Type: Rental apartments

Units: 100

Developer: Duffy Development

Details: The developer of the newly opened Bottineau Ridge workforce housing apartments in Maple Grove is ready to move forward with its planned second phase but at double the size of the original plans.

John Duffy of Duffy Development, who completed the 50-unit first phase of the income-restricted apartments last year after obtaining financing assistance from state, county and city sources, is asking city officials to approve raising the size of the second phase from 50 to 100 units, citing the need for affordable housing.

"After marketing Bottineau Ridge Phase One, it became apparent the market for workforce housing is so deep in Maple Grove that thousands of units are needed to meet the demand," he wrote in a project narrative, adding that most of the tenants who snapped up units in the first phase had previously been reverse-commuting "long distances" to reach jobs in the suburbs.

For the project to proceed, the City Council must first agree to request that the Metropolitan Council change the 2-acre site's comprehensive plan designation from medium- to high-density residential use. Such high-density zoning is already in place at the neighboring Skye at Arbor Lakes and Arbor Lakes Senior Living developments.

City staff has expressed support for the request. Duffy's plans call for a four-story building, aligned east-west along Hemlock Lane N., featuring amenities including community and exercise rooms, a tenant business office and a tot lot.

Don Jacobson is a freelance writer in St. Paul. He can be contacted at hotproperty.startribune@gmail.com.