Real estate notebook: Minneapolis taps David Frank for economic policy post
April 9, 2015 at 10:16PM
The Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) has a new director of economic policy and development, an internal hire who has deep development roots in Minneapolis.
David Frank, CPED's manager of transit-oriented development and a longtime North Loop resident, will take the job, a new position for the city.
In his former role, Frank was in charge of managing and coordinating the city's transit-oriented development efforts, including the reopening of Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street, redesign of Nicollet Mall and redevelopment of the Midtown Farmers Market site.
Before joining CPED in 2011, Frank was the longtime director of development at Schafer Richardson, which developed dozens of condo, rental apartment and office buildings in the Twin Cities. During his tenure, the company tackled several historic warehouse conversion projects.
Frank will report to D. Craig Taylor, director of Community Planning and Economic Development.
In his new role, Frank will manage several CPED divisions, including business development, business licensing and employment and training. He'll also oversee several high-profile business development initiatives such as Great Streets, a citywide program that promotes Minneapolis' various commercial districts, and the Business Technical Assistance Program, which aims to cultivate new business development in the city by providing consulting services.
Frank will have a staff of about 65.
In a statement, Mayor Betsy Hodges praised the promotion. "David has been an outstanding and stellar member of our team here at the city for a number of years," she said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and a shared vision for ensuring all people are contributing to, and benefiting from, our economic development and prosperity."
Frank serves on the 2020 Partners steering committee, is the president of the North Loop Neighborhood Association and is a board member of the Minnesota Fringe Festival.
In 2009, he was appointed by the City Council to serve on the Ballpark Implementation Committee, and he does guest lectures at the University of Minnesota and for other groups focused on urban design, historic preservation, planning and development issues.
Jim Buchta
about the writer
From small businesses to giants like Target, retailers are benefitting from the $10 billion industry for South Korean pop music, including its revival of physical album sales.
