Redevelopment Is The Key Word In 2025
A few decades ago, Eagan’s undeveloped land offered new opportunities for area businesses. But today, with the community almost fully built out, Eagan focuses on redevelopment. And 2024 was a big year for redevelopment. Plans came into focus, including those for the former Thomson Reuters, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Delta Airlines campuses.
Thomson Reuters Campus Redevelopment
While keeping its manufacturing plant adjacent to Wescott Road, Thomson Reuters has moved to a new headquarters facility in Eagan. Meanwhile, Ryan Companies plans to redevelop 179 acres of the former corporate campus. Work could begin this year.
Ryan Companies’ site plan includes industrial and residential development, as well as green spaces. The developer worked with the City — and gathered public input — to reach this balance of economic development and sustainability.
“As a city,” Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher says, “we are committed to cultivating a dynamic, thriving business environment that evolves with industry trends. We also want to create new opportunities for economic growth and long-term success.”
The planning process included a review to evaluate potential environmental impacts and propose mitigation strategies. During open houses and through public comments, the City and Ryan Companies heard resident concerns about losing green space and trees. Initial plans were changed to include new trails, conservation areas to preserve existing trees and a wetland, and an expansion of Wescott Station Park.
“Ryan Companies’ purchase of the Thomson Reuters campus and their redevelopment plan solidify the historic balance this site has always had in our community,” Mayor Mike Maguire says. “The inclusion of light industrial components ensures it will remain a vital part of Eagan’s property tax base, while thoughtfully preserving the natural features and character that make the surrounding neighborhoods so desirable.”
Former Delta Airlines Site Will Become Housing
The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) bought the former Delta Airlines site. This property at 1500 Towerview Rd. comprises nearly 39 acres — and a 328,765-square-foot building that hasn’t been occupied in two years.
The CDA has been a strong City partner for many years on affordable senior and workforce housing projects. The CDA owns and manages five affordable senior housing buildings and five workforce family townhome developments in Eagan.
The site is part of the Northwest Central Commons Small Area Plan, approved by the City Council in 2024 after extensive public engagement. The CDA plans to develop the site consistent with the plan’s goals, including sustainability improvements, preservation of existing landscape buffers, and a variety of housing types closely connected to Eagan Central Park and nearby commercial areas.
The CDA may propose developing part of the site with CDA-owned housing, similar to existing CDA senior and workforce housing in Eagan. The agency will sell the remaining land for private, market-rate development.
Former BCBS Campus
After Blue Cross Blue Shield relocated and consolidated within Eagan, its former call center at 1750 Yankee Doodle Rd. was left open. Solventum, a new healthcare company and global 3M spin-off, plans to relocate its Minnesota workforce from Maplewood to this property. The site will see 600 to 800 employees daily, and Solventum will provide over 1,000 high-wage jobs in Eagan.
“Solventum’s decision to relocate to Eagan is a testament to the strength and appeal of our city,” Maguire says. “We are committed to supporting their growth and ensuring that Eagan continues to be a vibrant location for businesses and employees alike.”
The City expects to receive a development application for the former BCBS headquarters site in 2025.
Former Delta Dental Building
The former Delta Dental building located at 3560 Blue Cross Rd. will be repurposed as a middle and high school for Great Oaks Academy Charter School.
Future Fun: Eagan Parks and Rec Makes A Plan
Parks and recreation play a vital role in creating healthy, vibrant communities. The City of Eagan’s comprehensive park system, built over the last 60 years, provides spaces for its residents to recreate, exercise, learn, gather, and enjoy nature and solitude. As Eagan continues to grow and change, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department is preparing for the future. By analyzing demographics, recreation trends, and environmental factors, they ensure that the park system remains flexible, equitable, and sustainable. Every 10 years, the department develops a Park System Master Plan, a road map that builds on the previous plan to create a framework for the upcoming decade. Today the City is entering the planning stage for the 2026 plan.
Q&A With Parks And Recreation Director Andrew Pimental
What’s the goal of a park master plan?
Think of it this way — the plan is a guiding document. At home, you develop a personal budget, a plan to guide you throughout the year. But things come up that aren’t in the plan. You have to have flexibility. For example, our last plan mentioned converting a few tennis courts to pickleball, but demand led us to build 17 dedicated pickleball courts!
What metrics do you use to create the plan’s goals?
