More homes, apartments being built in Forest Lake

City balances identity change from cabin country to emerging suburban community

by Tesha M. Christensen

People continue to be drawn to the Forest Lake area, settling into a variety of new apartments and single-family homes being built throughout the city.

“2017 was a robust year for residential development in the multi-family department,” observed Forest Lake Zoning Administrator Donovan Hart.

Local developer Gaughan Companies broke ground on a 102-unit apartment building, with ground floor retail, on the site of the former city hall within Forest Lake’s downtown. Lighthouse Lofts at 220 Lake St. N. will be a five-story apartment complex when complete. It replaces the 76-year-old City Hall was empty after city officials, police and firefighters moved into the new, high-tech Forest Lake City Center in December 2014.

In all, 104 permits were pulled in the city for multi-family units, up from 73 in 2016 and 36 in 2015.

City officials expect multi-family housing construction to remain strong in 2018.

After opening a 73-unit building that was fully leased in September 2016, Stillwater-based Summit Management is in the final stages of city development review of another 73-unit apartment building. It is expected to break ground this spring. Arbor Ridge Luxury Apartments is located on 8th Street S.E., just north of Scandia Trail/Highway 97.

“Arbor Ridge targets a more traditional multi-family market with one and two bedroom luxury apartments offering more amenities,” said developer Mark Lambert. Arbor Ridge Luxury Apartments feature high-end contemporary finishes and six open floorplans, catering to a mix of multi-generational residents. “It’s got a little different makeup – older residents who are interested in a transition from their traditional home to those who are moving into their first apartment that’s nice, luxurious, maintenance-free and still near the neighborhoods they grew up or lived in,” said Lambert.

Amenities include a massage chair room, a package concierge system, and covered parking in a detached garage, as well as both indoor and outdoor fitness areas.

Meanwhile, Kason Inc. is expected to break ground on two apartment buildings composed of 84 units within the Gateway Green subdivision, located on Wyngate Blvd. south of Menards and west of Everton Ave.

Gateway Green, a high-density, high-quality townhouse project with two 42-unit condominium/apartment buildings and another 160 + town homes, row homes and cluster cottages, is located on 25 acres.  The two three-story 98,424-square-foot residential structures will sit on 1.91 acres. A conditional use permit to construct these multi-family buildings was originally issued in 2004, but the permit expired when the work was not started.

The buildings will offer an equal number of one and two-bedroom apartments (18) with six 3-bedroom units per building.

The structures will be four levels with one level of parking and three levels of residential. There will be a community room, fitness center, and elevator. The interior’s modern appearance is appealing to both young professionals and families alike. The open kitchen design includes granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and shaker-style cabinets. Each master bedroom will have a large walk-in closet for added storage and convenience.

Neighborhood parks and open space are generously distributed throughout the property, conducted by well-placed and abundant trails and sidewalks. Award winning land planner, Marc Putman of Putman Planning and Design, said, “We’ve woven time-proven lessons of Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) into this new community.”

All irrigation in the Gateway Green Community, not just the Gateway Green Apartments, will be supplied by a stormwater pond in the northwest corner of the community.

Also in 2018, a non-profit developer is expected to bring forward a proposal for a 45-unit building by the airport.

SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ALSO STRONG

Single-family development also continued strong. The city issued 47% more building permits in 2017 than the previous year, according to Hart.

Most of the growth occurring is in Chestnut Creek (off of Harrow Ave.) and Headwaters (by the Lakes International Language Academy school on Fenway).

“The southwest area of the city seems most promising due to the proximity of public water and sewer service, and less acreage impacted by wetlands,” remarked Hart.

In 2018, it is likely that Ron Bastyr will apply for the final platting of the Chestnut Creek development for another 112 lots off of Harrow Ave.

Chestnut Creek features 11 different home designs with 3-4 bedrooms ranging from 1,900 to 3,057 square feet. Prices vary from $344,990-$377,990. All homes include the “Everything’s Included” features that have allowed Lennar to be the Twin Cities #1 builder 10 years in a row.

Expansive homesites overlook ponds and wetlands with lovely walking trails and city parks. Home details included features like designer kitchens with stainless steel appliances, expansive great rooms and an opportunity to add a special serenity owner’s bath.

Planning for Headwaters, west of U.S. 61 and just south of the Forest Lake airport, began more than decade ago, but fell prey to the recession. Fenway Investments signed on to develop a 620-acre planned neighborhood in 2004, with work to be done in three phases ending in 2012. Original plans called for a multi-use city core that included single-family homes, multi-family housing, senior housing, retail shops, recreation areas, a community center, walking trails and landscaping that reflective of the area’s agricultural past.

As of 2013, there were six homes, a senior housing complex, one of two planned apartment buildings, a Washington County library and service center, transit center and a couple of businesses, prompting a change in who was heading up the development. Mattamay Homes bought undeveloped residential lots from Fenway and began construction, offering nine styles of homes, each with two to four bedrooms, starting at about $245,000. Mattamay has since pulled out of the Minnesota housing market. Homes in Headwaters is now being developed by Woodbury-based firm Creative Homes.

AN IDENTIY CHANGE

The city’s population growth isn’t coming without challenges.

“The city is in the midst of an identity change from former cabin country to an emerging suburban community,” observed Hart. “Many residents flock to the YMCA and yearn for more dining opportunities, while still enjoying multi-generational families.”

However, the job growth is not matching the residential development. People commute long distances to their jobs with a mean drive time of about 30 minutes. “Time spent in the car isn’t time spent in the community with family, friends, shopping, or engaging in civic activities,” said Hart.

Despite that, people are being drawn to Forest Lake for its strong community and prime location.

“Leading factors are a strong rental market, affordable land, proximity to the interstate, and a rural/urban balance that people see as a good quality of life,” stated Hart. “Affordable new home prices enable young professionals to purchase a 3-4 bedroom house with a three-car garage on a one-third acre land. That’s not approachable in many metro communities.”

Printed in the Forest Lake Community Guide.