2017-06-01 Eagan Business NewsEAGAN BUSINESS NEWS | SECOND QUARTER 2017 1cityofeagan.com
The Minnesota Vikings celebrated zero accidents
in 100,000 work hours with a lunch for their
headquarters construction workers.
Roughly 150 to 180 workers are on site each day;
as the facility nears completion, that number will
double. Additionally, 15 percent of contractors
are minority-owned businesses.
“We’re going to give our players the best
possible environment to succeed,” said
president and co-owner Mark Wilf at a
construction-update press conference, May 17.
“Our ultimate goal is to win Lombardi trophies
and Super Bowl championships for the people
of Minnesota and for Vikings fans everywhere.”
Wilf called attention to the facility’s
innovative and modern upgrades, which
will “set the pace within the NFL”; the
consolidation of the team’s 190 employees
SECOND QUARTER 2017
VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2
Minnesota Vikings: Developing
“world-class” destination in Eagan
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The Minnesota Vikings’ new headquarters is
rapidly progressing. Meanwhile, senior housing
developments are under construction. For all
of Eagan’s development news, plus a story on
Sunday liquor sales, check out this issue of EBN,
plus its development insert.
JUNE 14, 2017
Eagan Business Council
Argosy University hosts the quarterly Eagan
Business Council (8:00 to 9:00 a.m.), a Dakota
County Regional Chamber of Commerce event
that provides members and nonmembers the
opportunity to meet, discuss and network. For
more information, visit dcrchamber.com.
JUNE 7, 2017
Eagan Market Fest
Kick off the first summer night of Eagan’s award-
winning Market Fest. Dozens of farmers and
vendors sell their wares at Eagan Central Park
(1501 Central Parkway) every Wednesday
through Aug. 30, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
AUGUST 28, 2017
ProAct Golf Classic
Hit the links for people with disabilities when
you participate in the ProAct Golf Classic at
Southview Country Club in West St. Paul. The
annual fundraising event supports Eagan-based
ProAct. For sponsorship opportunities or to
register, visit proactinc.org.
FROM THE EDITOR
Vikings CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
With less than a year before their March 1, 2018, move-in date—and 36 years
after the dedication of the current team home, Winter Park—the Minnesota
Vikings’ organization has accomplished a milestone with Kraus-Anderson
Construction’s placement of the final steel beam (see inset, page 3) in its new Eagan
headquarters, Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
EAGAN BUSINESS NEWS | SECOND QUARTER 20172 cityofeagan.com
Vikings CONTINUED FROM COVER
under one roof for the first time in decades,
creating “continuity, efficiency and
collaboration”; and the team’s ongoing goal to
build a “fan-friendly and family-friendly” world-
class destination.
Besides the completion of the
headquarters’ steel framework, the 40-acre
team campus is being prepped for much more:
Thousands of feet of underground utilities
have been installed, several hundred thousand
cubic yards of soil have been moved, and
the realignment of Vikings Parkway, formerly
known as Northwest Parkway, is underway.
Additionally, four practice fields will be
installed this summer, work will begin on
the 6,000-seat practice stadium this fall (see
graphic, page 3), and the TCO full-service
medical office building is on schedule for
completion next spring.
In the meantime, the owners of the
Minnesota Vikings have a larger vision:
creating a world-class destination. While noting
the need to be flexible regarding market-
supportable plans, MVZ Ventures is hoping
to construct up to 1,000 residential units, plus
retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, a
BRIEFLY
CEDAR GROVE TRANSIT
STATION OPENS
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Bus rapid transit service to the Cedar Online
station for METRO Red Line trips began in late
May. Riders use the new transit platform to
board and exit buses in the middle of Cedar
Avenue, saving up to 10 minutes per round-trip
commute. The $13 million facility—built by St.
Paul-based Sheehy Construction—was approved
by the Counties Transit Improvement Board,
Dakota County and the State of Minnesota.
PEOPLE: Eagan City Administrator
Dave Osberg has received the
Dr. Robert A. Barrett Award for Management
Excellence, the highest award given by
the Minnesota City/County Management
Association (MCMA). Osberg has served as city
administrator for 36 years in four Minnesota
cities, including the past four for Eagan.
BUSINESS: Petco opened a new
store—complete with pet-training areas,
adoption centers and grooming salons—at
Central Park Commons in April. v Featuring
self-pour taps, Union 32 Craft House (2864
Highway 55) plans to open in Eagan in June —
Briefly CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Vikings CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
“THE HOSPITALITY THAT WE’VE FELT FROM [THE CITY OF
EAGAN] AND THE WORK THAT WE’VE DONE COLLABORATIVELY
HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.” – LESTER BAGLEY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AND STADIUM DEVELOPMENT
Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) facts:
TCO’s full-service medical office building will
include an urgent care. The first floor will
feature a Vikings-related use, such as a hall of
fame or team store. Next door, TCO plans to
open a top-notch sports medicine center.
