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The ultimate
source for
Minnesota
development
news and
information
Don Jacobson
DEVELOPING
STORIES
The ultimate source for
Minnesota development
news and information
June 2018 issue
2
DEVELOPING STORIES
June 2018 issue
The ultimate monthly compilation of Twin Cities development-stage real estate
project news
©2018, Deadline USA LLC. No reproduction or dissemination of this publication
is permitted without permission.
All images contained in this publication are aggregated from freely available
public documents.
Editor: Don Jacobson
Published monthly by:
Deadline USA LLC
198 6th St. E., #601
St. Paul, MN 55101
Website: www.developingstoriesmn.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-479-3989
Subscriptions: $295/year (introductory rate)
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Primrose Schools
Primrose Schools/ADA Architects
4061 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills
Primrose Schools, a national system of accredited private
preschools providing child care and early education, in May was
considering purchasing a bank property in Arden Hills and
converting it into a daycare center. The 18,000-square-foot, two-
story bank and office building is located at 4061 Lexington Avenue
North and is currently owned by Bremer Bank. Under the plans,
Primrose would complete extensive renovations to the interior of
the building to create a 176-capacity daycare center. This would
include constructing seven rooms for young infants, toddlers, and
early preschool on the first floor and five rooms for preschool, pre-
kindergarten, and explorers (school-aged children) on the second.
The basement floor would be utilized for food preparation, staff
space, a conference room, and storage.
Project contact: John Finnemore, Primrose Schools, 770-310-8755
Timeline: Undetermined
ARDEN HILLS
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Harbor Freight Tools
HJ Development/FRCH Design Worldwide
11727 Ulysses Lane N.E., Blaine
HJ Development proposed to construct a Harbor Freight Tools
hardware retail building located on the northeast corner of 117th
Avenue and Ulysses Lane N.E., just north of the existing Goodwill
store in Blaine. The building would be 16,225 square feet in size.
The current elevations include stone, glass and decorative metal on
only some portions of the building, falling short of the city’s
Highway 65 Overlay District Standards for building materials.
Project contact: Chris Moe, HJ Development, 952-476-9400
Timeline: Unspecified
BLAINE
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Blaine Family Entertainment Center
Kami Inc./Blaine Entertainment Partners/Amcon Construction
10650 Baltimore Street N.E., Blaine
Plans were submitted in May to remodel part of the 66,000-square-foot former Gander Mountain store
in Blaine into a 22,500-square-foot indoor entertainment and recreation facility. The plans for the
overall building were filed by Gonzalo Medina of Woodbury-based Kami Inc. It would be subdivided into
three tenant spaces, including one for the Blaine Family Entertainment Center. The center would consist
of a variety of activities including bumper cars, laser tag, a climbing wall, laser tag arena, mini bowling,
an XD theater, a ropes course and several other games. Also included would be a casual food restaurant,
where the proprietors intend to serve beer and wine to adult patrons.
Project contacts: Jim & Marilyn Webber, Blaine Entertainment Partners, 763-354-4923
Timeline: Unspecified
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Bloomington Acura relocation
The Luther Company/Baker Associates Inc.
511-515 W. 78th St. & 7801 Lyndale Ave. S., Bloomington
The Luther Company submitted a site plan application to allow the
Bloomington Acura/Subaru auto dealership to relocate its Acura
operations from its current building at 7801 Lyndale Avenue South
to an existing warehouse at 511 78th Street West. The north 40 feet
of the warehouse would be enhanced to create a showroom. South
of the showroom would be sales and support offices with additional
offices, employee locker rooms, an employee break room and a
training room on a partial second floor. Approximately 4,000 square
feet of the building on the south would be removed. The remaining
spaces would be used for 20 major automotive service bays, six
auto detail repair stalls, trash collection, storage, and a private car
wash.
Project contact: Kendra Lindahl, Landform, 612-638-0225
Timeline: Unspecified
BLOOMINGTON
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Public Storage
Public Storage Inc./Galloway
8124 Lakeland Ave., Brooklyn Park
Public Storage, which has operated a self-storage facility at 8124 Lakeland Avenue in Brooklyn Park since 1979, proposed to demolish three one-level buildings added in 1999 and replace them a three-level, climate-controlled building. Project contact: Dan Matula, Public Storage, 972-591-2669
Timeline: Unspecified
BROOKLYN PARK
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Nystrom & Associates Medical Office Building
Nystrom & Associates/Wilkus Architects/Heritage Construction
116XX Round Lake Blvd., Coon Rapids
Nystrom & Associates, a behavioral health and chemical
dependency treatment practice, sought site plan approvals for a
20,540-square-foot, two-story office building and associated parking
in Coon Rapids. The 2.3-acre site is on the northwest corner of
Round Lake Boulevard and Coon Rapids Boulevard. The building
height is staggered. Horizontal and vertical variations are provided
by a raised stone tower at the southeast corner. Exterior materials
include two types and colors of fiber cement siding and cultured
stone. There is a precast veneer base.
