GAF closing north Minneapolis plant, cutting 120 jobs
Roofing manufacturer GAF Materials will shutter its north Minneapolis manufacturing plant, eliminating roughly 120 jobs at a long‑time industrial site just south of the massive Upper Harbor riverfront redevelopment, according to a Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal report. The facility sits along the Mississippi near where the city and developers are building an amphitheater, health center, park space and housing, making the closure a significant shift for that corridor’s remaining industrial footprint. The article previews the closure but, behind a paywall, is expected to detail timing, severance and whether any production or workers will be shifted to other GAF locations. For north‑side residents, it’s a hit to one of the few remaining blue‑collar plants inside city limits at the same time nearby land is being repositioned for higher‑end mixed use. The combination of job loss and changing land values will bear close watching as Minneapolis weighs what replaces GAF on a riverfront that’s rapidly moving away from industry.
📌 Key Facts
- GAF Materials will close its north Minneapolis manufacturing facility, located just south of the Upper Harbor riverfront redevelopment
- The closure will lay off about 120 workers at the plant
- The plant sits next to a $300M‑plus mixed‑use project with an amphitheater, park, health center and housing along the Mississippi River
📊 Relevant Data
The GAF shingle plant in North Minneapolis has been the subject of protests due to concerns over downwind pollution affecting local communities.
Protestors gather to close shingle factory North Minneapolis — Audacy
Near North neighborhood in Minneapolis, where the plant is located, has a population that is 54% Black, compared to 18.8% Black for the city of Minneapolis overall.
Race and Ethnicity in Near North, Minneapolis, Minnesota — Statistical Atlas
The unemployment rate for Black residents in Minnesota was 7.7% in August 2025, compared to the statewide unemployment rate of about 3.9%.
Black workers bear the brunt of a stagnant U.S. job market — Star Tribune
The Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment project in North Minneapolis has raised concerns about gentrification and potential displacement of local residents.
Upper Harbor Terminal - Where do we go from here? — Friends of the Mississippi River
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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