TCO has opened a temporary site (the former
Fairview clinic) on Duckwood and Pilot Knob;
the medical practice plans to move into its
new facility on April 1, 2018.
Construction facts:
While the headquarters’ design mimics the
hull of a ship, a bird’s-eye view reveals the
shape of a Viking hatchet.
The facility is being built with environmental
features and potential LEED certification.
The Minnesota Vikings did not ask for, nor
were they granted, any financial assistance
from Eagan. Utilizing past practice with other
developments, Eagan is paying for a portion of
public street and utility improvements.
Mark Wilf, president and co-owner of the Minnesota Vikings, addresses reporters at a press conference
in Eagan on May 17. In total, the new team headquarters will feature a 92,000-square-foot indoor
practice facility and 184,000 square feet of administrative offices.
EAGAN BUSINESS NEWS | SECOND QUARTER 2017 3cityofeagan.com
major hotel-conference center and perhaps corporate offices on the rest of the 200-acre site.
Back at the press conference, COO Kevin Warren noted that when the Wilf family bought the
team, they set a number of goals, including building the best stadium in the world, creating the
best NFL organization and hosting the Super Bowl. After arguably achieving these three goals,
they’re now building “the best world-class headquarters–practice facility in the world for our
players, coaches and staff. Here with Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, we will be able
to do that.”
What’s left? Winning a world championship. Says Warren, “We’re working on that every day.” EBN
Sunday Liquor CONTINUED FROM BACK COVER
Vikings CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
grocery runs. Overall, “total sales will probably
go up,” he says. “We certainly hope so.”
Minnesota is the latest state to end
Sunday “blue” laws. According to the
Distilled Spirits Council, a liquor industry
organization, the “marketplace developments
are evolving to reflect consumer demands,”
including Sunday sales. Prior to the
legislation’s approval in Minnesota, only a
few sticking points seemed to potentially
thwart the change, and those were
addressed in the bill by limiting store hours
and prohibiting Sunday alcohol deliveries to
stores plus Sunday wholesaler orders.
Total Wine & More, which opened in
November at Central Park Commons, is
gearing up for its first Sunday, and manager
Scott Egeberg says customers are excited
about the convenience of Sunday liquor
purchases. “Sunday liquor sales will extend
our weekends,” he says.
As a company, Kowalski’s too has
supported the idea of Sunday sales. “Labor
costs will increase,” says manager Michael
Grabner of the wine store attached to
Kowalski’s Market (1646 Diffley Rd.). “But
Sunday is the busiest grocery day out of the
week, so we’re anticipating an increase.” EBN
“THE SPORTS-PERFORMANCE FACILITY WILL BE UNLIKE ANY
OTHER FACILITY IN THE METRO AREA.” – TROY SIMONSON, CEO, TWIN CITIES
ORTHOPEDICS, NOTING THAT ITS SECOND VIKINGS’ CAMPUS BUILDING—A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY—WILL FOCUS
ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE, RECOVERY AND TRAINING
in the vicinity of the Minnesota Vikings’ future
home. Its name is based on Minnesota having
been the 32nd state to join the United States;
in tribute, the bar will offer 32 local beers.
GOVERNMENT: Eagan entrepreneurs
and current business owners are invited
to access Open to Business for services and
loan packages. Visit City Hall Tuesday, June
20, 1–3 p.m., or the third Tuesday of any
month; visit cityofeagan.com/OTB; or contact
Laurie Crow at crow@mccdmn.org. v The City
of Eagan Utilities staff will be conducting
cross-connection/backflow prevention
inspections of businesses. For more
information, visit cityofeagan.com/backflow,
or call 800-690-6651. EBN
Briefly CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
“FOR THE FIRST TIME, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL [IN THE HOUSE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE], BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMPROMISE THAT LIMITS
THE NUMBER OF HOURS A BUSINESS CAN SELL LIQUOR ON A SUNDAY.”
– REP. LAURIE HALVERSON DURING A LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST IN JANUARY
Facility facts:
Two of the four outdoor grass practice fields
will be heated, so the team can play on grass
in the winter.
A pedestrian bridge, featuring a yet-to-be-
determined focal point, will be installed across
a lake on the Vikings’ campus.
