DENVER (Feb. 11, 2021) – After 16 successful years leading United Properties – Denver operations, Kevin Kelley has made the decision to step down from his senior leadership role, effective Sept. 30, 2021.

Kelley, who serves as executive vice president, Denver commercial development, has overseen the growth and development of United Properties – Denver since he joined the firm in 2005. “During his time leading our Denver office, Kevin has built an outstanding team and helped us to become a recognized market leader by developing millions of square feet of successful projects that have reshaped the Denver area,” said Bill Katter, co-president and chief investment officer, United Properties Development.

“I am proud of my accomplishments over my 16-year tenure, having built the office from scratch in 2005 into the second largest commercial developer as ranked by the Denver Business Journal in 2020. In addition, we assembled a very accomplished team of development associates that I am confident will continue the growth of United Properties’ presence well into the future,” Kelley said.

“Finally, I appreciate the support that the United Properties leadership team gave me to grow the operation into the success we enjoy today,” he added. Signature projects during Kelley’s tenure include Enterprise Business Center, Tower Business Center, INOVA Dry Creek, Marketplace at Austin Bluffs, Plaza Las Americas and Interpark Corporate Center, among others.

Beyond Kelley’s strong work as a developer and leader, Katter cited his continued community involvement in CRE organizations such as NAIOP and others, including his recent role mentoring a diverse group of students interested in CRE careers through Denver Public Schools’ CareerConnect program. “We’ve been so proud of Kevin’s leadership, both in the office and, even more importantly, in the community. We will miss him greatly,” he said.

Kelley noted that this represented the right time for him to step back due to the strength of United Properties’ market position and its Denver team. Key members of the team, including Jamie Pollock, Megan Turner and Alicia Rhymer, will step into new or expanded roles over the next several months. “We are fortunate to have such a fantastic team ready to step up as Kevin steps back — another hallmark of his strength as a leader,” Katter said.

Jamie Pollock, currently senior vice president, asset management, will assume the role of senior vice president, asset management, and director – Denver operations, and continue reporting to Matt Van Slooten, co-president and chief investment officer, United Properties Investment. In his new role, which is effective immediately, Pollock will be responsible for managing Denver office operations and implementing corporate initiatives, working in close coordination with the development team.

Megan Turner, currently director of development, will step into the role of vice president of development, effective March 15, 2021. Reporting directly to Katter, Turner will be responsible for industrial and office development in the Denver market. Turner has recently overseen key aspects of Interpark Broomfield, Tower Business Center and U.S. AutoForce. (Feb. 11th release incorrectly stated effective date of July 1, 2021)

Alicia Rhymer, senior vice president, retail development, will be expanding her current role, effective July 1, 2021, reporting to Katter. Rhymer has overseen United Properties’ successful retail net lease business in Colorado and will be pursuing opportunities to bring this strategy into other markets throughout the U.S.

Over the next several months, Kelley will continue to oversee development activities, working closely with his team while he looks forward to the next chapter.

Thanksgiving season is one of the busiest times of the year for food banks, and as the pandemic continues to impact more families, food insecurity is steadily skyrocketing across the nation. With service to others as part of United Properties’ core, UP is fortunate to make charitable donations this year in lieu of holiday gifts to several food banks in the communities we serve.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

United Properties supported Second Harvest Heartland, one of the largest hunger-relief organizations serving the Upper Midwest. Second Harvest Heartland has stepped up distribution this year due to the hunger crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus. From emergency food boxes and emergency grocery pop-ups to extra food deliveries, donations help ensure families receive the food and support they need especially during the cold winter months.

“Your gift offers hope and comfort to neighbors who are experiencing unemployment. They feel a sense of relief during these uncertain times after visiting a local drive-through food distribution,” said Allison O’Toole, Second Harvest Heartland CEO.

Because of your support, more of our neighbors across the heartland will be able to access the food they need to thrive. Without you, our work would not be possible. Thank you for your gift,” she added.

Denver, Colorado

Food Bank of the Rockies provides food and supplies to more than 600 hunger-relief programs in Colorado. Since the first wave of the pandemic hit in the spring, their food distribution has significantly increased as more people need food assistance. A new survey shows one in seven Coloradans are struggling with food insecurity and one in five Colorado kids are facing hunger.

