EDA Weighs Developer for Vacant 7th Street Lot

St. Cloud's economic development board may choose between two developers for a 3.27-acre site left empty since 2023.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work

Wide view of an empty, fenced urban lot with dry grass and cracked concrete, with small brick buildings visible in the background under cold winter light. — St. Cloud's Economic Development Authority meets Wednesday to choose between Torborg Builders and Doyenne Development for a long-vacant 3.27-acre city lot at 1201 7th Street South. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The St. Cloud Economic Development Authority meets Wednesday to potentially choose a developer for a vacant 3.27-acre lot at 1201 7th Street South. Torborg Builders and Doyenne Development have both applied for the site after the board postponed a decision last month.

Why it matters

The choice would advance redevelopment of a long-idle city-owned lot and could add housing and commercial space in the community. Each proposal carries different levels of public support, which shapes the city's role in the project.

Torborg Builders proposes more than 110 market-rate apartments without seeking public assistance, while Doyenne Development proposes 71 homes plus commercial space and would require tax increment financing. Doyenne has not yet lined up a commercial tenant, and the site must be rezoned before either plan moves forward.

The players

St. Cloud Economic Development Authority

The city body that oversees economic development decisions and is weighing which developer should receive the vacant 1201 7th Street South site.

Torborg Builders

A St. Cloud-based developer proposing two market-rate apartment buildings with more than 110 units on the lot without seeking public assistance.

Doyenne Development

A Minneapolis-based developer proposing 71 homes plus a restaurant and entertainment building that would require city financial help.

The details

The board postponed its decision last month so members could hear directly from both companies about their plans, experience and expected city financial help. If the board chooses a developer, the recommendation would go to the mayor's office to sign a letter of intent, giving the city and developer six months of exclusive talks to shape a plan. Picking a developer would not lock in a design.

2023: The city tore down two wings of the former Tech High School, leaving the lot vacant.
October 2026: The EDA board postponed its decision on the lot.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: The EDA meets to potentially choose a developer.

Market Landscape

Both proposals respond to an estimated demand for 500 to 600 downtown rental units, with Torborg's apartments aligning closely with that need. Doyenne's mix of homes and commercial space instead pursues a broader redevelopment of the lot.

Residents may see new housing or commercial options on the downtown lot depending on which proposal advances. Any project using tax increment financing would shift part of the cost burden to city funds.

The takeaway

Development choices on city-owned land reflect trade-offs between public financial support and the scale of housing or commercial space delivered. Residents interested in the outcome can follow the EDA's Wednesday meeting.

What happens next

The EDA is scheduled to meet Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to potentially choose a developer, and any selection would then go to the mayor's office for a letter of intent.