View details of this raise on Seedstage

Chicago, IL

Acquiring and redeveloping Hawthorn Crossings through community co-ownership, including a neighborhood equity matching grant for eligible 55411 residents.

• Acquisition and stabilization: Capital will be used to acquire Hawthorn Crossings and stabilize occupancy by supporting current tenants and filling vacancies.
• Community co-ownership model: The asset will be structured for community investors, with professional property and asset management under TREND.
• Neighborhood matching grant: TREND CDC will administer an equity matching grant for eligible residents in the 55411 ZIP code to broaden local ownership.
• Local business and jobs: The redevelopment plan prioritizes opportunities for minority-owned businesses and aims to support community employment.
• Placemaking and climate-positive upgrades: The project includes placemaking and climate-positive improvements, such as solar panels and resilient landscaping.

TREND is raising capital to acquire and redevelop Hawthorn Crossings, a 51,459 square foot neighborhood shopping center on the West Broadway commercial corridor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The planned work is aimed at stabilizing occupancy, supporting existing operators, filling remaining vacancies, and pursuing value-add development opportunities on the site. Hawthorn Crossings is anchored by U.S. Bank, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and McDonald’s, alongside locally owned businesses serving North Minneapolis. TREND intends to structure the ownership model so community investors can share in the real estate asset, with management and reporting handled by TREND and its property teams.

These initiatives are intended to strengthen the tenant mix, improve financial performance, and support long-term momentum along the West Broadway corridor. Alongside the acquisition, TREND CDC, a nonprofit affiliate, will provide a neighborhood equity matching grant for eligible residents in the 55411 ZIP code, intended to expand ownership opportunities within the community. The plan emphasizes partnerships with minority-owned businesses and local employment, while also incorporating placemaking and climate-positive improvements such as solar panels and resilient landscaping. The company views the project as a scalable template for additional service-oriented community shopping centers, aligned with neighborhood growth efforts like the African American Leadership Forum’s Northside Forward plan.

Company Info

Hawthorn Crossings is developing and managing a community-owned neighborhood shopping center in Minneapolis, with community participation structured through an equity sharing model and tenant-focused operations.

Hawthorn Crossings is a community-owned neighborhood shopping center project in Minneapolis that acquires and operates retail real estate along the West Broadway corridor. The initiative manages day-to-day property operations, supports existing tenants, fills vacancies, and evaluates value-add site improvements to sustain neighborhood-serving retail. Returns are tied to a long-term hold, with cash flow and profit shared among participating equity owners.

The model pairs professional real estate management with eligibility-based community participation. For residents in the 55411 ZIP code, a matching grant can be applied to qualified investments, providing an additional equity layer for early eligible neighbors. The effort also emphasizes access for minority- and locally owned businesses through leasing and operator support, alongside reporting on property performance and leasing activity.