Downtown St. Michael could see another apartment complex on the horizon, as Sand Companies is approaching the city with a second addition to its current Cornerstone Apartments building, which is located on the corner of First Street Southwest and St. Michael Parkway.
The new structure, which would be an identical, 42-unit complex with underground parking, would be located directly to the south of the current building, on the opposite side of the eastbound one-way St. Michael Parkway. Sand has given the city four possible layouts for the new building, which could see construction start as soon as next spring, if the city government moves the plans through the political process this year.
A preliminary layout of the second complex for Cornerstone Village Apartments. The current complex is in the upper left of this photo, with the proposed structure in the center. A rendering of an extended First Street is also included in this graphic. (City of St. Michael)
City Economic Development Director Marc Weigle said the complex fits into the city’s overall concept plan for downtown St. Michael, plus, it would promote the extension of First Street south of St. Michael Parkway (which connects with County 35 on the south end). First Street, according to the city’s Comprehensive Plan for downtown, would be a connector road between 35 and 19 in long term planning .
In his notes to the St. Michael Planning Commission, which will review the initial concepts at its meeting Wednesday, April 2, Weigle said the developer, Sand Companies, hopes to “have an agreement in principal with the City related to the concept layout and cost by this summer, apply for State Housing Finance Tax Credits this fall and then move forward with an official submittal in the winter for spring 2015 construction. “
The current Cornerstone Village building opened with a city tour and open house in March 2011. It has been at or near capacity nearly 100 percent of the time since it opened.
The complex has two and three-bedroom apartments with underground and off-street parking. Access is controlled via electrical lock and phone system.