United Properties’ donation to Food Bank of the Rockies will help keep food on the tables of those struggling during the pandemic. “Unfortunately, we are seeing an incredible amount of demand at FBR but it is incredible seeing the overwilling amount of support from groups like United Properties to allow us to serve people in need. Thank you for your donation,” said Ryan Good, Food Bank of the Rockies Executive Vice President.

“Thank you for partnering with FBR to help us nourish our neighbors,” noted Mitch Jelniker, Food Bank of the Rockies Corporate Relations Manager. “Your generosity comes at a critical time. Your donation will help us provide 60,000 nutritious meals for families in need. Thank you.”

Austin, Texas

United Properties also partnered with Central Texas Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas. With many people reaching out for assistance, Central Texas Food Bank adapted their distribution model for COVID-19 to allow for larger drive-through distributions through the Mobile Food Pantry Program.

The food bank is serving about 340,000 people a month, a 43% increase over previous monthly client numbers due to the pandemic. At the height of pandemic response in May 2020, the food bank served almost 370,000 individuals in one month. There was also a surge in first-time clients – in September they served nearly 13,000 households who had never visited a food bank before.

“Thank you so much for thinking of the Food Bank for this donation. We are so grateful that you wanted to help,” said Amelia Long, Director of Community Engagement. Other ways gifts will be instantly put to use are through CTFB’s summer programs, support for partner agency networks and referrals to community resources.

The tradition of giving back and giving thanks continues at United Properties, enriching and uplifting the local communities where we work and live.

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 27, 2020) — United Properties announced today that it has broken ground on ThePOINTE Bloomington, a 55-plus independent living rental community, located at 5601 American Blvd. W. ThePOINTE Bloomington will have five stories and 133 units; it will be available for occupancy in spring 2022.

“Our second ThePOINTE development is in a great location to meet the needs of active seniors in Bloomington,” said Mark Nelson, executive vice president, residential development, United Properties. “As we see demand for senior living continue to grow, we’re confident ThePOINTE’s many amenities will draw strong interest.” United Properties’ first ThePOINTE location recently opened in Roseville.

The new senior community will offer maintenance-free living for people 55-plus, with a variety of apartment sizes and floor plans. Units include one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus den, and three-bedroom floor plans. The rental fee structure is all-inclusive (with the exception of electricity), making it ideal for seniors looking to budget their monthly costs.

ThePOINTE Bloomington will feature stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, underground heated parking and many lifestyle amenities, including a clubhouse, outdoor pool, art studio, fitness studio, workshop and outdoor kitchen. It is positioned between Normandale Lake and Hyland Lake Park Reserve, and the location is close to State Highway 100 and Interstate 494 for easy access to amenities such as the airport, medical facilities and shopping.

ThePOINTE Bloomington will also feature an enclosed connection to the nearby Cherrywood Pointe, a United Properties-owned senior apartment community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and enhanced care. This connection will offer ThePOINTE residents access to additional amenities such as Cherrywood Pointe’s pub and dining room.

Pre-leasing has already begun. The leasing office is located at 8331 Norman Center Drive in Bloomington and can be reached at (952) 835-2000. Visit www.yourpointe.com for more information.

The project was designed by Kaas Wilson Architects, with interior design by Banko Design. The community will be constructed by Weis Builders and managed by Great Lakes Management.

Enjoy Business as Unusual Part I here.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented kindness.

A lot has changed in a short time, and we are all trying to grasp the catastrophic impact coronavirus has wreaked around the world. What keeps us going is a reframing: This is an opportunity to demonstrate again that United Properties is resilient, and our relationships with our communities, our owner and one another are supportive and strong. We can adapt to this new normal.

Now is the time we most need kindness, yet we must be apart to curb the spread of the virus. For us, individually and as an organization, the important question is how can we be there without physically being there?

Here are just a few creative ways the employees and partners of United Properties unite in the wake of the pandemic to care for each other, our families and friends, as well as the communities where we live and do business.