Project contact: Kevin Green, Wilkus Architects, 952-941-8660
Timeline: Unspecified
COON RAPIDS
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Pizzey Flax Seed Facility
Pizzey Ingredients Inc./Bauer Design Build
McKinley Pkwy., Delano
Manitoba-based Pizzey Ingredients sought site plan approvals for a
new flax seed milling facility at Delano’s West Metro Business Park.
The proposed site plan is for a 15,000-square-foot manufacturing
facility. The building plan shows the exterior of the building to be
finished with precast concrete, with a maximum height of 29 feet, 8
inches. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED) is supporting the project with a $196,969
grant from its Job Creation Fund. Pizzey Ingredients is investing $3.2
million and plans to hire 14 people as part of the project.
Project contact: Tucker Osterberg, Bauer Design Build, 763-972-
0000
Timeline: Summer 2018 start
DELANO
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Insolutions Manufacturing facility
Insoultions Manufacuring/Bauer Design Build
Delano Metro West Business Park, Delano
Insolutions Manufacturing, maker of Polar Barrier cellulose insulation and Top Seed hydroseed products,
is purchasing a parcel at the Delano Metro West Business Park and has submitted applications to
construct a 20,000-square-foot industrial building. A future expansion of another 15,000 square feet is
also in the plans. The site plan shows the exterior of the building to be finished with tip-up concrete
panels. The building will have a parapet extending above the roof providing some screen of the roof top
equipment.
Project contact: Tucker Osterberg, Bauer Design Build, 763-972-0000
Timeline: Summer 2018 start
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Sienna on the Park
Chase Real Estate/Kaas Wilson Architects
77th Street, S. of Fred Richards Park, Edina
Chase Real Estate, working with property owner Hillcrest
Development, sought preliminary approvals to convert a 10-acre
portion of the 27-acre Pentagon Park North redevelopment site into
Sienna on the Park. Chase’s proposal calls for a pair of five-story
residential buildings with underground parking. They include a 360-
unit market-rate, all-age apartment building; and a 225-unit
continuum of care senior building. The existing four 1960s-era office
buildings on these parcels would be demolished. Units in the
market-rate property would average 900 square feet, most with
balconies. The senior property would include 125 independent
living units, 50 assisted living units and 50 memory care units.
Project contact: Joe McElwain, Chase Real Estate, 952-898-5600
Timeline: Undetermined
EDINA
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Pentagon Park South
Solomon Real Estate Group/RSP Architects
77th St., Computer Ave., Viking Dr. & Normandale Blvd., Edina
Solomon Real Estate Group in May sought re-zonings for the south parcel of the Pentagon Park
redevelopment project area in Edina to facilitate the coming of Pentagon Park South, a 12.5-acre mixed-
use project. The site is currently owned by Hillcrest Development. The first phase would include 11,800
square feet of retail space, a 193-room hotel, a 153-room hotel, and a parking ramp. The second phase
would be a pair of five-story office buildings, a parking ramp and 19,000 square feet of office/retail. At
full development build-out, the Pentagon Park South project would include 225,000 square feet of office
space, two hotels (346 rooms), 30,800 square feet of retail and two parking structures with a total of
1,545 spaces.
Project contact: Jay Scott, Solomon Real Estate, 952-852-2339
Timeline: Undetermined
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708 Offices
Friese Properties/Kroll & Associates Architecture
708 Second St., Hudson
Friese Properties applied for a conditional use permit and final development approvals for a new office/parking mixed-use building to be located on what is now a parking lot at 708 Second Street, just north of downtown Hudson. Project contact: Hans Friese, 715-386-1737
Timeline: Unspecified
HUDSON
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Adelaide Landing 2nd Addition
Excelsior Group
N. of 130th St., E. of Hwy. 61, Hugo
The Excelsior Group sought final plat approvals for the second
phase of Adelaide Landing, a single-family home neighborhood of
319 residential lots on 216 acres in Hugo. Excelsior proposed to
construct it in five phases, generally starting from the south along
130th Street and heading north. The first phase from 2017 included
platting 81 lots with a combination of single-family homes and villa
homes with access off 130th. The second addition, submitted in
May, calls for 70 more lots.
Project contact: Ben Schmidt, 952-525-3200
Timeline: Spring 2018
HUGO
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IGH Corporate Center
Industrial Equities LLC/Architects Professional Association
Auburn Path & Argenta Trail, Inver Grove Heights
Industrial Equities sought final development approvals for the IGH
Corporate Center, a 110,000-square-foot office/warehouse building
along Argenta Trail. The expected occupancy of the building is 50
percent warehouse, 30 percent manufacturing and 20 percent
office.
