Ford Center nearly totally leased

One of the earliest Ford plants in the Twin Cities has taken on a new life as a unique office building in the North Loop area of Minneapolis. It's now 99.5 percent leased.

Ford Center, which recently underwent a $40 million renovation, has three new tenants -- Northern Lights Broadcasting (the home of FM 96.3 K-TWIN) , tech firm Agosto and Atomic Playpen, a web developer and design company. They complement HGA Architects and Engineers, the creative agency Olson, and luxury cleaning products maker Caldrea.

The building's owner, United Properties, says only 550 square feet out of 265,000 square feet remain to be leased. Located at 420 Fifth St. in Minneapolis, the vintage former Model-T plan sits in the shadow of Target Field..

"We're hoping to find an eatery of some kind to fill the remaining space and serve the building's tenants," said John Saunders of United Properties.

Northern Lights Broadcasting signed a lease for 8,400 square feet. of space on the first floor, moving from its current space in Edina to a glass-front studio facing Fifth Avenue and Fifth Street. Northern Lights plans to move in later this month..

Agosto, a Google App and cloud consulting firm, signed a lease for 13,200 square feet on the fourth floor and moved in in early October. .

Web developer and designer Atomic Playpen will occupy 11,800 sq. ft. on the sixth floor of Ford Center. A December move-in date is planned.

Ford Center was built in 1912 and was home to Ford Motor Company's vertical assembly plant and showroom until the operation was moved across the river to St. Paul. United Properties recently completed a historic renovation of the building.

Janet Moore covers commercial real estate for the Star Tribune.