Dakota County is promoting its new housing

As the population of senior citizens south of the river continues to mushroom, so does the list of affordable places they can live.

The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) is looking for residents to fill its next two rental housing developments: Cobblestone Senior Housing in Apple Valley and Meadowlark Townhomes in Lakeville.

Both developments, now under construction, will be ready for residents by summer. People interested in living in either one are encouraged to submit applications by Oct. 31. Cobblestone is for seniors only; Meadowlark is for any low-income residents.

"They're both very nice developments in good locations," said Kari Gill, deputy executive director of the Dakota County CDA. "We're excited about both of them."

Cobblestone, east of Pilot Knob Road and south of County Road 42, is the most visible so far.

When completed, the apartment building will offer 60 units for senior citizens with limited incomes: 28 one-bedroom apartments, 30 two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments that will be handicapped-accessible.

The building will be smoke-free and include underground parking, a community room with a kitchen, fitness room, club room and screened-in porch. Each apartment will include appliances, air conditioning and emergency-response systems.

Meadowlark Townhomes, at Holiday Avenue and W. 210th Street in Lakeville, will include 40 townhouses in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. Eight will be handicapped-accessible.

Each townhouse will have its own entrance and include air conditioning, appliances, washer and dryer connections and one-car attached garages.

They will rent to single adults and families that meet income requirements. A single person must have an annual income between $14,856 and $35,220. Rents will start at $555 for one-bedroom units.

Gill said the Meadowlark townhouses are unique for multiple reasons. They are being built on the site of a redeveloped dump and are close to Air Lake Industrial Park, a potential job site for residents. And, unlike other CDA townhouse projects, Meadowlark will feature multiple one-bedroom units for single people or couples without children.

"It's something we haven't done before, so we're sort of testing the waters to see if there's demand for it," Gill said, noting that there is more demand than available affordable housing. "We find that our [waiting] lists continue to grow."