Project contact: John Allen, Industrial Equities, 612-332-1122
Timeline: Unspecified
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS
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Holiday Stationstore
Holiday Stationstores LLC/Architectural Consortium
7020 S. Robert Trail, Inver Grove Heights
Holiday Stationstores submitted plans to raze its existing 2,400-square-foot service station/convenience
store in Inver Grove Heights and replace it with a new version. The new facility would include a 5,700-
square-foot convenience store, an attached 1,600-square-foot car wash, a 6,200-square-foot canopy
and 16 fueling positions. New double-wall fiberglass fuel tanks, double-wall piping, state-of-the-art fuel
dispensers and other structures would be installed. The rebuilding would be done in conjunction with a
scheduled complete closure of Hwy. 3 at 70th Street for the construction of a new roundabout.
Project contact: Casey Beaton, Holiday Stationstores, 952-832-8694
Timeline: Summer 2018 start
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Inver Grove Heights Apartments concept plan
McGough Development LLC/Kaas Wilson Architects
W. of Hwy. 3, S. of Amana Trail, Inver Grove Heights
McGough Development requested a comprehensive plan amendment for the future construction of an
apartment project located in the Argenta Hills Shopping Area of Inver Grove Heights. The site is a vacant
area west of an existing Target store. The city turned down an earlier proposal for the spot calling for
400 multifamily units on a pair of outlots, citing concerns about density and loss of commercially guided
land. The revised concept plans now call for approximately 225 high-end units in a four-story building
with a pitched roof and a residential blend of brick, stone and high-quality siding materials. The building
is to include high-end finishes and a rich amenity package.
Project contact: Mark Fabel, McGough Development, 651-248-3024
Timeline: Undetermined
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Nature’s Refuge
Preferred Builders Inc.
N. of Main Street, W. of Lino Lakes Elementary School, Lino Lakes
Minnetonka-based Preferred Builders in May sought PUD
development stage and preliminary plat applications for a revised
version Nature’s Refuge, a 62-lot single-family “conservation”
subdivision near Lino Lakes Elementary School. The area totals
approximately 95 gross acres. The Nature’s Refuge concept was first
presented in 2006 including 232 acres and 278 single-family units
but was never built due the decline in the housing market. The
current smaller version has a net density is 1.66 units per acre. Only
six lots in the plat are less than 80 feet wide.
Project contact: Pete Kocisak, 952-595-5242
Timeline: Unspecified
LINO LAKES
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Tri-Care Property Auto Body Repair concept plan
Oppidan Holdings
NE corner, 96th Ave. N. & Dunkirk Lane N., Maple Grove
Oppidan Holdings sought concept-stage approvals for a plan to
erect an approximately 18,000-square-foot auto-body repair shop
on part of the Tri-Care property in Maple Grove. The site is
immediately west of the Menards home improvement store on the
north side of 96th Avenue. The overall master plan for the Tri-Care
Property identifies the site to be used for retail-type uses. The store
would conduct auto body and glass repair but would not include
engine repair or work involving automobile fluids.
Project contact: Jim Hornecker, Oppidan Holdings, 952-294-0353
Timeline: Undetermined
MAPLE GROVE
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Wings Financial Credit Union
Wings Financial Credit Union/Doran Companies/Pope Architects
Outlot L, The Village at Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove
Doran Companies and Wings Financial sought development-stage approvals for a 3,200-square-foot
credit union in Doran’s Village at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. The building and a personal teller machine
drive-through are slated for a 19,000-square-foot lot to be carved out of an existing outlot east of the
development’s established retail area. The architecture of the small building includes a curved metal
roof, with the primary exterior materials being brick and glass with a secondary use of metal.
Project contact: Brent Lindstrom, Doran Cos., 952-641-9473
Timeline: Unspecified
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The Grove Multi-Tenant Retail Building
TLH Holdings/Reprise Architecture
9805 Maple Grove Pkwy., Maple Grove
TLH Holdings, an affiliate of Hempel Companies, sought final permissions to construct a 4,700-square-
foot, dual-tenant building with a drive-through at The Grove retail development in Maple Grove. The
proposed building is on a one-acre parcel. It would be immediately adjacent to the recently constructed
Bobby and Steve’s Auto World and share the south entry drive with it. The known user is Caribou Coffee,
occupying approximately one-half the space. The other user is not yet determined. The architecture
features varying parapet heights, along with brick, stone, glass and dryvit (stucco-like material) exteriors.
Project contact: Ben Krsnak, Hempel Cos., 612-355-2600
Timeline: Unspecified
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Morrie’s Mercedes-Benz
Morrie’s Automotive Group/Gries Architectural Group
2780 Maplewood Dr., Maplewood
Morrie’s Automotive Group proposed to tear down its existing car
dealership building along Hwy. 61 in Maplewood and build a new
one for its Mercedes Benz dealership. As proposed, the existing
35,041-square-foot building would be removed and a new 47,685-
square-foot building would be built and shifted further south on the
site. As part of this project, Morrie’s has purchased an auto body
shop southwest of its current site -- this building will be razed and
the land incorporated into the overall site.
