Biz beat: Business and housing growing in Lakeville

Article by: JIM ADAMS , Star Tribune
Updated: June 8, 2012 - 5:33 PM

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Genpak, a food packaging business, has moved several production lines from Bloomington into the former Berry Plastics plant at 8235 220th St. in Lakeville. Remaining production lines are to move and begin operation in the new location by late August, said Dave Olson, Lakeville's community and economic development director.

Meanwhile, Genpak's old facility on Hamburg Avenue in the nearby Airlake Industrial Park has been bought by Roffe Container. The Moorhead-based company is remodeling the 46,000-square-foot building and plans on moving in early this fall, Olson said. Rolf describes itself as an "extrusion blow molding company providing quality containers to the dairy, water, juice, honey, and industrial markets in the Midwest."

Lakeville also reported more housing starts and less unemployment in April.

April had the second lowest unemployment rate at 4.5 percent (slightly higher than December) since 2008. That compares with 4.9 percent in Dakota County, 5.2 percent for the state and 7.7 percent nationally, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Through May, the city issued building permits with a total valuation of $38,132,171. That is up from $22,362,980 through May 2011. The construction included permits for 93 single-family homes with a total value of $27,018,000. That more than doubled from a year ago, when permits were issued for 44 single-family homes valued at $13,096,000.

However, commercial and industrial permit valuation dropped by more than $500,000 to $3,157,500.

More restaurants coming

Several fast-food and sit-down restaurants have or plan to open soon in Burnsville, said Skip Nienhaus, city economic development coordinator.

Freeziac, a serve-yourself frozen yogurt and fruit toppings shop, opened the last day of May near Burnsville Center, at 1609 W. County Road 42, in the Aurora Village Shopping Center. It is a local chain, owned by John Mallon, and Randy Carmody, who have six stores, half in the western suburbs, one in the Mall of American and another opening in Woodbury, Nienhaus said.

Pita Plus also opened in May in a former Quizno's at 1501 Riverwood Drive.

Steak America is remodeling a former Denny's at the southeast corner of Cliff Road and Hwy. 13. It's across Hwy. 13 from the Town and Country Center where Tires Plus is building a new store. The restaurant is seeking a city liquor license and hopes to open later this summer, Nienhaus said.

Hurricane Grill and Wings has started remodeling the former Hooters restaurant southwest of Burnsville Parkway and Interstate 35W. Nienhaus said the restaurant is seeking approval from the city for an outdoor patio and hopes to open by fall.

Over in Apple Valley, Applebee's recently celebrated its remodeled restaurant, at 14678 Cedar Av. S.

The Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce also reports that Health Solutions has built new offices on the first floor of the Shops on Galaxie in the southeast quadrant of Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street.

And Pearle Vision had a ribbon cutting recently for a franchise at 15052 Gleason Path in Apple Valley Plaza. The franchise is owned by optometrists Jeff Anderson & Lance Gutfleisch.

EDA slims down

The Farmington City Council has slimmed down its Economic Development Authority (EDA) proposal and will hold a public hearing June 18 on a smaller board membership plan.

The plan will shift EDA majority voting power from elected officials to three appointed residents who will decide how to spend about $50,000 in tax dollars a year on business development.

In April, the council had endorsed keeping a seven-member board, but has since trimmed membership to five, said Cindy Mueller, executive assistant to the city administrator. The five voting members will include two council members. If passed, the new board would be seated next February.

Jim Adams • 952-746-3283