions, relocation of existing tenants, subdivision, resale of existing Sergeant Preston’s building, and residential and retail leasing for completed project.
• Environmental Review (EAW/AUAR/EIS).  Counsel to developer in preparing and defending environmental review, including Block E, RiverStation, A Mill Redevelopment, and DeLaSalle High School Athletic Field.