Project contact: Lynn Robson, Morrie’s Automotive Group, 952-544-
0376
Timeline: Unspecified
MAPLEWOOD
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Centre Point Business Park VIII
Roseville Properties Management/Sherburne-Slater Construction
1179 Centre Pointe Circle, Mendota Heights
Roseville Properties Management, owner of the Centre Point
Business Park in Mendota Heights, sought approvals for a new
office building within the development. The property consists of
3.58 acres and is currently vacant land. The plans call for the
construction of a new 30,000-square-foot professional office
building, with 128 parking spaces. Roseville says it is looking to
relocate an unidentified local high-tech engineering firm with
approximately 80 fulltime employees to this new stand-alone office
building. The developer says the firm is planning to add
approximately 20 employees as part of this relocation and new
office facility.
Project contact: Hugh Cullen, Roseville Properties Management,
651-633-6312
MENDOTA HEIGHTS
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Bassett Creek East
Schafer Richardson/UrbanWorks Architecture
747 3rd St. N., Minneapolis
Schafer Richardson in May sought final approvals to redevelop the
site in Minneapolis’ North Loop into the Bassett Creek East
Apartments. The site on Third Street North currently
accommodates a surface parking lot primarily serving the Bassett
Creek Business Center at 901 N. Third Street. The proposed
redevelopment will be a new six-story building with two levels of
underground parking for a total of 204,000 gross square feet. The
U-shaped building will have approximately 139 market-rate
apartments with a mix of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and
penthouse units centered on a common courtyard. There will be
approximately 3,600 square feet of retail space on the northwest
corner of the first floor facing Third Street. The underground
parking structure will accommodate approximately 164 vehicles for
both the residential and commercial uses.
Project contact: Maureen Michalski, Schafer Richardson, 612-359-
5842
Timeline: Unspecified
MINNEAPOLIS
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Snelling Yards Redevelopment concept plan
Lupe Development Partners/Ecumen/Pope Architects
3601 44th St. E., Minneapolis
A team of Lupe Development Partners and nonprofit builder Ecumen submitted concept plans for the
Snelling Yards Redevelopment. The plans call for a pair of five-story buildings and a total of 251
affordable housing units. Ecumen is to develop a 130-unit affordable senior housing facility at the corner
of Snelling and 45th Street; while Lupe would develop 121 units for affordable workforce housing along
44th Street. The buildings would provide units that ranging from studios to two bedrooms. The 3.5-acre
Snelling Yards site has been owned by the City of Minneapolis for decades with its most recent use being
storage for Public Works. It is located approximately two blocks from the 46th Street Light Rail Station.
Project contact: Steve Minn, Lupe Development Partners, 612-436-3210
Timeline: Undetermined
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S.E. 8th Street Redevelopment concept plan
Unidentified/DJR Architecture
633-715 8th St. S.E., Minneapolis
An unidentified developer represented by DJR Architecture floated concept plans for the redevelopment
of a parcel in Minneapolis’ Marcy Holmes neighborhood into combination of new mixed-use buildings
and renovated existing commercial space. The site along 8th Street S.E. currently holds a one-story
industrial building originally constructed in 1900 for the Despatch Oven Company. Two large,
subsequent additions to the building were constructed along 9th St SE in the 1960s. The redevelopment
plan calls for the newer additions to be demolished while the older portion would be converted to office
uses. Meanwhile, the new buildings would include a five-story mixed-use building with a 61-room hotel,
offices, a commercial kitchen, and warehouse space; and a four-story mixed-use building with 61
dwelling units and ground-floor commercial space (most likely a coffee shop) along 8th Street.
Project contact: DJR Architecture, 612-676-2700
Timeline: Undetermined
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Minneapolis Lakeside Self-Storage
Jacobs Management Corp./Colliers Architecture
434 Lakeside Ave., Minneapolis
Jacobs Management Corp., owner of a self-storage facility in Minneapolis’ North Loop, proposed to
renovate and expand the existing building. The proposed addition would add 33,534 square feet of new
gross floor area exclusively dedicated to self-storage space. The project is also proposing to alter the
existing structure’s facade through the replacement of exterior materials and the addition of new
windows on the Lakeside elevation.
Project contact: Todd C. Jones, Jacobs Management, 952-345-3450
Timeline: Unspecified
.
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Graze Provisions & Libations
Derived Development Group LLC/ESG Architects
525 3rd St. N., Minneapolis
An entity related to Denver-based Alberta Development Partners sought final permissions for a 14,000-
square-foot restaurant/café/bar concept called Graze Provisions & Libations in Minneapolis’ North Loop.
The project site is a vacant lot bounded by North 4th Street to the southwest and North 5th Avenue
along the southeast. It is currently part of the Bookmen Lofts’ ‘Master Declaration’ area. The concept
includes six kitchens, two dining spaces, two bar spaces, a first-level coffee bar with walk-up window
access from North 4th Street, passive and active outdoor areas on the ground level, and, on the second
level, a large outdoor, rooftop terrace offering views of the surrounding area and downtown
Minneapolis. The building will be constructed utilizing two levels of steel-framed construction. Exterior
materials will consist of brick, wood, cement board, metal panels and glass.
