The Ford Site is 135 acres of land along the Mississippi River and the former home of Ford Motor Companies' Twin Cities Assembly Plant. After closure, the City of Saint Paul and multiple partners spent a decade engaging with the community, studying environmental impacts, and approving a final plan for the site's redevelopment. Ryan Companies, as master developer of the site, will be charged with executing the City's plan of a new connected, livable, mixed-use neighborhood with clean technologies and high-quality design for energy, buildings, and infrastructure. It will be woven into the existing community; support walking, biking, and transit; and provide services, jobs, and activities that every generation can enjoy.
On July 14, 2020, Ryan Companies announced a new name for the site: Highland Bridge.
For the latest information on the construction of the Ford Site/Highland Bridge, visit the Ryan Companies project site.
Ryan Companies Redevelopment Proposal
On November 12, 2019, the City of Saint Paul and Ryan Companies announced a redevelopment proposal for the Ford Site. The proposal includes an investment of $92 million for new public parks and infrastructure, realized in part through $32 million in private infrastructure investment in addition to the private investment required to develop the numerous individual projects and $53 million in tax increment financing (TIF).
Learn More (PDF) Press Release Redevelopment Documents
Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)
An Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) is a planning tool that local governments can use to understand how different development scenarios will affect the environment of the community. The State of Minnesota requires environmental reviews on proposed developments of a certain size and scale. The City of Saint Paul is the responsible governmental unit (RGU) for the Ford Site AUAR process.
Design Standards
Design standards support the development of a walkable, pedestrian and bike-friendly built environment, and encourage a sense of place. They impact how the faces of buildings meet the street, what exterior building materials should be used, and landscaping. In 2017, the City Council directed the creation of design standards when it adopted the Ford Site Zoning and Public Realm Master Plan (Ford Site Master Plan). The Ford Site design standards will be added to the Ford Site Master Plan, with Zoning Code amendments necessary for consistency.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ford Site is the location of a former Ford Motor Company assembly plant in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Learn more about the background, ownership and land use.
Master Developer and Amendments
As master developer of the Ford Site, Ryan Companies proposed amendments to the Ford Site Master Plan and corresponding zoning text. After months of working with the community, key stakeholders, and the City, the plan was amended by City Council in April of 2019 (RES PH-73) (Ord 19-19).
Site Cleanup and Demolition
Ford Motor Company and its environmental consultant Arcadis have been conducting environmental remediation activities across the site since 2015. Ford is cleaning up the site for a mix of uses, including commerce, employment, housing and open space. Cleanup was declared complete by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in May 2019.
Zoning and Public Realm Master Plan (Ford Site Master Plan)
In 2017, the City of Saint Paul adopted the Ford Site Zoning and Public Realm Master Plan, which calls for a vibrant mixed-use urban village to be integrated into the existing community. The Ford Site Master Plan incorporated many ideas from a decade of community engagement on how to bring the site to life.
Community Engagement and Adoption Redevelopment Principles Project Studies
Economic Impact Parks and Open Spaces Residential Sustainability Transportation Zoning
