The Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority (HEDRA) met on Thursday, May 8 to discuss the Industrial Park Shovel Ready Site and the Dakota County housing report on Hastings

Shovel Ready Site
The 50-acre site located on Spiral Boulevard has long been empty. “We’ve been holding and marketing for a larger developer of an industrial jobs nature for at least 20 or 30 years,” said Community Development Director John Hinzman
One continued issue for the site is access, specifically to a four-lane highway which makes moving trucks in an out potentially difficult for a future business.
The discussion at the meeting focused on city staff considering other options for the site, including dividing up the site into smaller parcels, similar to existing lots in the industrial park.
“By looking at potential alternatives, it doesn’t mean that we are going to change something. It means we are going to take a look at what else might be out there. We may conclude this is the right fit and just need to be patient,” said Hinzman.
City staff will move forward with examining other options for the site.

Housing Report
Commissioners also discussed the Dakota County housing report concerning Hastings. The report was part of a larger study done across Dakota County on housing needs first discussed at the April 21 city council meeting.
From that report, Hastings is expected to need an addition 1,500 units in the next five years. Of those 1,500 addition units, 400 are rental with the rest being for sale.
According to Hinzman, Hastings is on track to build 30 single family homes per year with 600 apartment units in the last year. For apartments specifically, Hinzman characterized the development as “cyclical” with years of large development followed by years of no development.
“What we are constructing is not keeping up with the demand,” said Hinzman.
This report, however, is an important data point in order to show potential developers that there is demand for additional housing within the city.