The Apple Valley Business Campus proposed by developer Mark Hebert has won City Council approval to build two big warehouses for office and industrial use.

The council approved a final plat, site plan and building permit for Hebert, who has begun grading the site, said Bruce Nordquist, community development director. He said the city is extending two roads into Hebert's property: Flagstaff Avenue going about a third of a mile north from 147th to 140th Street, which will be extended from there east to Johnny Cake Ridge Road. The road work was slowed while the city negotiated an easement from Magellan Pipeline Co., which has a fuel line running through the campus site.

Once 147th Street -- on which work was to begin last week -- reaches the campus, Hebert plans to erect two warehouses, each of 50,000 square feet or more, Nordquist said. He noted Magellan plans to expand its tank farm at Flagstaff and County Road 42.

Time Square spruces up

The council, acting as its Economic Development Agency, has approved a $157,000 forgiveable loan to renovate the Time Square shopping center northwest of County Road 42 and Cedar Avenue. The money is excess taxes generated in a nearby tax increment financing district, said Ron Hedberg, Apple Valley's finance director. The loan is forgiven if the shopping center stays for at least five years. The city has made similar loans of about $150,000 each this year to Wise Swim School and AV 147 Properties. Both projects are renovating old buildings for new uses.

A winning remodeler

James Barton Design-Build of Apple Valley recently won two Chrysalis Awards for outstanding remodeling projects.

Barton's winning projects for 2012 were in the categories Kitchen Remodel $50,000-$75,000 and Bath Remodel $40,000-$60,000. The annual Chrysalis Awards have been made since 1994 to recognize excellent residential and commercial remodeling projects in the region and nation.

"To win multiple awards in these highly competitive categories demonstrates our ongoing commitment to excellence," said owner James Madsen. "It's exciting for the entire team to receive this recognition for our hard work and dedication."

Eighty-one U.S. remodeling companies were named winners out of 420 applicants in the annual Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence last month, reported Globe Newswire. Entries were judged in 16 categories for overall design, the creative use of space and materials, and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure.

Coming and going

The Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce notes the city is gaining a new business but losing two others.

Auto Zone plans to build a 12,629-square-foot building on a nearly two-acre site near Foliage Avenue and 151st Street, northwest of Home Depot. But two women's clothing stores, Fashion Bug and Avenue, are closing.

Elsewhere, foundations are poured and the steel beam framework is going up for a new CVS Pharmacy in Burnsville. The drug store, expected to open in October, sits on the site of the former TCF Bank at Burnsville Parkway and Nicollet Avenue.

Farmington held a ribbon-cutting last week for Ameriprise Financial in the City Center shopping area downtown off Elm Street.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio has moved from Inver Grove Heights to Eagan. Although a store and office are still in progress, the dance floor and sound system are ready to go in Suite 700 at 1975 Seneca Road, said owner Chad Lessard. Salsa, ballroom dancing and other classes are held Tuesday to Friday from 1 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a peek at the studio, go to www.fredastairemn.com.

Jim Adams • 952-746-3283