Port Authority Jefferson School Site

Developers may now submit housing proposals to the Red Wing Port Authority for the Jefferson School site.

It’s not the first time a request for proposals (RFP) has been issued for the property, located at 601 Buchanan St.

The school district solicited responses in 2019 and 2025, but no project came to fruition. However, with the site recently rezoned and examples of successful school-to-housing conversions in other communities, the Port Authority is hopeful that this new RFP will attract strong developer interest.

Proposals are limited to 24 housing units per acre (52 total), and any additional structure constructed must be no more than three stories.

Proposals will also score higher if they save the historic school building and include a playground and/or open space for the public.

The school district still owns the site but has a signed purchase agreement with the Port Authority that expires on October 31.

In the meantime, the Port Authority is leading the search for developers and aims to identify a preferred developer by October 6.

The RFP remains open until September 10.

For details, go to https://www.redwingmn.gov/ and click on the View More News tab.