The Port of Coon Rapids
The “Riverfront Renaissance” that is transforming industrial blight into real estate gold.
📐 The Port Blueprint
CONTEXT SUMMARYHigh-density lifestyle & riverfront access.
Connecting the neighborhood to the Regional Trail.
Shifting from Transit-Oriented to Lifestyle-Oriented.
Creating a walkable “Social District.”
The Bartender’s Insight: “The Port” isn’t about ships; it’s about docking your life in a place where you can walk to a brewery and a regional trail in the same afternoon.
Let me tell you a story about a “secret” map.
I was sitting here a few years ago with a developer who was sketching on a napkin. He pointed to a spot on the Mississippi River in Coon Rapids, right near the border of Fridley. “Jacob,” he said, “everyone thinks Coon Rapids is just Highway 10 and Target. They’re wrong. This spot right here is going to be the next North Loop.”
I laughed. I told him he’d had one too many. But then I read the **2040 Comprehensive Plan** and the documents you provided about the **Port Riverwalk** area.
The “Port” is real. It’s an area that used to be defined by scrap yards, industrial noise, and a train station that didn’t quite live up to its hype. But as we move into 2026, the city is executing a “Riverfront Renaissance” that is going to fundamentally rewire how people think about Coon Rapids real estate.
If you’re looking for where the “Smart Money” is going over the next four years, you need to understand the Port. Grab a drink, because we’re diving into the deep end of urban redevelopment.
Why “The Port”? (It’s Not for Boats)
The name “Port Riverwalk” confuses people. We aren’t docking cargo ships from New Orleans here.
In urban planning, a “Port” is a destination—a place where people from different neighborhoods congregate. The city’s vision is to turn this southern edge of Coon Rapids into a “Landing Spot” for the entire North Metro.
For years, this area was underutilized. It had a “Transit-Oriented Development” (TOD) label because of the Northstar Commuter Rail. But as we know from the city’s latest reports, the Northstar is being phased out.
The “Post-Northstar” Pivot
A lot of people thought the area would die when the train left. The opposite happened. The city realized they didn’t need a train to make the area valuable—they just needed the River. They shifted the focus from “Commuting” to “Lifestyle.” Instead of being a place to leave from, they’re making it a place to be.
This pivot is what saved the property values. By doubling down on high-density apartments and luxury townhomes with river views, they’ve created a new residential tax base that doesn’t depend on a train schedule.
The 2026 Pedestrian Bridge: The “Missing Link”
If you want to know when the appreciation “pop” is going to happen, mark your calendar for May 2026.
That is when the Port Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge is scheduled to open.
🌉 Why a Bridge Changes Your Equity:
- Access to the Regional Trail: Right now, if you live in the Port area, you can see the river, but you can’t easily get to the trails on the other side of the tracks. The bridge fixes that.
- The “Walkability” Premium: Homes in “walkable” neighborhoods sell for 10-15% more than their isolated counterparts. This bridge turns a disconnected neighborhood into a hub.
- Connectivity to the Dam: It links the new high-density housing directly to the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. You can go from your third-floor balcony to the edge of the river in 5 minutes on a bike.
As your Realtor, I’m watching the houses in the Coon Rapids Blvd corridor. When that bridge opens, those older homes become “Trailside Properties.” That’s a term that adds zero dollars to the tax assessment but $20,000 to the sale price.
The “Alloy” Axis: Creating a Social Heart
Urban redevelopment doesn’t work if people don’t have a place to go once they leave their front door.
Enter Alloy Brewing Company.
Located just off Coon Rapids Blvd, Alloy has become the “Unofficial Town Square” for the Port area. It’s a “Third Place”—not home, not work, but the place you go to be part of the community.
The city is encouraging more of this. The “Port” vision includes a walkable corridor of small businesses, restaurants, and shops that serve the 1,000+ new residents living in the apartments and townhomes.
The Real Estate Lesson:
When you’re looking at where to buy, don’t just look for a good house. Look for a good hangout. If a neighborhood has a brewery or a successful local pub like Shortstop Bar & Grill nearby, it means people are invested in the area. It means there’s a pulse. And a pulse drives property value.
The “Halo” Effect: Where to Buy Now
So, do you buy one of the new $2,500/month apartments? Maybe if you’re renting. But if you’re looking to build equity, you look at the Halo Effect.
The Halo Effect is the appreciation that happens to the existing homes around a new billion-dollar redevelopment project.
- The 1960s Ramblers:
Look at the neighborhoods bordering the Port. These are rock-solid, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ramblers. As the Port gets “fancier,” these homes become the “affordable” entry point for people who want to be near the action. - The “Invisible” Upgrade:
As the city removes industrial scrap yards and replaces them with parks and apartments, the noise pollution goes down and the visual appeal goes up. The house didn’t change, but the neighborhood did. - The “Down-Sizer” Demand:
I have a lot of clients in their 60s who are selling their big houses in Andover and moving into the new townhomes at the Port. This keeps the market fluid and keeps prices high across the board.
Last Call
Coon Rapids isn’t just a suburb anymore. We are building a “Place.”
The Port Riverwalk is the anchor for that new identity. It’s a bold, $100M+ bet that people want more than just a house—they want a connection to the river, a connection to their neighbors, and a connection to a cold pint of beer.
2026 is the year the bridge opens. 2026 is the year the “Renaissance” goes from blueprints to reality.
If you want to walk the Port with me and see which houses are in the “Halo Zone,” give me a call. I’ve got the boots, I’ve got the data, and I’ll meet you at Alloy afterward.
The river is waiting.
Jacob Zwack
Realtor | The Minnesota Real Estate Team
The Agent Referral Network.
Serving the North Metro. RENE, C2EX, SRS, ABR designated.
“I help you find the current.”
Jacob Zwack is a licensed Realtor with The Minnesota Real Estate Team. All information presented is for educational purposes. The Port Riverwalk redevelopment is a long-term city project; timelines and final features are subject to market conditions and city council approval. Always verify project status.
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