Affordable Housing Coming to St. Paul

By Keith Loria

Dominium will soon start construction on Legends of Woodbury, a 216-unit senior affordable housing development in the St. Paul suburb of Woodbury, Minn.

“Woodbury has a growing need for affordable senior housing and the Legends of Woodbury will provide high quality affordable apartments to seniors who want to stay in this sought-after community,” Shaun Reinhardt, Dominium’s development analyst, told MHN. “Residents will feel proud to call the Legends of Woodbury home.”

When completed, Legends of Woodbury will feature two buildings with a connecting, two-story clubhouse in the center, which will include a fitness center, community room, pub and card room, a theater, arts and crafts studio, library and a beauty salon.

Exterior amenities include a courtyard, gazebo, patio and grilling space and more. Legends of Woodbury will also connect to a citywide walking/bicycle trail with nearly two acres of dedicated space for the trail and associated green space.

Located at 568 Settlers Ridge Parkway, the development is targeted at those 55 and over who are in need of affordable senior housing. The property is located near Interstate 94, which provides easy access into downtown St. Paul and to 494 and 694. Additionally, the site is just down the road from a plethora of retail, restaurants, grocery, and more including Hobby Lobby, Sam’s Club, Walmart Supercenter, Woodbury Commons, Target, Cabela’s, Woodbury Lakes shopping center, and Tamarack Village shopping center.

Providing value

According to Reinhardt, the Legends of Woodbury exemplifies many of Dominium’s philosophies in that it is a community that will be built to provide long-term value to the residents and the community of Woodbury.

“In addition, it increases the much-needed affordable housing stock in the City of Woodbury,” he said. “The City of Woodbury is a highly sought-after community. Seniors who fall within the income threshold that makes them eligible to live in Legends of Woodbury would otherwise have a difficult time finding any housing within the area that meets their needs and is affordable, especially housing that is of the quality of Legends of Woodbury.”

Joining the City of Woodbury HRA as financial partners on the project are Washington County CDA, US Bank and Barings.

Also assisting with the project include Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens and the City of Woodbury staff; BKV will serve the architect; Eagle Building Company as the general contractor; Loucks will handle surveying and engineering; Integra Realty Resources will do the appraisal; Braun Intertec Corporation will be in charge of environmental relations; Northern Technologies will do Geotech engineering; and Novogradac & Company will handle market studies.

Construction is expected to be finished in May of next year.