Developers to start on 2 Apple Valley projects for seniors

Senior housing is one area where construction activity is high in Apple Valley.

By DEAN SPIROS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 30, 2009 - 11:19 PM

Construction on a pair of apartment buildings devoted to senior living is expected to begin this summer in Apple Valley.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for early August for the Regent at Apple Valley, a four-story, 134-unit building in the 60-acre Central Village development. A similar timetable is set for the construction of an affordable housing complex in the Cobblestone Lake development that will feature 60 units.

Completion time on the Central Village project is 12 to 18 months. The smaller Cobblestone Lake project is expected to be completed within a year.

Central Village, billed as pedestrian-oriented, is located east of Cedar Avenue, south of 153rd Street. The development currently includes Enjoy restaurant, a GrandStay residential suite hotel, a ReMax Results building, office and retail space, and apartments. It is adjacent to the Bus Rapid Transit line under construction along Cedar.

According to Apple Valley Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist the apartments will be geared toward empty nesters but will include some units for assisted living.

The units will range in size from 692 to 1,150 square feet. Two-thirds of the apartments will be two-bedroom, the remainder one-bedroom. Underground parking will be available to residents for an additional fee.

Hartford Group Inc. of Bloomington is the developer of the project. Its other properties include Regent at Burnsville, a 136-unit senior assisted living facility; the Dakota Station mixed-use development at Hwy. 13 and Nicollet in Burnsville, and the Summit Townhomes in Burnsville.

The Cobblestone Lake project is under the direction of the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA). Rents will range from $358 to $659 for a one-bedroom unit and $527 to $833 for a two-bedroom unit.

Another CDA project, Crossroad Commons, an 87-unit apartment facility for seniors, is currently under construction in Lakeville. It is scheduled to open this fall.