Plymouth Receives High-Density Proposal for Luxury Apartments

A significant project has made its way to Plymouth for review that a developer says would fill a need for luxury rental housing.

Bloomington-based Doran Cos. is proposing three 5-story apartment buildings totaling more than 400 units on a 6-acre site north of Highway 55 and west of Fernbrook Lane. The plan would immediately make it one of the largest apartment projects in Plymouth and one the city hasn’t seen in more than a decade.

For development to happen, the city would have to amend its comprehensive plan to allow a higher density land use. The site is currently four 1970s-era office buildings called the Plymouth Office Center. Those buildings would be demolished.

Plymouth Planning Commission members who reviewed the proposal feel it has potential.

“I think the office buildings out there look very tired and they’re old,” said Plymouth Planning Commission member Marc Anderson. “They’re ripe for redevelopment.”

“If we are going to have a tall apartment building complex, this is probably a really good place because it’s not going to impact a lot of residential neighborhoods,” said Julie Olson, another planning commission member.

The proposal is at the very earliest of stages, known as the sketch review stage. If the project does happen, some believe it could help give a boost to the city of Plymouth’s efforts to create a thriving downtown area.

“I think it would give a shot in the arm to [Plymouth] City Center,” said Anderson. “I think that’s a good thing.”

Rendering of Plymouth apartment proposal/Courtesy Doran Architecture

A Variety of Amenities

Doran Cos. is also behind the construction of another Plymouth apartment complex along Highway 55, east of Bachman’s Garden Center. That smaller project, previously called the Bassett Creek Apartments and now marketed as Wren on the Creek, contains 176 units, 20 percent of which would be considered affordable. 

The Plymouth Office Center redevelopment proposal would not contain an affordable housing component. The units would average more than 900 square feet in size and contain numerous amenities inside and outside the complex.

“This is very much a product need within the city of Plymouth,” said Tony Kuechle, president of development at Doran Cos. “A big part of it is renters by choice.”

Kuechle said 59 percent of renters in Plymouth can buy their own home, but choose not to, citing examples of empty nesters wanted to move closer to their grandkids.

Amenities identified include club rooms with pool and golf simulators, fitness centers, coffee bars and entertainment suites.

Part of the project could also contain a small retail or commercial office building.

The proposal will head to the Plymouth City Council at the Jan. 23 meeting to receive additional feedback.

Plymouth