Annexation from Marshan to get city council review in March
The Walden of Hastings development proposal will be reviewed by the Hastings Planning Commission at its meeting scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
LandEquity Development, LLC has proposed developing property currently in Marshan Township on the south edge of Hastings. Plans for the 70-acre development include a variety of housing options from single family to twin home, townhouses, assisted living and apartments.
City Economic Development Director John Hinzman told members of the Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority at their meeting Thursday, Feb. 9 that all homes in the development, including single family, would be rental units.
The property would need to be annexed into the city.
“This development is a little unusual. It’s a mixture of different types of densities, single family, twin home, apartment buildings. The development itself is intended to be all rental. Single and town homes would be managed by an entity and rented out,” Hinzman said. “There’s an increasing market trend to that.” He said the plan commission review of the concept plan is the first step. The city council will review the development and annexation at its March 6 meeting.
“It’s an interesting development going forward,” he said. “There will be more to come on this as we move forward.”
He reported that a neighborhood meeting on the proposal was held in late January, and about 20 people showed.
“There were kind of mixed reviews,” he said of neighbors’ opinions on the proposal. “There were some concerns about traffic and impact to parks. I’ve been in situations where I’ve seen more vehement opposition.”
Walden of Hastings is described by developers as a “life cycle housing development.”
LandEquity President Chris Beadle said, ““Life cycle housing developments have quickly gained nationwide popularity. Walden of Hastings and similar life cycle housing embrace the value of maintaining connection between each of us as we age, and our housing needs and tastes evolve. Lifecycle housing has been proven to be a dynamic factor in lowering the feeling of isolation and loneliness not only for seniors but in children and younger generations alike. While neighborhoods are separate and distinct, they are connected through common architecture, parks, proximity, trails, shared amenities and more.”
LandEquity is hoping to sell 17 acres of the development that is coulee land to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The Confluence
Hinzman reported that hiring is underway at The Confluence and kitchen equipment is being installed.
“I noticed today, which was a really important part for me, I think they finished the last of the windows,” he said. “When you look at the exterior of the project, it’s dang near complete which is phenomenal to see. They’re loading kitchen equipment in. It’s all good news there. Hiring is going places. There’s a local hiring manager that’s performing those duties.”
The Confluence, in the former Hudson Manufacturing building on the Mississippi River at 200 Second St. W, will include a 77-room hotel, restaurant and event space and some apartments.
IDM Hospitality, of Monona, WI, will manage the facility. Company representatives told HEDRA and the city council in the fall that The Confluence would open for business by late May of this year and that a reservation system would be live on their website – confluencehotel.com – by the end December. But hold tight if you have guests coming in. The reservation system isn’t live yet.
Hinzman said he wasn’t sure on an exact opening date. “I haven’t heard anything succinct on it, but things are progressing well,” he said.
Other housing info
Hinzman said that the Vermillion Acres Senior Living development at Hwy. 47 and Riverwood Drive is being done by modular construction, meaning its built in a factory and pieced together.
“That puzzle begins sometime in March. That’s going to be an interesting project,” said Hinzman.
Vermillion Acres will have 75 units over three floors with assisted living and memory care units.
It was noted at the HEDRA meeting that Hastings was listed in a metro newspaper as the ninth fastest-growing housing market in the Twin Cities metro area.
“We’ve had a lot going on in the last couple years,” said Hinzman. “In the last two years, 700 housing units have been approved for construction. A lot of them are under construction right now.”
There are 400-500 apartment units being developed. “These are large projects we have not seen the level of in at least 15 years,” he said.
