Traditional Neighborhood Developments (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Brooklyn Park: housing, rent, lease)

[Gruffalo]

Are there any of these "traditional neighborhood developments" (not my term, I found it on Google) in the twin cities suburbs? These would be new master-planned micro-communities with a mix of housing styles, greenspace, walking trails and light commercial development. I think Prairie Crossing in Apple Valley and Glendalough in Rosemount may be examples of these, but I couldn't find much info about them online. Does anyone know how these developments have faired? Has the reality lived up to the hype? Is there even a market for this type of development in the MSP given the many wonderful city neighborhoods?

[golfgal]

Glendelough is part of a larger development called Evermoor. Evermoor has almost fully developed the area. The city of Rosemount was the Developer for Evermoor so it has a little different twist, such as no HOA fees. Cobblestone in Apple Valley is also a master planned community. It is a nice area but the houses are about 5 feet apart from each other. Evermoor gives you a larger lot.

While the houses have some character you still run into the same old same old with any development, new or old, there are 10 other houses on your street with the same floor plan. Even driving around Minneapolis and St. Paul you see this, even in the older neighborhoods.

[EssAndDee]

I'm not sure if this is quite what you're discussing, but in my area we have a development based on the "new urbanism" principle - Cherry Hill Village in Canton, MI. A few pictures are here and here (golfgal please edit if this link is not allowed).

I don't live in MSP (yet...maybe ) so can't comment on any developments, but it would seem that a lot of the suburban developments are planned to have a community-center type of feel to them.

[EssAndDee]

I just did a quick google search and found a listing of MN examples:

Minnesota Excelsior & Grand, St. Louis Park stlouispark.org, Excelsior and Grand - Resident Amenities
Heart of the City, Burnsville burnsvilleheartofthecity.com, DSU - Welcome Heritage Park, Minneapolis ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Lino Lakes Town Center index
Riverfront/Lowertown, St. Paul riverfrontcorporation.com, Welcome to Lowertown, St. Paul
Ramsey Town Center ramseytowncenter.com
Village Creek, Brooklyn Park brooklynpark.org, cuningham.com
Wacouta Commons, St. Paul 1printersrow.com, Plan

[regionalperspective]

what about st. louis park's new downtown area. i forget the name of the actual development, the one with a trader joe's?

[Minnehahapolitan]

^Excelsior on Grand

[nick is rulz]

I love how these developments are usually named after whatever natural habitat was there before they bulldozed it and built an antiseptic community.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

I love how these developments are usually named after whatever natural habitat was there before they bulldozed it and built an antiseptic community.

Yes, Cobblestone is a filled in rock quarry, fitting name I guess.

[hammy5]

Originally Posted by Gruffalo

Are there any of these "traditional neighborhood developments" (not my term, I found it on Google) in the twin cities suburbs? These would be new master-planned micro-communities with a mix of housing styles, greenspace, walking trails and light commercial development. I think Prairie Crossing in Apple Valley and Glendalough in Rosemount may be examples of these, but I couldn't find much info about them online. Does anyone know how these developments have faired? Has the reality lived up to the hype? Is there even a market for this type of development in the MSP given the many wonderful city neighborhoods?

These are going up all over the place. There are a couple in Plymouth and Maple Grove going up.