For the first time, punters will be able to
practice punting inside the workout facility,
thanks to its 98-foot height.
EAGAN BUSINESS NEWS | SECOND QUARTER 20174 www.cityofeagan.com
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TWIN CITIES, MN
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3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, Minnesota 55122
IN THIS ISSUE
DEVELOPMENT INSERT
Design & Layout
Cory Laux
Overdog Art
Editor
Karin B. Miller
Working Words, Inc.
After decades of discussion and numerous
legislative proposals, Eagan liquor stores are ready
to pop the cork on Sunday liquor sales.
In February, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill allowing liquor
stores to sell alcohol on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Governor Mark
Dayton signed the bill into law in early March, and sales can legally
begin July 2.
Over the years, the often-heated discussion pitted big-box
megastores against mom-and-pop shops, while several industry
organizations, including the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association
and the Minnesota Tavern League, argued against the proposals. But
this year, passage of the bill seemed likely due to consumers’ increasing
desire to patronize liquor stores when it’s convenient, often on Sundays.
“This is the way society is now,” says Dave Perrier, founder of Perrier
Wines & Liquors (1960 Cliff Lake Road), a family-owned liquor store in
Eagan. “A number of other states have this option and [our stores] can
accommodate it.”
Since 1985, Eagan customers have turned to the Perrier store for their
fine wines, six-packs and more. “Kids I used to give suckers to now have
kids who I give suckers to,” says Perrier, who says his customers have
been sympathetic, understanding that it’s nice to have Sundays off.
But Perrier is ready to make the change and says he figures that his
Eagan location near Cub Foods will draw a lot of customers on Sunday
Sunday liquor sales: Perhaps not so
controversial after all
Why more development?
Meeting the need for senior housing
Sunday Liquor CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
p1 Minnesota Vikings:
Developing “world-class”
destination in Eagan
p2 Briefly
p4 Sunday liquor sales:
Perhaps not so
controversial after all
Dave Perrier, owner of Perrier Wines & Liquors,
arranges wines in his Eagan shop.
GROWING EAGAN Development Insert | SECOND QUARTER 2017
EAGAN
THE LATEST IN NEW DEVELOPMENT
Growing
Why more
development?Meeting the need for
senior housing
You’ve probably heard this statistic: Roughly 10,000 baby boomers in the United States will
turn 65 today and every day for the next 15 years. And those seniors have unique needs—
from maintenane-free living to round-the-clock health care. No wonder the market for senior
housing is growing.
That’s true in Eagan as well where eight percent of the City’s residents are seniors,
according to SeniorCare.com. None of this is news to Eagan’s city staff or its leaders. In fact,
during the State of the City event in March, Mayor Mike Maguire noted the need for more
senior housing. Fortunately, Eagan is a desirable community for senior developments,
including three new ones: United Properties’ Applewood Pointe of Eagan, planned but not yet
under construction, plus Affinity of Eagan and Stonehaven Senior Living.
“We are definitely excited to add Eagan as one of the cities that we serve,” says Jon
Lundberg, CEO of Ebenezer, management partner of Stonehaven, which broke ground in Eagan
this spring.
Created by Headwaters Development, Stonehaven (shown above) will offer housing
options—including independent living, assisted living and memory-care apartments—allowing
seniors to “age in place,” adding services when and if they need them without having to move.
Ebenezer, part of Fairview Health Services and Minnesota’s largest senior housing operator,
will manage the community. “Because of its location, beautiful setting and population growth,
Stonehaven Senior Living promises to be a popular place,” says Lundberg.
A 55-plus senior community also broke ground in Eagan this spring. The 20th such project
for the Spokane, Wash.-based Inland Group but its first in Minnesota, Affinity of Eagan is
designed for older residents who desire both an active, independent lifestyle and value-
conscious housing. Each Affinity development provides independent apartments plus 30,000
square feet of additional community space.
The Inland Group was drawn to Minnesota for several reasons. “The Twin Cities market
“There are many ways of going
forward but only one way of
standing still.”
That’s a famous quote from Franklin D.
Roosevelt, but it could be said about the City
of Eagan and its redevelopment.
“As a city, we are built up 97 percent,”
says Jill Hutmacher, director of community
development. “That means that our emphasis
is on renovation and redevelopment. And
often we’re building up not out.”
Central Park Commons (photos shown this
page and next) is Eagan’s most recent major
development, bringing a health care clinic,
restaurants and retail to Eagan, where once
stood Lockheed Martin. A few years ago, Twin
Cities Premium Outlets opened on the site
of the former Cedarvale Mall. And today, the
former headquarters of Northwest Airlines is
being replaced by the new Minnesota Vikings
headquarters.