1.   Love notes to our seniors

When our senior living communities began restricting family visits, Laura Peterson (associate asset manager, senior living) and her daughters channeled their creative energy into 10 handmade cards for resident members at one of our Cherrywood Pointe communities. Their thoughtful project brought many smiles!

5.   March food drive

We’d like to give a shout-out to Pequita Jordan (executive administrator) for her community giving leadership of United Properties’ March food drive. She and Lynn Camp (AVP & director of business development) refused to let the initiative slip, pursuing it through the closures. Read more about the response in Part I.

“It weighed heavily on my mind when we got sent home,” Pequita shared. “I did not want the food drive to sit, but I also did not want to overwhelm staff as folks are dealing with their own new reality.”

The Sheridan Story’s executive director recently called Pequita to express thanks for the donation and food collection. He reported that Sheridan has been providing 100,000 meals a week — five times the usual.

7.   New tricks & tools

We don’t know about you, but since the closures, our inboxes have been inundated. Early adopters within the office say that using a channel- or thread-based communication tool outside of Outlook has both relieved their inboxes and improved project efficiency. For example, Microsoft Teams allows users to organize conversations into threads by team or project. Team members then share files, thought processes and inspiration within that central hub, which allows for focused collaboration and simplified workflows.

Screen-shares, video conferences and electronic signatures have also become more intrinsic than ever before. Throughout the past five weeks, everyone has learned new tricks to maximize efficiency and maintain connection to teammates through this period of remote work.

8. The gift of “face-to-face”

Heartfelt thanks to the caregiver at our Cherrywood Pointe community who set up FaceTime for a resident after her memory care unit was placed under lockdown. The resident often does not remember her daughter, but when her daughter’s face appeared on the screen, the resident’s face lit up and she called out her daughter’s name. Truly priceless.

9.   Coping with loss

One of our own at United Properties lost her grandpa during the shelter-in-place. Grandma was beside herself, so our employee fixed up her old iPhone for Grandma. Despite anxieties over the senior living lockdown and figuring out her first cellphone, Grandma looks forward to Facetiming her three grand-girls throughout the week, talking about her day and remembering her sassy-sweet soulmate. Rest peacefully, Grandpa Richard!  1932­–2020

Trying times bring out the worst and the best — they bring out individuals’ and companies’ true colors. We must look out for one another and strive for the best. For us, this is what it means to create deep roots in the communities where we live and do business.

In solidarity,

The people of United Properties

The COVID-19 crisis has been a test of adaptability for companies and individuals worldwide. During United Properties’ test work-from-home day mid-March, our IT team worked diligently to touch base with each employee to ensure we were ready. Our offices closed the next day in-line with schools, and the shelter-in-place order took effect the following week.

Couriering, printing, mail forwarding, copying, signing, video conferencing and all challenging business continuation efforts aside, our March food drive – benefitting The Sheridan Story in Minneapolis and Bienvenidos Food Bank in Denver – was among the first things to rethink. As the pandemic’s impact became clearer, it occurred to us that the need we were working to fulfill wouldn’t go away just because we’re out-of-office. In fact, the need all around the world would only grow.

We thought about the earth-shaking impact for so many and all the vulnerable people to protect in our own lives and communities. What about the kids no longer receiving their free or reduced lunch at school? What about people out of work, maybe navigating the unemployment system for the first time? And one that’s especially close to our heart: What about the seniors we serve? How will they feel the impact of coronavirus?

How can we be there without being there? We could not go on business-as-usual.

Lynn Camp, AVP & director of business development, shared her heartfelt thoughts on the state of the state in a message to a small group of coworkers:

“I have been struggling with how I can be helpful in a time of need for so many when it is recommended that I stay away from others as much as possible,” she shared, along with an MPR article mentioning The Sheridan Story and some ideas for community support. “I am wondering what you think about communicating some of these ideas [out to employees], as I know we have a lot of people with big hearts who may be feeling something similar.”

Lynn’s sense that many were feeling moved to do more was correct, and the following week, the UP Leadership team issued an internal communication to share how the company would respond to the office closures. In lieu of a month-long food drive, United Properties would provide financial support to both food shelves to help fight hunger during this critical time in the communities where we do business.

