‘It Gives Us Life’: LRT Decision Saves Robbinsdale Church Development Plans
A recent decision from the Bottineau Blue Line Extension light rail project office is keeping plans for redevelopment at a Robbinsdale church alive.
Elim Lutheran Church, which has been at the corner of Bottineau Boulevard and 40th Avenue for more than 100 years, wants to downsize and redevelop its land.
“[We own] valuable property,” said Pastor Dan Doerrer. “The size of our [church] building can be much smaller and needs to renovated or remodeled.”
The church was expanded in the 1960s, but has become larger than necessary for the existing congregation.
As a result, the church pursued a land deal with developers that would transform the parking lot and part of the church building.
“We have a purchase agreement with a very prominent real estate developer in the Twin Cities,” Doerrer said.
Those developers — Paster Properties and The Excelsior Group — want to build a $50 million apartment complex at the site.
It would occupy parts of the parking lot, as well as a portion of church building while leaving the sanctuary intact.
“It’s quite clear to me that the people who go to church at Elim Lutheran Church still want this sanctuary to have that solemn, reverent aesthetic,” Doerrer said. “The project would bring into the neighborhood about 170-households. And would kind of clean up the look of the block.”
A graphic rendering of the $50 million apartment complex proposed adjacent to Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale.
LRT Plans Impact Church Redevelopment
Plans for the Bottineau Blue Line Extension had put the project in jeopardy.
The LRT line is expected to run down Bottineau Boulevard.
Earlier design plans had a station stop on Bottineau south of 40th Avenue — in front of the church. This location meant part of the church’s land would be taken under eminent domain for construction, making redevelopment an unlikely prospect.
“The dilemma there is it would get in the way of the development project,” Doerrer said.
Changing Locations
During the municipal consent process, where cities along a proposed LRT line can weigh-in on design plans, Robbinsdale officials asked to have the station moved.
The project office was amenable to the request, moving the station to the north of 40th Avenue.
“That allows us to move forward with our development,” Doerrer said. “Now, we [still] have a long way to go.”
The developers will be presenting their sketch plans to the Robbinsdale Economic Development Authority on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
According to Doerrer, the church could survive without this redevelopment. But, it gives them a chance to remodel the outdated facility, as well as hope in the future of the parish.
“This gives us life,” Doerrer said. “This gives us the ability to reallocate our assets.”
Related: Robbinsdale Housing Project Conflicts with Light Rail Plans
