After years of debate about its size and scale, an apartment building at 45th Street and France Avenue S. in Minneapolis is finally under construction.

Welsh Construction broke ground this week on Linden Hills Apartments, a four-floor, 44,196-square-foot building with 31 apartment units — about half as many as originally proposed — that will replace a house and a 15-unit apartment building. The plan calls for two levels of parking with a green roof over the garage, a dog wash and a bike maintenance area and storage shop. Rent levels haven't been set.

The building was designed by ESG Architects, and is set for completion in August 2015. Steven Scott Management will handle management of the building, which will be owned by an LLC managed by Scott Carlston.

"We are excited to help bring a new, high-quality rental housing option to the Linden Hills neighborhood," said Bill Krake, president of Welsh Construction.