Beyond financial support, now is the time to get creative in the ways we support and connect. We don’t have to socially distance just because we must physically distance. We plan to innovate and come out stronger. Stay tuned for Business as Unusual Part II: COVID, Connection & Creativity. Until then, let’s quarantine, unite & conquer.

In solidarity,
The People of United Properties

THE SHERIDAN STORY

The Sheridan Story works to fight hunger in our community by filling the gaps to food access that Minnesotan children face during weekends, summers and extended breaks. Albeit unexpected, this is clearly one of those extended breaks.

On behalf of 20+ organizations partnering to fight hunger, The Sheridan Story issued an email communication late last month with a clear message: For those struggling with food scarcity, you are not alone, and we are here for you.

“We have food available, and more is on the way. We are united and working round the clock to serve our community. We are coordinating our efforts with one another and with Governor Walz’s office. Minnesota’s greatest asset is our ability to work together to solve our community’s problems. We will get through this pandemic together. We are here for you. We are #MNStrong.”

BIENVENIDOS FOOD BANK

Bienvenidos is an essential source of fresh, healthy food for those in need across the Denver metro. The community-based nonprofit has provided emergency food assistance for more than 40 years. Each year, approximately 300,000 meals relieve 10,000 people suffering from hunger.

The mission is simple: Do all things possible to ensure no one in the community goes hungry. Bienvenidos plans to continue doing all things possible to fulfill the mission while protecting volunteers and friends of Bienvenidos from the threat of COVID-19 by serving meals outdoors.

We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, one that requires all of us to work together to limit the impact of COVID-19 in our community.

At United Properties, we are committed to doing all we can to protect the health of our employees and our community, and to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while continuing to be an industry leader in commercial real estate.

Our team

In both Minneapolis and Denver, our team is working remotely. Both offices remain closed, and our team will continue to work from home in accordance with local shelter-in-place orders.

Our buildings

At buildings owned by United Properties, we’ve stepped up our cleaning protocols, including more frequent cleaning of public areas and high-touch surfaces. Our senior living communities have adopted even more stringent policies to protect those at higher risk of complications from this disease.

Our tenants

We also understand this is a time of uncertainty for many businesses that lease space in our buildings. We are listening to our tenants’ concerns and gaining an understanding of the impacts on individual businesses.

Our job sites

In Minnesota and Colorado, our construction sites continue to operate under the “critical sector” and “critical business” exemptions enumerated in Minnesota Emergency Executive Order 20-20 and Colorado Amended Public Health Order 20-24. We are working closely with our construction partners to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, while continuing to build the infrastructure that will support our community in the years ahead.

Monitoring the situation

Because this is a rapidly evolving situation, we are working closely with our property managers, employees and partners to ensure we are doing all we can. Together, we will continue to evaluate our response and update our protocols as needed based on guidance from the CDC and local health authorities, and on the needs of the community.

Questions

If you have any questions, you can reach out to your United Properties contact or call our general number at 952-835-5300.

We are excited to introduce a new blog series called “United in Real Life” – an inclusion initiative that celebrates the people of United Properties, their varied experiences and how they individually create deep roots in their communities.

For our inaugural story, we spotlight Trudi Whitson, sales manager at Applewood Pointe and co-founder of a unique ministry in South Minneapolis that exists to welcome and connect with our refugee neighbors. Trudi is deeply interested in the art of hospitality as the whole experience of welcoming and entertaining guests, visitors or strangers. It is a passion that has followed her throughout her life and career.

*        *        *

The little blue house across from Stewart Park in the Phillips neighborhood – named Salem House – not only hosts a little piece of African culture here in Minneapolis: It serves as a place where peace and friendship thrive across cultures. It’s only happenstance that the word salem can be translated in many ways (shalom in Hebrew, salaam in Arabic) to mean peace.

For Trudi Whitson, co-founder of Salem Arts Exchange (SAE), the name Salem was only fitting. Established in 2013 and housed in Salem House, non-profit SAE exists to be a joyful, creative gathering place for refugee women where friendships are formed and beautiful handicrafts are produced.