The National Recreation and Parks Association has standards that look at park metrics and are based on recreational trends. We use those, along with population and community demographics, to get a feel for what our system will need.
What was the most visible outcome of the 2016 plan?
Several initiatives stand out. One was ADA compliance to make parks more accessible. Winter recreation was another big one (look at Goat Hill) — and so was updating our arts facility. Another focus was making sure all residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park or fishing pier. This standard replaced the older half-mile to a park metric. A 10-minute walk is a more equitable standard since not everyone has a car and might be walking to their destination.
What themes will we see in the 2026 plan?
I expect an emphasis on asset management, and opportunities to integrate park assets into a geographic information system (GIS) mapping program to provide an accurate plan of when we need replacements. We can use this to reinvest in things as they age out. Equity will remain a focus, ensuring our parks serve all residents. Sustainability will also be a major theme as we continue to reduce our environmental impact.
New Year, New Eagan Art House
For more than 25 years, the Eagan Art House has been our community’s place to create and connect. In fact, thousands of artists visit the 1960s rambler-style building every year.
We’re thrilled to expand the Eagan Art House community with a larger, more accessible space. Our art students and teaching artists have been a huge part of our success. There will be additional programming in the new space and we’ll need to hire more staff to make it happen, so watch for postings cityofeagan.com/jobs.
This expansion couldn’t have happened without the support of our art programs, community partners, and City Council. Decades of strong community support have laid the foundation for this moment. You can sign up for classes like drawing, digital art, textiles, glasswork, and more — as well as summer camps — at discovereagan.com. Registration opens Thursday, Feb. 6.
Celebrating 60 Years: Eagan Police
Since its founding in 1965, the Eagan Police Department has grown from a police chief and two part-time officers to 78 full-time, sworn officers and 18 nonsworn staff members. Before the department was officially authorized, Martin DesLauriers had been a constable for the township for nearly 10 years. He became chief on June 1, 1965. His wife, Marie, took calls on their home telephone until a few years later when the department hired its first dispatcher.
During the department’s first year, they didn’t even have a squad car. Today the department has a fleet of 54 vehicles, which include a mix of sedan and utility vehicles and pickups, a motorcycle, and an electric squad car.
In the 1970s, Eagan was growing. Officers had to cover a lot of ground — often driving 200 miles during a single 10-hour shift. Technology was mostly handmade and makeshift, though cars did have dispatch radios and radar. A new police facility was built in 1978 — it’s now part of the City Hall first floor. By 1996, the expanded department needed its own wing of the building.
Community — And Department — Growth
By the mid-1980s, Eagan was Minnesota’s fastest-growing community. And by 1983, the department boasted roughly 25 officers and 11 civilian staff, and the community had more than tripled from 6,000 in 1966 to 20,000. DesLauriers retired and Eagan’s second police chief, Jay Berthe, was sworn in.
Eagan’s population more than doubled in the mid-1990s. During the tenure of Eagan’s third chief, Pat Geagan, Eagan grew from 20,000 people to over 45,000.
In 2007, a joint dispatching center opened for all police and fire services in the county. Its need was revealed during a number of events — including a 2000 storm when nearly a foot of rain fell in less than 24 hours. Kent Therkelsen served as police chief at the time.
James McDonald, Eagan’s fifth police chief, put the department’s focus on geopolicing — using tools like crime mapping and data trends to help officers identify crime and quality-of-life issues in their patrol areas. In 2008, he created the computer forensic unit.
Looking Forward
“Over the years, the Eagan Police Department has emphasized the importance of fostering strong relationships with residents,” says Roger New, Eagan’s current, and sixth, police chief. “Events like Cops and Bobbers are opportunities for casual conversations and meaningful connections. Safety starts with trust and collaboration.”
In addition, mental health and wellness has been a significant focus for the department since 2020. “We handle mental health calls vastly differently from five years ago,” New says. Wellness is also key to recruitment and retention. “Wellness helps us maintain the people we have, and make sure our law enforcement professionals are well after the challenges they face daily.”
The department is also embracing innovative strategies to recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals. Nontraditional approaches to find candidates such as Pathways to Policing, Youth Leadership Academy, Explorers, and Cadets introduce young people to careers in policing while emphasizing leadership, teamwork, and community service. These efforts aim to build a diverse and skilled workforce that reflects the community it serves.
