Final leg of the Hiawatha light rail opens

The final leg of the 12-mile Hiawatha light-rail line connecting downtown Minneapolis to Twin Cities International Airport and Mall of America opened in December, fostering housing development at both ends of its route. One study has associated the line with construction of approximately 7,000 housing units. McGough Development of St. Paul plans to break ground this winter for a 274-unit condominium complex near a stop in Bloomington. The developer says buyers are requesting fewer garage spaces than had been anticipated — probably because occupants can ride the train.