At its core, this program of Arrive Ministries is a collaboration of people who wish to wrap their arms around our refugee neighbors. The free program takes place twice weekly and is organized around a 14-session curriculum where participants learn skills like sewing while practicing their English. At the end of each lesson, the women gather for tea and storytelling. Sometimes they pray together in trying times – Christians alongside Muslims.

THE SPARK & THE FLAME

The spark for SAE came from three Bible study friends (Trudi, Anna and Kris) eager to break out of their suburban bubble. In 2010, Kris brought up an inspiring ministry just outside of Chicago called RE:NEW that was teaching a group of Somali women how to sew. The group fell in love with the idea, but it wasn’t time.

A few years later, an invitation came to the group through Kris’s membership at a multi-ethnic church in St. Paul called New City of Nations. The church members wanted to establish a similar arts program in the Phillips neighborhood, a cultural hub south of downtown Minneapolis often regarded as the most diverse part of the metro.

“We had already birthed this idea, and it seemed to be the time,” Trudi recalled. “We got a few grants and bought a bunch of sewing machines. New City of Nations had a diverse membership with many women new to America who wanted to get involved. So we gathered and just started sewing.”

Since 2013, SAE has been using and improving upon the curriculum. The program inspired another sewing ministry in Wilmar, which birthed another in St. Cloud. These programs are sprouting up across the country as a means to meaningfully engage with refugee populations, yet the general format remains largely consistent: sewing, tea and stories.

FROM STRANGERS & STORIES TO SISTERS IN COMMUNITY

Some of Trudi’s favorite moments have taken place during the storytelling sessions, which she understands to be part of how African women create community. The tradition has offered her varied stories and has transformed her perspectives on what it means to be a refugee.

“You see these women, they don’t speak the language, and right now their job is likely menial work,” Trudi said. “But in their home countries they were teachers, businesswomen and human rights activists – I even met an actress. Many of them escaped torture and imprisonment in Africa. These are powerhouse women who make it here.”

And they love it here. Trudi shared that these women are so thankful just to be here, safe with their families, and that their children can go to school. She gets to hear the often-untold stories, which grant her the deeper understanding that the “single story” told in the popular media does not.

That’s exactly why safe spaces for cross-cultural conversations can be so powerful. They create the conditions for stories to be shared naturally and for trusting friendships to grow – for people to be seen for who they really are. What’s more, people who are often silent get to tell their own stories.

“We have a basket with prompts on paper for the whole group to think about,” Trudi shared. “Last week we talked about what the word ‘transition’ means. A lot of them are still working on their English, so it can be challenging but still so meaningful. I may be teaching the curriculum, but we have a lot to learn from each other.”

For Trudi, her non-profit isn’t as much about the sewing; she’s always loved creating. But before SAE, she’d never done so in a group context. The social component was missing – the brushing arms with other women, exchanging stories and becoming family in the process.

“Sometimes when they get to do their sharing, they say things like ‘You are my family’ or ‘You are my sisters.’ Those are the moments that encourage me and still take me by surprise.”

United Properties is expanding our social media presence to include Instagram — a growing platform with more than 1 billion monthly active users engaging in a highly visual, app-based format. The @updeeproots page seeks to connect with the communities we serve in a meaningful way through imagery that inspires.

With project partners, tenants, brokers, the local community, consumer audiences and other stakeholders in mind, the account will feature updates on our projects, people and events, as well as highlights from our 103-year history. Imagery will encompass renderings, project interior, exterior and drone shots, event photography, historical photos and more.

We’d like to extend a big “thank you!” to those of you who have already joined us on our journey in pictures. If you like what you see, please follow @updeeproots and “regram” via Instagram Stories to help contribute to a successful launch! We are excited to bring you along as we create deep digital roots in 2020.

This blog post is Part II of our retrospective look-back at a decade of transformative commercial real estate. Here’s Part I.

Growth in Mixed-Use: 2017–2019

United Properties saw tremendous growth in both the Minneapolis and Denver markets throughout this three-year period, particularly through the focus on innovative mixed-use developments.

