03-31-11 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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JOHN GESSNER T.W. BUDIG JESSICA HARPER

Local man’s mask a hit 2A Garofalo defends House education bill 8A Rosemount mayor touts city’s progress 36A

dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz

DATE ##, 2009 MARCH 31, 2011

VOLUME 32, 30, NUMBER NUMBER 5 # VOLUME

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INSIDE BIZ FORUM

DAWN IGOE

People should learn to treat their co-workers nicely, because they never know when one of them will step in to save their lives. 4A

FORUM Photo by Jessica Harper

Photo by Jessica Harper

As town homes sit empty in Apple Valley’s Central Village, a 134- Senior housing units have sprouted up across Lakeville over the past unit senior housing facility is filling up quickly. About a fourth of few years to meet rising demand. It’s a sign of the times as Dakota the apartments at Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley have filled since it County’s senior population continues to grow at a rapid pace. opened earlier this month.

Senior housing in high demand

Veterans should have access to places to live through the HUD and Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing program. AMY 4A KLOBUCHAR

by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

100,000

2010 Senior Population

200,000

2010 Total Population

300,000

2000 Senior Population

400,000

Projected 2035 Total Population

500,000

Projected 2035 Senior Population

CAPITOL COMMERCE

2000 Total Population

While town homes in Apple Valley’s Central Village remain empty, a new senior housing facility is filling up. Only a month after the opening of Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley, a facility for adults 62 and older, about a fourth of its 134 units have filled or been reserved. And this is not the only one in the city to fill quickly. A 60-unit senior housing facility called Cobblestone Square filled up completely within six months of its completion in June. The growing demand in senior housing is not limited to Apple Valley. It is exploding across Dakota County. “In Dakota County, we are ahead of the curve when compared to other metro areas,� said Mark Ulfers, executive director of the Dakota County Community Development Agency. The county’s CDA currently owns and manages 23 senior-living facilities. The county has received $13 million in bonding this year to assist in senior-housing developments. Two projects are underway in South St. Paul and Farmington, while another five are being planned. Thompson Heights in South St. Paul is a 60-unit independent senior-housing facility located on Thompson Avenue between

AMY KOCH

CAPITOL COMMERCE

0 Graphic by Robyn Berg

The senior population in Dakota County is rapidly growing. Between 2000 and 2010, it increased 47.93 percent, and is expected to more than double by 2035 to 106,430. 13th and North 15th avenues. The project is currently under construction and expected to open this fall. Vermillion River Crossing in Farmington is a 66-unit independent-living facility for seniors that is expected to break ground later this spring. The three-story building, to be located on the corner of Spruce Street and Dushane Parkway, will be the CDA’s first building in Farmington. Construction of the project will be funded by CDA funds and $13.8 million in federal Recovery Zone bonds.

Others in the pipeline Another CDA senior housing project is in the pipeline

Sen. Amy Koch, a Republican, says state government should spend only the money available in its checkbook. 8A

TOM BAKK

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Sen. Tom Bakk, a Democrat, says tax increases should pay for increases in costs to run state government. 9A

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General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011

See Housing, Page 36A


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