Project contact: Gregory Cuda, Alberta Development Partners, 303-771-4004
Timeline: Undetermined
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NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center expansion
Hennepin County/Collaborative Design Group
2200 Plymouth Ave. N. & 1313-19 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis
Hennepin County sought land use approvals for an expansion of its NorthPoint Health & Wellness Clinic
at Plymouth & Penn avenues in North Minneapolis. Previous approvals elsewhere at the intersection
include the new Thor Construction headquarters, office space for Hennepin County, retail and a
principal parking facility. Additionally, Estes Funeral Chapel is relocating to the southwest corner of the
intersection, allowing for the expansion of NorthPoint on the northwest corner. The expanded facility
will allow for an increase in the clinic size from 66,000 square feet to almost 170,000 square feet,
incorporating both the NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center and NorthPoint Inc. human services
functions. The clinical programs include medical, dental, behavioral and programs specifically for women
and children. The clinic programming also includes a pharmacy, optometry, radiology and labs. There
are large open spaces proposed, including a wellness courtyard, meditation gardens and several plazas.
Project contact: Bill Hickey, Collaborative Design Group, 612-371-6414
Timeline: Late 2018 construction start
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Thrivent Corporate Headquarters
Thrivent Financial/HGA Architecture
Block bounded by Portland Ave., 6th St., 5th Ave., and 7th St. S., Minneapolis
Thrivent Financial in May sought final approvals for its new headquarters plan in the Elliot Park
neighborhood of downtown Minneapolis. The proposed eight-story office building has a total of 264,139
square feet with a first-floor coffee shop/café, chapel/meditation space and a credit union. The coffee
shop/café is located on the first floor at the southeast end of the building with proposed outdoor
seating. Skyways are proposed on the 2nd floor to connect to the parking ramp/residential development
previously approved to the west, HCMC to the east, and the future apartment/hotel project to the
south. Two levels of underground parking would serve the needs of this building and the residential
development proposed at the south end of the site. The total number of parking stalls would be 164.
Project contact: Bill Blanski, HGA, 612-758-4000
Timeline: Unspecified
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Legacy Oaks Condominium Building
Ron Clark Construction
300 Parkers Lake Rd., Minnetonka
Ron Clark Construction in May submitted revised plans for its
Legacy Oaks condominium development in Minnetonka. In 2015,
the city approved the first of three planned 20-unit condo buildings,
which was subsequently built. The second 20-unit building was
approved in 2016 but never built. Now the builder has reevaluated
its plans for the remaining two 20-unit condominium and is instead
proposing to construct just one, 38-unit, “L-shaped” building. The
proposed three-story building would have a footprint of roughly
26,700 square feet and total floor area of roughly 103,000 square
feet. Common spaces would be located on the first floor and would
include an exercise room and club room.
Project contact: Mike Roebuck, Ron Clark Construction, 952-947-
3000
Timeline: Unspecified
MINNETONKA
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Ridgedale Executive Apartments
Rotenberg Companies/Momentum Design Group
12501 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka
Rotenberg Companies in May sought approvals to redevelop a former restaurant (RS Sports Grill,
previously Redstone) at 12501 Ridgedale Drive into the Ridgedale Executive Apartments. The plans for
the spot just south of Ridgedale Center calls for a four-story, 77-unit luxury apartment building. An
existing office building also located on the same property would remain under the plans. The proposed
unit mix includes upscale one- and two-bedroom apartments “designed to the highest condominium-
caliber standards” with on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, a community room. an outdoor patio
and pool area. Two levels of structured indoor parking are also proposed. City planner staffers
recommended denying the application, contending the site is too small for the building’s “massive”
footprint.
Project contact: Richard Rotenberg, Rotenberg Companies, 952-545-9059
Timeline: Undetermined
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11001 Bren Road Apartments
Dominium/BKV Architects
11001 Bren Rd. E., Minnetonka
Dominium in May sought re-zonings and site plan approvals to redevelop the existing commercial
properties at 11001 Bren Road East in Minnetonka. The plans call for the redevelopment of an existing
office building to construct 482 units of affordable rental housing within three buildings on the 9.4-acre
site. Building A is a proposed four-story, 83-unit, workforce housing building; Building B would contain
137 workforce units; Building C would be six stories and contain 262 affordable, independent senior
units. The existing site includes an office building and associated surface parking lot. Adjacent to the site
is the future Green Line light rail transit extension and Opus Station. The station platform is immediately
across Bren Road East from the proposed housing.
Project contact: Ryan J. Lunderby, Dominium, 763-354-5500
Timeline: Undetermined
35
Haven Ridge sketch plan
Marc Schulte
Edmonson Ave. N.E., Monticello
A homebuilder identified as Marc Schulte submitted concept plans
for a single-family home development called Haven Ridge in
Monticello. The plans call for the annexation of 216 acres south of
the city’s current border into the city of Monticello and a
preliminary plat of 359 housing units. In total, the plan proposes
229 units of R-1 single-family; 44 units of R-A single-family; and 76
units of townhouses -- a total of 359 units on the 216 acres, making
for a very low gross density of less than 1.7 units per acre.