The Nordic broke ground in 2017 and has become a stunning new addition to the North Loop neighborhood since opening in 2019. It is the first true mixed-use project developed in the North Loop, offering nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of office space, 57 condominiums, a vibrant public plaza with outdoor seating, a Galley Group food hall, Thr3 Jack – a restaurant and indoor golf venue – and local coffee shop FRGMNT. United Properties also acquired the Kickernick building in 2017, embarking on a renovation project to enhance its original brick and timber construction and restore its historic charm.

We also saw a variety of project types in development, spanning across retail, industrial, office and residential landscapes. In Denver, “next gen mixed-use” — a term describing sites that blend light industrial, office and retail in one development — changed Denver’s industrial real estate arena. These developments combined free-standing retail pad sites along the perimeter of larger industrial developments, maximizing the convenience that workers are looking for and the access to customers that retailers are seeking. Other projects that exemplify next gen mixed-use include Tower Business Center in Aurora and Interpark Broomfield.

In 2018, we broke ground on Target Field Station in the North Loop. Situated in an ideal location adjacent to a light rail transit station and Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, Target Field Station features 1,850-guest capacity The Fillmore Minneapolis music hall and an Element by Westin hotel.

Over the decade, we also expanded our focus on senior living communities with new Applewood Pointe cooperative communities in Shoreview, Minnetonka and Champlin. We introduced our senior living communities with services into the Florida market with two new projects — Watercrest Naples and Watercrest Sarasota. We also commenced our first senior living project in Colorado, Balfour Littleton, which recently opened and is experiencing success.

In June 2019, we broke ground on the most complicated project in United Properties’ 103-year history: RBC Gateway. The ninth-tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis — complete with retail, office space and the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences — will revitalize a former parking lot and pay homage to the location’s acclaimed history. It is the largest true mixed-use project ever undertaken in downtown Minneapolis.

“RBC Gateway represents the most compelling and complicated project United Properties has undertaken in our 100-plus year history, and we are proud to leave behind a lasting legacy on a very culturally significant site. We are grateful to our partners for their support, including our owner and the City of Minneapolis.”

–     Bill Katter, president and CIO, United Properties Development

These projects top off a booming decade of commercial real estate for United Properties. The growth and variety in our developments and portfolio reflect our continued commitment to creating deep roots in the communities we serve.

On to the Next Decade

In the 2020s, we will continue to shape the markets where we do business. In the downtown Minneapolis area, that includes building on our successes in the North Loop. Construction has begun on RBC Gateway and is planned for completion in 2022. We believe the project will enliven the intersection of three of the city’s most-storied thoroughfares, elevate the city’s reputation as a whole, and leave a lasting impression on those who live, work, play and visit Minneapolis.

None of this would have been possible without our partners or the extraordinary vision developed by United Properties and Pohlad Companies leadership. The asset management team has kept our portfolio sound and our properties in excellent condition, our developers have been nimble in embracing opportunities and following through on impactful projects, and our support teams have excelled in all that they do. Our company has more than doubled in number of employees and projects underway in the last four years, a testament to the heart and soul of United Properties: our culture and spirit of collaboration.

Thanks to our team’s success, United Properties was recognized by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as the largest real estate developer in the Twin Cities market six years in a row, from 2014 to 2019. We’ve also been recognized recently by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Denver Business Journal as one of the “Best Places to Work” in the Twin Cities and Denver, respectively.

At United Properties, we’ll continue creating inclusive spaces that transform and enrich our communities and reflect the changing needs and expectations of the next decade.

Onward to 2020!

The people of United Properties have spent the last decade working to create deep roots in both the Twin Cities and Denver metropolitan areas. From rejuvenating the historic North Loop and dreaming up Minneapolis’s latest skyscraper, to creating an innovative approach to retail, office and industrial mixed-use developments in Denver, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished – in collaboration with our partners – in the last decade.

With the second wave of the Roaring Twenties upon us, we’re taking a moment to commemorate the end of an era with a look-back at a decade of transformative commercial real estate.

A Strong Start: 2010–2012

Coming out of the Great Recession in the late 2000s, the 2010s saw a recovering commercial real estate market that was ready for new development. United Properties was poised to start the decade strong, largely thanks to the strategic management of our assets during the downturn. This allowed us to seize opportunities as the market improved and proved to be instrumental in positioning United Properties as an emerging developer in the region.

