Brooklyn Park Leaders Plan for Large-Scale BioTech Innovation District
Brooklyn Park has big-picture plans for undeveloped space near highways 169 and 610: its BioTech Innovation District. The city is welcoming public feedback for that area later this month.
Community Development Director Tim Gladhill said there are 700 undeveloped acres in the northwest area of Brooklyn Park.
“First and foremost, we see a lot of opportunities for office, research and development, kind of that next level opportunity for a lot of these med-tech businesses that are looking for that next home to grow and expand,” Gladhill said.
The Blue Line light rail extension is planned to have a stop in that area. Gladhill said adding med-tech businesses and manufacturing companies to the area could add a lot of value to the community. Companies like Takeda and Olympus are already located in the corridor.
“BioTech is not about the northwest area of the community. It’s about a broader economic development strategy that helps us pay for the things that we need to pay for, that our residents are looking for,” Gladhill explained.
Right now, the city is just planning its infrastructure. This is a long-range plan so construction would not begin until 2026 at the earliest.
Gladhill said the city is holding an open house later this month for community input. That will be held at the Brooklyn Park Small Business Center, 7970 Brooklyn Blvd. It goes from 5-7 p.m. More details are available on the city’s Facebook page.
