Get the latest updates on what’s happening in the construction and development world both locally and nationally.
Development proposal revised in Eagan
Partners Enclave Cos., Pulte Homes and Lifestyle Communities proposed their revised plan to the Eagan City Council for a 482-unit development on a 34.5-acre site in July. According to a city staff report, EnclaveCos. would build a 280-unit apartment building, Lifestyle Communities would build a 66-unit senior co-operative and Pulte Homes would build 40 twin home units and 96 townhome units. The new proposal was reduced by 54 units from the original proposal presented last fall. However, the Eagan City Council stated the proposal still needed more work and was tabled to a September agenda.
The city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan clearly states the priority for a “diverse mix of housing types and values throughout the community to accommodate the housing needs of persons of all incomes in all stages of life and physical ability.” There are still roadblocks at every turn, even in cities with more progressive zoning. Paul Heuer, Pulte’s director of land planning and entitlement, told the City Council last fall that the development team has “worked really hard… to comply with many of the goals laid out” in Eagan’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Largest 2D-printed neighborhood in the world materializing in Texas
Texas is leading the way in 3D home innovation as it prepares to unveil the world’s largest community of 3D-printed homes in Georgetown, Texas. Partners on the project include homebuilder Lennar, Texas construction firm ICON and Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingles Group.
The neighborhood will be ready to welcome residents to the first 100 homes in Wolf Ranch this fall. These three- to four-bedroom homes range in price from $475,000-$599,000 and are between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet.
State Office Building $500 million renovation under review
The 91-year-old State Office Building, home to the House of Representatives’ offices and where many committee hearing rooms are located, is moving forward with a full renovation and addition, pending an environmental review. The plan proposes a top-to-bottom facelift on the existing 290,000-square-foot space as well as a substantial addition of a 120,000-square-foot area. The massive price tag of the project has drawn some controversy.
Those in support of the pricey project argue the aging building has been a challenge to manage for years and tout the renovation as a long-term fix. Those opposed argue that $500 million would be better spent elsewhere.
“If you put it into perspective of our priorities, we have 8,000 homeless people in the state of Minnesota,” Rep. Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) told Finance & Commerce in January. “You could take care of half of that homeless problem with this number. At $15,000 per unit of affordable housing, you could build 3,333 units of affordable housing with that money.”