Project contact: Jim Kalkes, Carlson McCain, 763-489-7900
Timeline: Undetermined
MONTICELLO
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Greenway North sketch plan
Pulte Homes of Minnesota
18405 County Rd. 47, Plymouth
Pulte Homes submitted a sketch plan for a new subdivision in
Plymouth to be called Greenway North. The plan calls for 20 single-
family lots and 101 townhomes on 22 acres in the city’s
northwestern corner. The builder was seeking a comprehensive
plan rezoning of the area to allow for the higher density called for in
the sketch plan.
Project contact: Paul Heuer, Pulte Homes, 952-229-0722
Timeline: Undetermined
PLYMOUTH
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Parkhaven at Pike Lake
Parkhaven Holdings LLC
E. of County Rd. 21, W. of Pike Lake, Prior Lake
Parkhaven Holdings LLC in May applied for PUD approvals for its
Parkhaven at Pike Lake low-density residential plans. The
preliminary plat calls for 55 lots on 44 acres west of Pike Lake in
Prior Lake. The majority of the lot sizes range from 8,400 to 14,000
square feet. The average lot width is 70 square feet, making for an
overall density of 3.1 units per acre. Five new streets within the
development will provide access to Hwys. 42 and 21.
Project contact: Terry Forbord, 952-470-5121
Timeline: Unspecified
PRIOR LAKE
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Lyndale Gardens Apartments
Cornerstone Group/North Bay Cos./DJR Architects
6330-6346 Lyndale Ave. S., Richfield
The Cornerstone Group and partner North Bay Companies sought
approvals for a two-part redevelopment of the northern portion of
the former Lyndale Garden Center site in Richfield. One of the
elements is a new, three-story building to be called the Lyndale
Gardens Apartments. The plan calls for 66 apartment units and
eight townhome units with walk-out entries. Apartment mix will be
57 studios and nine one-bedrooms. The townhomes will include six
three- bedroom units and a pair of two-bedroom units. Amenities
will be shared among all units and will consist of a large commons
area with a patio, two fitness rooms and a bike storage and repair
station.
Project contact: Lawrence Black, Cornerstone Group, 612-991-8372
Timeline: Fall 2018 construction start, Summer 2019 completion
RICHFIELD
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Lakeside at Lyndale Gardens
Cornerstone Group/North Bay Cos./Cermak Rhoades Architects
6330-6346 Lyndale Ave. S., Richfield
The Cornerstone Group and partner North Bay Companies sought approvals for a two-part
redevelopment of the northern portion of the former Lyndale Garden Center site in Richfield. One of the
elements is the Lakeside at Lyndale Gardens, a 30-unit condominium building on the shores of Richfield
Lake. The mix of units will be eight one-bedrooms (around 1,400 square feet), 16 two-bedrooms (also
around 1,400 square feet) and six three-bedrooms (around 2,500 square feet). The design plans show 42
underground parking spaces, with an additional 13 surface spaces and eight in a proposed exterior
parking structure.
Project contact: Lawrence Black, Cornerstone Group, 612-991-8372
Timeline: Fall 2018 construction start, Summer 2019 completion
40
Civic on First Hotel
EKN Development Group/HKS Architects Inc.
315 1st Ave. N.W., Rochester
California-based hotelier EKN Development filed revised plans for a
new hotel in downtown Rochester to be called the Civic On First.
The plans call for the razing of an American Legion Post currently on
the site. Since first submitted in late 2017, the changes include
reductions in the number of proposed hotel rooms (168 from 175),
building height (eight floors from nine floors), and the amount of
loading area. Its façade includes modulating elements that appear
as separate massing elements. Primary building materials are
proposed as Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete or composite metal
panels for the hotel portion of the building and the parking
structure.
Project contact: Ebbie K. Nakhjanvani, EKN Development Group,
949-467-9008
Timeline: Unspecified
ROCHESTER
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Bridgewater Bank Corporate Center
Bridgewater Bank/DJR Architecture
4400-24 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park
Bridgewater Bank proposed an office development housing its
corporate headquarters at a site in St. Louis Park which had once
been proposed by Dominium for a mixed-use residential project.
The Dominium proposal was denied by the city after much
controversy over added traffic on Excelsior Boulevard and other
concerns. Now Bridgewater Bank is seeking permissions for a four-
story, 84,000-square-foot office building, with three levels of
structured parking, on the same spot. Also included in the plans are
a public plaza; ground-floor retail and restaurant storefronts on the
east side of the plaza; and a 4,700-square-foot shared lobby. The
remaining 7,152 square feet of the ground floor will be used as a
commercial branch for Bridgewater Bank. Floors two through four
are each approximately 20,000 square feet in size and will be home
to the office headquarters of Bridgewater and an entrepreneurial
co-working hub.
