Developer: Code Changes Led To Removal of Memory Care Units from Maple Grove Senior Apartments
The Doran Group is proposing a four-story, 124-unit senior living building in The Village at Arbor Lakes area of Maple Grove. The project, located northeast of Hemlock Lane and Village Drive, had been planned to provide for a full continuum of care. But the developer said recent changes in Minnesota code is one of the main factors for a change in plans.
The Maple Grove Planning commission recommended approval of the apartment building, which will serve people ages 55 and older.
The approval, however, didn’t come without some frustration.
“I feel we have enough 55-plus living here and a full continuum of care environment is definitely something that brings jobs to our city,” said Stephanie Tomlinson, a member of the Maple Grove Planning Commission. “It’s that residents like myself look for for my aging parents. I’d like to have them in one space and move them through, instead of move and move and move.”
Evan Doran, president and CEO of The Doran Group, said challenges in finding enough health care workers was one reason for stepping away from assisted living. Doran also said recent changes in Minnesota building codes were another significant factor.
“The Minnesota Code changed to basically disallow the ability for you to age in place in your units because they require that assisted living units have a different construction typology than your traditional independent living,” said Doran. “So something you might built in let’s say in 2019 or 2020 is almost impossible to build today on a site of this size.”
Doran mentioned his company had to walk away from assisted living despite spending several million dollars in design costs. The assisting living proposal had been approved in 2021.
“Trust me, it was hard to walk away from that project,” said Doran.
rendering courtesy The Doran Group
The new apartments would be located to the south of The Reserve at Arbor Lakes, a nearly 700-unit luxury apartment development built by The Doran Group.
Amenities of the age 55-plus apartments would include a spa, entertainment suite, fitness classes and a pet spa.
The Maple Grove Planning Commission recommended approval by a 5-1 vote at its July 29 meeting. Tomlinson was the lone no vote.
The Maple Grove City Council will have the final say on approval.
Also See: Plymouth Planning Commission Turns Away Apartment Plans