Senior Group Gives Back By Creating Quilts
For more than 20 years, the Eagan Community Center (ECC) has been a hub for people of all ages to recreate, connect, and build community. The seniors’ quilting group is one example of that community connection.
Visit the ECC on nearly any Tuesday morning and you’ll find a group of Eagan residents, 50 years old and up, creating quilts. Between four and seven women gather weekly to work on their projects — and to socialize.
“It’s good for us to get out and do something,” says group leader Beverly W., hitting on the well-supported concept that gathering with others supports both mental and physical health. According to the Mayo Clinic, socializing has sweeping benefits, including sharpening memory and cognitive skills, boosting happiness, and even helping people live longer.
Thinking Local — And Beyond
Even though the group is small, they donated a whopping 89 quilts in 2024. Throughout the years they’ve given quilts to local organizations, including The Open Door, fire and police departments, Kaitlyn’s Kloset, the Community Action Partnership, Dakota Woodlands, Brookdale Senior Living, and many more. And each year they donate a quilt for the raffle at the senior holiday party.
More recently, after a suggestion by member Kay G., the friends sent 15 quilts to Keepsake Quilting after Hurricane Helene hit last summer. This North Carolina organization then distributed the quilts to those in need in the impacted area.
A Team Effort
The group has a surefire process for making a quilt as a team: First, they plan the pattern, Beverly says. Then they coordinate the fabric pieces for the top, determining how much fabric is needed for each color and piece. Then comes measuring, cutting, and sewing, with pressing between various steps.
Individual members make many of the quilt tops at home, using some or all of their own fabric. They bring these together at their Tuesday meetings and attach them with an inner layer and backing. Then they tie them with embroidery thread or yarn. Next, Helen G. takes them home and sews on a fabric frame called a binding. When she returns the quilts to the group, they attach a label to each that says “Made by Eagan Senior Quilters.”
Crafting And Companionship
The Tuesday sessions usually include coffee and treats. “Sometimes I call them our therapy sessions, because people talk about all the things going on in their lives,” Beverly says. “That’s an important aspect of getting together.”
She’s lived in Eagan since 1985, but she hasn’t always been a quilter. In 2009 her sister — who also made quilts — passed away and left behind all kinds of fabric, including a quilt top. Beverly didn’t know how to finish it, so she donated it, along with other fabric, to the quilting group.
When she returned with more donations, they surprised her with a quilt they’d made for her using the top she’d donated. This act of kindness brought Beverly to tears, she says, and she decided to join the quilting group — and the seniors group. The rest is history.
Spring Events In Eagan
Eagan Indoor Market
Select Wednesdays through April 23 4–7 p.m. | Eagan Community Center
Shop local artisan items like baked goods, sauces, cheese, and body products. Find details at cityofeagan.com/marketfest.
Tech Support For 50+ Seniors
Fridays, Feb. 7 & March 7 | 11 a.m.—1 p.m. Eagan Community Center | FREE
Eagan High School’s robotics team offers free tech support for seniors. This monthly drop-in event requires no sign-up and provides personalized one-on-one assistance with smartphones, tablets, and more. Bring your device with you.
Pickleball Lessons
Sundays beginning Feb. 9 Beginner lessons 5–6:30 p.m. Intermediate lessons 6:30–8 p.m. Eagan Community Center | $139/session
Lessons are taught by our own internal PCI-certified pickleball instructors. Register at discovereagan.com.
More 50+ Senior Events
Check out discovereagan.com for details about activities like Valentine’s Bingo, a Mardi Gras bunco party, and a Pi(e) day event.
Registration Opens Feb. 6 For Summer Camps
Find camps and activities for preschoolers through teens, including:
- Art Camps
- Clay
- Themed Camps
- Comics
- Summer in the Park
- Nature Camp
- Volleyball
- Yoga
- Basketball
- T-ball
- Soccer
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Dodgeball
- ECC Camp
- And more!
See all camp details, dates, and pricing at discovereagan.com. We also have non-school and spring break camps!
Community Conversations
What can each of us do to ensure Eagan is an inclusive community where everyone thrives? Join the community conversation on Thursday, April 3, to explore this question with your neighbors in a comfortable environment. You can also volunteer to host a mini conversation in your home or another setting this spring.
Stay tuned for details at cityofeagan.com/rei.