Project contact: Dean Dovolis, DJR Architecture, 612-676-2700
Timeline: Late 2019 completion
SAINT LOUIS PARK
42
Snelling & St. Clair Apartments
TJL Development LLC/Momentum Design Group
246-58 Snelling Ave S., St. Paul
Local developer Jim LaValle of TJL Development in May sought a
conditional use permit for a proposed a 118-unit building of five and
four stories at the St. Paul intersection Snelling and St. Clair
avenues. Also included is 4,000 square feet of retail space on the
first floor. Covered at-grade parking and a 70-stall, below-grade
ramp would be provided. In 2017, LeCesse Development also
proposed razing the one-story commercial buildings now on the
same site to make way for a mixed-use project with 128 residential
units and 1,900 square feet of retail. That proposal, however, never
moved forward after neighborhood opposition.
Project contact: Jesse Hamer, Momentum Design Group, 952-583-
9788
Timeline: July 2018 demolition of current buildings
SAINT PAUL
43
Tobasi Stop
Abdalla Tobasi/Carlsen & Frank Architects
801-809 Selby Ave., St. Paul
St. Paul retailer Abdalla Tobasi in May sought permissions to raze his existing Tobasi Stop gas station and
convenience store along Selby Avenue and replace it with a new version. The existing store was built in
the late 1950s. The new building would be 6,646 square feet, larger than the original, and would offer
new products such as fresh produce, coffee and lunch sandwiches, along with a separate area for
tobacco products. The existing gas tanks would remain as they are on the site.
Project contact: Carlsen & Frank Architects, 651-227-4576
Timeline: Unspecified
44
JAX Building rehabilitation
VoR Jax LLC/ Kaas Wilson Architects
247-253 Fourth St. E., St. Paul
The owners of the JAX Building in downtown St. Paul’s Lowertown district sought historic preservation
approvals for their project to convert the structure from its longtime use as artists’ studio and
commercial space into 48-unit residential building. The plans call for 49,000 square feet of apartment
uses within the 70,000-square-foot, six-story building, which was constructed in 1909 as the Michaud
Brothers Grocery Building. The rehab plans sought approvals for the creation of 19 new window
openings and new roofing materials.
Project contact: Ryan Dupuis, Kass Wilson, 612-223-7960
Timeline: Undetermined
45
900 Albion Senior Community
J.A. Wedum Foundation/Pope Architects
900 Albion Ave., St. Paul
Philanthropists the J.A. Wedum Foundation sought approvals for a project to turn the site of a shuttered
former St. Paul public school building into a senior housing building of approximately 165 units. The
irregularly-shaped, 5.5-acre parcel near the intersection of Lexington Parkway and West Seventh Street
is the site of the former Riverview School, which was demolished in 2017. A reconstruction of the
intersection is in the works which will split the former school parcel; the 165-unit, five-story 900 Albion
building will occupy one the resulting parcels, while a future second phase is planned for the other. The
Wedum Foundation has a purchase agreement with the school district for the site. The project calls for a
mix of independent living, assisted living and memory care units, with amenities such as a “town center”
including a kitchen, dining areas, bistro, exercise room, theater and library.
Project contact: Greg Woollums, Pope Architects, 651-642-9200
Timeline: Fall 2018 construction start
46
The Liffey Apartments
Gaughan Companies/Momentum Design Group
304 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul
Gaughan Companies sought site plan approvals for the Liffey Apartments, a proposed 73-unit
multifamily building along St. Paul’s Snelling Avenue. The site, located two blocks north of Interstate 94,
currently holds a one-story commercial building which would be razed as part of the plans. The unit mix
includes 30 “micro-units”; 16 one-bedrooms; 16 two-bedrooms; and eight alcove units. Materials on the
building facade include be masonry, fiber cement panels, corrugated metal panels, fiberglass windows,
and pre-finshed metal storefront at the Snelling Avenue grade. Some 26 parking stalls are planned in a
first-floor garage with the living spaces located in the five stories above.
Project contact: Dan Hebert, Gaughan Companies, 651-255-5558
Timeline: August 2018 start
47
Beacon Bluff Light Industrial Building
Opus Group
999 Wells St., St. Paul
The Opus Group submitted site plans in May for an 86,973-square-foot speculative light industrial
building in the St. Paul Port Authority’s Beacon Bluff Business Center. The vacant East Side parcel is
along Wells Street, north of Phalen Boulevard -- a 5.5-acre lot which Opus purchased in 2016. The $4.1
million spec building will boast 24-foot clear ceilings heights and come with 92 parking stalls.
Project contact: Jay Fourniea, Opus, 952-656-4830
Timeline: Summer 2018 start
48
Morning Star Senior Housing
Premier Housing Management/Mesaba Capital Partners/InSite Architects
739 Selby Ave., St. Paul
The Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church teamed with Mesaba Capital Partners and Premier Housing
Management to seek final approvals to redevelop an existing church along Selby Avenue in St. Paul. The
project would see the razing of the current building and the construction of new, 6,660-square-foot
church as part of a 101-unit, four-story senior housing project at the intersection of Selby and Grotto
Street. The $24 million project would include independent, assisted and memory-care units with
common areas featuring dining room & commercial kitchen, club room, coffee shop/bistro, wellness
center, library, community room and theater. The new church would boast an enlarged sanctuary to
support a congregation of 240.
