About TCAAP Redevelopment

From Former Ammunition Plant to Rice Creek Commons

The City of Arden Hills is partnering with Ramsey County and Alatus LLC to redevelop a portion of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) that is located within city boundaries.

The proposed 427-acre redevelopment is referred to as Rice Creek Commons and will include:

  • Retail, office and light industrial development
  • A town center
  • Well-defined neighborhoods with architectural diversity
  • A wide variety of housing options to serve young professionals, empty nesters, and seniors.
  • Abundant parks and open space
  • Trails that provide for convenient and safe pedestrian access to commercial areas and other site amenities

The development will provide new housing, a town center and jobs in a city area that will be the size of downtown of Saint Paul. It's anticipated to increase the population of Arden Hills by 40 percent over 15 to 20 years. 

AUAR Update

View the 2019 Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Update Adopted  (PDF), and visit the Master Plan for more information about the AUAR process. 

Current Status

In 2022, The City and Alatus agreed to a terms sheet, which could be worked into a Master Developer Agreement (MDA). The terms sheet outlined how the City and developer agreed to reduce risk to the City, fund necessary infrastructure improvements, provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for parking on the development, and outline affordable housing units. A press release for the announcement was issued on May 10, 2022.  The County's responded to the City on June 9, 2022 with their vision and goals for the project. 

In 2023, the Joint Development Authority met in February for the first time since 2019. As one of their first business items, the JDA approved a Joint Values Statement to guide future discussions and development. The JDA also approved the formation of an advisory committee to meet more frequently than the JDA and make recommendations to the JDA on business items. While the advisory committee meetings are not public meetings as it is not subject to the Open Meeting Law, a running summary of the advisory committee meetings can be found below. The summary will be updated bi-weekly following the advisory committee meetings.

Summary of Advisory Committee Meetings

On April 24th, members of the JDA and staff announced it has issued a Request for Development Interest for a 40-acre, shovel-ready commercial parcel within the Rice Creek Commons project area along Interstate 35W, known as "Outlot A.” (View aerial image of the project area.). Interested developers may view Ramsey County’s solicitation on DemandStar. Developer responses are due at 11 p.m., July 28. The JDA is expected to select a developer by fall 2023.