Development CONTINUED ON BACK Senior Housing CONTINUED ON BACK
GROWING EAGAN Development Insert | SECOND QUARTER 2017
really sets up well for our Affinity product
in terms of key demographic metrics like
the 55+ population figure, strong household
incomes, and a healthy single-family-home
real estate market, as well as psychographic
factors, such as interests, attitudes and
lifestyles,” says Scott Scelfo, director of
asset management. “Specifically, the Eagan
location met all of the key demographic and
psychographic requirements in addition
to being well located to transportation and
adjacent to Twin Cities Premium Outlets.”
These new developments will draw
many new residents. But some local senior
residents need lower-priced options. After
all, 26% of senior households in Eagan earn
less than $30,000 per year, also according
to SeniorCare.com. For those individuals
and couples, there are affordable 55+
housing options in Eagan and elsewhere
in Dakota County; in fact, that’s the
mission of the Dakota County Community
Development Agency. In Eagan, the
CDA owns four Eagan properties totaling
245 units, including O’Leary Manor and
Lakeside Point in central Eagan, plus
Oakwoods and Oakwoods East on the
southern side of the City. That said, the
demand is at such a pace that the waiting
list for these apartments closed June 1 and
likely won’t open again for at least a year.
Even then, a potential resident may stay on
the waiting list from one to six years.
That’s all the more reason for senior
housing to remain a priority in Eagan. “As
people age and new families want to come
here, how do we make sure there is room
for both demographics, and that people
aren’t leaving here for what they can find
elsewhere?” Mayor Maguire asked in his
speech back in March. “How do we make
sure that future generations want—and
can afford—to live here? It’s an important
conversation to have if Eagan is to continue
to be that location of choice.” EBN
“THE CITY OF EAGAN HAS
REALLY BEEN AWESOME
TO WORK WITH ON THE
DEVELOPMENT AND
ENTITLEMENT FRONT.”
– SCOTT SCELFO, AFFINITY OF EAGAN, INLAND GROUP
Private investment attracts more private
investment, Hutmacher explains. “And
that keeps our community vibrant, strong,
economically viable and able to provide a high
level of city services.”
This year continues with improvements,
including a new transit station and a new fire
station, plus these developments:
• Prime Therapeutics is building a new,
consolidated facility at Boulder Lakes.
• StuartCo is developing 183 market-rate
apartments, both at Quarry Road.
• The Minnesota Autism Center is
expanding with a Skills Development
Center adjacent to its existing facility.
• A 5,000-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant
is planned for CityVue Commons. EBN
Like other cities throughout the
metro area, Eagan is working
to develop its new 2040 Comprehensive
Guide Plan. Individuals, organizations and
businesses are invited to provide guidance
for the City’s future. For more information,
visit cityofeagan.com/comp-guide. Or call
Jill Hutmacher, director of community
development, at 651-675-5653, or city
planner Mike Ridley at 651-675-5650.
Businesses invited to
share input
Development CONTINUED FROM FRONT Senior Housing CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Developer: Spokane, Wash.-based Inland Group
(first development in Minnesota)
Units: 174 studio, one-bedroom and two-
bedroom units
Age restriction: active, independent 55-
plus residents
Size: 282,000-square-foot project with four
levels of living space on four acres
Amenities: resident lounge, resident pub,
Internet café, craft room, theater room, game
room, woodshop, indoor pool and spa, fitness
center, library, walking path, outdoor kitchen/
BBQ area, raised planters for gardening, two
levels of underground parking
Location: Cedar Grove
Status: Broke ground April 24, 2017
AFFINITY OF EAGAN
Developer: Twin Cities-based United Properties
Description: 96 two-bedroom, two-
bathroom units
Age restriction: active, independent 62-
plus residents
Size: 247,000-square-foot project with four
levels of living space on six acres
Amenities: carwash bay, community room,
club room, library, craft room, woodshop, one
level of underground parking
Location: Near Central Park
Status: Under construction soon
APPLEWOOD POINTE OF EAGAN
Developer: Lakeville, Minn.-based
Headwaters Development
Units: 80 independent and assisted units,
plus 15 memory-care units
Size: 130,000-square-foot project with four
levels of living space
Amenities: Lounges, decks, patios, walking
paths, pub, library, chapel, hair salon and spa,
guest suite, community room, fitness center,
movie theater, game room and more
Location: Southwest corner of Wescott
Woodlands and Station Trail
Status: Broke ground April 13, 2017
STONEHAVEN SENIOR LIVING