In 2011, United Properties kicked off a redevelopment of what would become one of our signature properties: the Ford Center. We worked with our partners to transform the former Model T plant into a 21st-century office building that maintains its historic charm. This LEED Gold-certified project helped to revitalize the North Loop neighborhood and sparked a series of developments in the area. The renovation and successful transformation of the building were driven by both the development and asset management sides of our organization.

Since the remodel, our asset management team has continued to focus on innovative ways to keep the building attractive for its tenants. This project was followed by the historic revitalization of the Loose-Wiles Building on Washington Avenue and the introduction of the very popular Freehouse restaurant, both of which we continue to own.

At this time, United Properties also embarked on a new wave of senior living developments. Two new cooperative communities, Applewood Pointe of Bloomington at Southtown and Applewood Pointe of Roseville at Langton Lake, were developed in the first two years of the decade. These properties helped solidify United Properties’ position as an industry leader in cooperative communities, which offer active residents 62 and better the freedom of a maintenance-free lifestyle in a community of like-minded peers.

Spurred by the success of our cooperative communities, our first assisted living community, Cherrywood Pointe of Roseville, opened its doors in 2012 with 80 apartments. Cherrywood Pointe’s continuum of care options create an opportunity for seniors to retain their independence with additional services offered as needed.

Mixed-use development was on the rise, too, as we saw one of our outstanding mixed-use projects, Penn & American in Bloomington, come to fruition. The project converted one of the Twin Cities’ prime intersections from a car lot into a vibrant community complete with residential, retail and restaurant developments. Penn & American quickly became a destination in the heart of Bloomington, and United Properties continues to be involved in additional development in the area.

Full Steam Ahead: 2013–2016

As the decade progressed, United Properties’ role as an increasingly active investor allowed us to pursue more development opportunities. Rather than using a long-term buy-and-hold approach, we began to move properties in and out of the portfolio, freeing up capital to do more on the development side.

We then saw an influx of retail development: In 2013, half of our projects were retail. This encompassed single-tenant net lease projects with Advance Auto Parts, Caribou Coffee and Gander Mountain, as well as renovations of retail strip malls in the Midwest and Colorado.

That same year, we also acquired the former Nieman Marcus building at 505 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis and repurposed this landmark location for CenterPoint Energy’s regional headquarters.

In 2014, another North Loop development came to fruition: Be The Match Headquarters joined the Ford Center in the formerly industrial neighborhood. This build-to-suit project included many progressive amenities, a public restaurant, as well as custom touches, including an interactive sidewalk harp that plays music when pedestrians walk by.

In addition, we acquired the first two floors of the former Saks building within Gaviidae Common on Nicollet Mall and introduced multiple retailers, including a marquee Walgreens store, which serves the booming downtown population and workforce.

We also sparked a series of major industrial developments, both in and outside the Twin Cities. The Denver team brought Enterprise Business Center (EBC) in Stapleton to life, responding to market demand for state-of-the-art industrial space and accounting for nearly 2 million sq. ft. of development. United Properties’ innovative approach earned back-to-back Industrial Development of the Year awards from the Colorado Chapter of NAIOP in 2014 and 2015. In Minnesota, market-leading projects Northcross Business Park in Brooklyn Park and Red Rock Business Park in Maple Grove also grew our industrial portfolio.

The asset management side of the business also responded to this demand by making a strategic shift toward acquiring Class A industrial properties into the company’s stable portfolio. As a landlord, United Properties has consistently performed above the market occupancy rate, attracting and retaining tenants with our highly responsive, personalized approach.

In 2016, we saw a boom in senior living developments with exciting projects in Minnetonka, Plymouth and Roseville, responding to a shift in the demographic landscape. United Properties’ senior living teams developed and filled these communities swiftly, responding to and reflecting accelerated demand.

We also acquired the remaining empty portion of the former Saks building in downtown Minneapolis, referred to as 7^th & Nic. This modern office space located in the heart of the city became United Properties’ new headquarters and was profiled in the Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal’s “Cool Offices” feature.

Up next: Part II of our 2010s retrospective will cover the end of the decade and look ahead at what’s to come in the 2020s.