Cedar Grove Development Picture Getting Clearer

Eagan’s Cedar Grove Development Area picture became a little clearer Tuesday night when representatives from the site’s redevelopment team presented an upbeat update to City Council members during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Leonard Pratt of Pratt Development, the site’s master developer, said there are five potential development verticals that are running a “parallel track” that could soon come to fruition.

None of current suitors fall in the retail category, but Pratt says if the current slate of projects coalesces, retail development will inevitably follow suit.

“Energy begets energy,” said Pratt. “If everything else begins to gel, those folks will jump on board.”

Developers say the housing density around is not as attractive for major retailers. But that isn’t keeping business and residential developers from being intrigued about the site’s prime location. And many of those groups are moving forward.

Pratt informed the council of what he said were projects “in the queue.” Those projects include:

• A senior housing rental development
• Market-rate residential apartments
• An office building tower
• Flexible independent office buildings
• Hospitality and restaurants

Of those listed, Pratt indicated the senior housing rental development and an office complex could begin construction as early as spring of 2012.

Jim McCaffrey, the senior vice president of marketing and brokerage firm Cassidy Turley, said he was encouraged at the interest in Cedar Grove and that Eagan’s gateway vision project was attracting some of the top players in the marketplace.

“There’s more activity in Cedar Grove right now than many other listings on the market,” McCaffey said.

Despite the tepid retail response to date, developers are excited about the future of the mixed-use area surrounding one of Eagan’s main thoroughfares at Cedar Avenue and Hwy. 13.

“We wanted to cast our nets out wide,” said Pratt. “We want to get the message out that we’re (Cedar Grove) open for business.”

Eagan has been targeting the Cedar Grove area for revitalization for more than a decade and recently cleared a wider path toward achieving their vision of a vibrant gateway area by in the area.

The city’s vision for the area has been revised multiple time since revitalization efforts began and now focus on making the area a “strong, vibrant gateway to the City of Eagan by creating a viable mixed-use area.”

What do you think of the current Cedar Grove development plans? Tell us in the comments section below.