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West End Development was formed by Michael McCall and Steven Shapiro in 1980. Steven, an attorney with the Minneapolis based law firm Larkin Hoffman Daly and Lindgren (and an architect and anthropologist as well), worked on the Wilson Learning relocation project, with Michael as his client, for the better part of two years. Having become good friends sharing mutual aspirations, when it become clear that Wilson Learning would not take the plunge into sophisticated real estate development, Michael and Steven decided the time was right to venture out on their own. Together Michael and Steven formed West End Development Company, wrote a private placement memorandum, secured angel venture capital from the prominent Wheelock and Irene Whitney family, and formed a new site-specific development vehicle, The Depot Development Company. Depot Development trained its attentions on the redevelopment of the Milwaukee Road depot and its 16 acres. Michael and Steven put together a consortium of investors and development team and that included influential corporate backers such as the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Soo Line Railroad; successful co-developers, including hotel developer Morris Levy (L' Hotel Sofitel), specialty retail developer Warren Beck, and housing developer Larry Laukka; and, consulting development professionals "Dewey" Joseph, Esq. from |
the Dorsey
Whitney law firm, David Bennett from the BRW planning and architecture
firm, and market economist Jim McCombs. |
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