What’s Next for Maple Grove’s Gravel Mining Area?
Near the busy intersection of Elm Creek Boulevard and Hemlock Lane in Maple Grove, the Village at Arbor Lakes continues its rapid expansion.
“It’s really exciting to see everything that’s happening here, certainly bucking the trend that we all hear about retail and that sort of commercial aspect contracting,” said Joe Hogeboom, Maple Grove’s Community Development Director.
Not long ago, the area was nothing more than a vacant plot of land. But in the past couple years, developers brought a strip mall, a credit union, and two new hotels to the Village at Arbor Lakes.
“The report is that these hotels are very well-used. That vacancy is very low. And all indications say that that’s gonna continue to be so,” Hogeboom said.
Of course, the hotel guests will need places to eat. In mid-January, a new Wahlburger’s restaurant will open nearby.
“Maple Grove certainly has a reputation of being No. 1 in the Twin Cities, and certainly in the north metro for retail, for entertainment, for dining,” Hogeboom said.
Hogeboom says the city sets the stage for long-range planning in this area. Every component goes through a rigorous approval process. Meaning that in the next 5 to 10 years, people will see more retail, more residential buildings, and more corporate development. For instance, Schuler Shoes plans to open its new headquarters along Elm Creek Boulevard after the holidays. It’s a marked change for a former gravel mining area.
“Everyone wants to be here,” Hogeboom said. “And luckily we have the space in our Arbor Lakes area. The gravel mining area is continuing to develop into the future.”