Project contact: Jill Krantz, Insite Architects, 952-412-5546
Timeline: July 2018 start
49
Frogtown Meadows
Hmong American Partnership/JB Realty/DSGW Architects
262 Sherburne Ave., St. Paul
The Hmong American Partnership and JB Realty submitted site plans to redevelop the vacant “Saxon
Ford” site in St. Paul into Frogtown Meadows, a 51-unit senior assisted living building. The location is on
Sherburne Avenue, a block north of University Avenue and a block east of Marion Street. The $5.5
million project will be a total of 30,000 square feet, including 10,000 square feet on each of its three
floors. The building will have 10 memory care units on the first floor and 41 assisted living units on the
second and third floors. Other amenities will include bathing room, on-site laundry services, dining
room, day room for visitations and events, offices and nursing stations and a secured outdoor area.
Project contact: Erik Sundmark, DSGW Architects, 651-784-7924
Timeline: July 2018 start
50
Savage Apartments & Townhomes concept plan
Project for Pride in Living/UrbanWorks Architecture
147th St. & Virginia Ave., Savage
Project for Pride in Living presented concept plans for a new
affordable multifamily housing in Savage. The developer has
expressed interest in two vacant lot which were originally intended
as part of the Southpointe development plans. On one parcel the
concept calls for a three- or four-story affordable apartment
building of 57 units. The other lot is envisioned as a 20-unit
townhome development. The properties are owned by Premiere
Bank. PPL is planning to submit the plans to state officials for
possible tax credit financing in June.
Project contact: Faith Cable Kumon, PPL, 612-455-5100
Timeline: Unspecified
SAVAGE
51
U of M Fieldhouse renovations
University of Minnesota/Cuningham Group/Mortenson Construction
1800 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents considered plans for
a $7.4 million renovation of the U of M Fieldhouse. The project
includes rehabilitation of the exterior envelope and the installation
of 80,000 square feet of new artificial turf flooring suitable both for
rec sports and NCAA track-and-field competition events. The
exterior envelope improvements include the removal of the
fieldhouse’s current asbestos-containing cement exterior panels, to
be replaced by a new insulated metal panel and translucent glazing
system. Existing HVAC systems will be enhanced and brought up to
code to support events of up to 1,500 spectators within the
fieldhouse.
Project contact: Brian Burnett, U of M Finance & Operations, 612-
626-5800
Timeline: July 2018 start, Oct. 2019 completion
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
52
Plant Growth Research Facility
University of Minnesota/RSP Architects/Loeffler Construction
St. Paul Campus, University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota approved plans for a new, 12,091-square-foot greenhouse to be
constructed on its St. Paul campus. The location is on the campus’ West Greenhouse District south of
Larpenteur Avenue. The new $6.6 million greenhouse will be furnished with modern temperature,
humidity and lighting controls. Four separate biome environments will be created to include
conservatory space for student, research and public access; each will be monitored via the master
greenhouse campus control system. Plant specimens now housed in the existing Biological Sciences
Greenhouse will be moved to the new facility.
Project contact: Brian Burnett, U of M Finance & Operations, 612-626-5800
Timeline: August 2018 start, Aoril 2019 completion
53
West St. Paul Senior Housing concept plan
Real Estate Equities/Kaas Wilson Architects
1631-1645 Mathaler Lane, West St. Paul
St. Paul-based developer Real Estate Equities sought a
comprehensive plan amendment to accommodate the future
construction of an independent senior living project in West St.
Paul. The two-parcel site currently contains the DARTS (Dakota Area
Resources and Transportation) building on the 1645 Mathaler Lane
parcel, with a parking lot on the 1631 parcel. The developer has
floated concept plans for a 174-unit senior housing building on the
parking lot site while DARTS would maintain the existing building on
the southern portion of the site. The city is considering utilizing Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) to assist with funding the project.
Project contact: William Bisanz, Real Estate Equities, 651-389-3800
Timeline: Undetermined
WEST ST. PAUL
54
Aris Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
Aris Clinic Behavioral Health Services/Pope Architects/RJ Ryan
Construction
E. Century Ave., N. of Pouliot Pkwy., Woodbury
Aris Clinic Behavioral Health Services submitted preliminary plat and
site plans for a 15,841-square-foot clinic in Woodbury, located on
the southeast corner of Century Avenue and Pouliot Parkway. Aris
Clinic is currently located in a multitenant building on Currell
Boulevard in Woodbury, and the proposed new facility would serve
as a replacement. Aris Clinic houses two primary functions:
standard outpatient clinical services and an Intensive Out-Patient
program (IOP). The new facility will serve up to 40 children
maximum.
Project contact: Rob Stenger, RJ Ryan, 651-365-7002
Timeline: Unspecified
WOODBURY