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LOCAL HMONG COMMUNITY : Celebrating 50 years of immigration PAGE 28
Plans for City Center apartment moves forward BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
The two both skied professionally for a while, including at the Tommy Bartlett show in Wisconsin. Carpenter also skied at
A new apartment complex from Chase Real Estate is moving forward in Vadnais Heights. The company plans to build two five-story apartment buildings featuring 360 units on undeveloped land at Labore Road and City Center Drive. Also to be included are outdoor amenities for residents and guests, including an outdoor pool, patio, fire pits, putting green and courtyards. The construction of these buildings will be divided into two phases. Phase 1 is scheduled to begin this fall and is expected to be completed by late 2026. Phase 2 will commence following the completion of Phase 1 and after the project is stabilized, with an anticipated start in 2028 or later. The subject property is currently zoned as “City Center” and will be rezoned to “Planned Unit Development” as part of the development process. The City Center’s future land use designation allows a maximum net density of 30 units per acre; however, this excludes areas such as wetlands, water bodies, floodplains, public parks and trails, rights-of-way and steep slopes from the total land area. The city plans to amend the maximum allowable density in City Center to 45 units per acre, aligning with the High-Density Residential future land use designation range. Planning/ Community Development Director Nolan Wall said that the proposal will not impact the site’s existing wetland. “The proposed PUD process and development does align with the relevant purpose and intent,” said Wall, “and the subject property exceeds 5
SEE SKI OTTERS, PAGE 7
SEE CITY CENTER, PAGE 11
UPPER PHOTO BY PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS - LOWER PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
The Midwest Ski Otters will be kicking off their 30th season at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 8 on Little Goose Lake.
Midwest Ski Otters celebrate 30 years BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Thirty years ago, the Midwest Ski Otters consisted of maybe 13 people. Now, three decades in the making,
like it's been 30 years,” said the team’s founder, Kristi Skillings. Skillings and her brother, Kurt Carpenter, grew up water skiing with the Bald Eagle Ski Team.
the team is nearing its 200th skier. The team’s 30th season will kick off at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 8. “It is a cool anniversary. It's very surreal. It doesn't feel
Historical society finishes outdoor construction, looks inward next What is the best choice when it comes to preserving the armory? This is a question that has weighed on the historical society since it took ownership of the building in late 2022. “Before we acquired the building, we did a thorough investigation. ‘What are we getting into?’” recalled Hanson. The roof’s masonry quickly became top priority. After enduring a century of Minnesota weather, the armory’s brickwork on the front wall was crumbling. Bricks made 100 years ago, of course, are not still being made today. Therefore, the historical society
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
White Bear Lake Armory is listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places because it is an example of unique architecture in Minnesota. “They don’t accept things just because they are old,” explained White Bear Lake Area Historical Society Executive Director Sara Hanson. “They want to know that it’s intact and the integrity is there … That’s the difference between historic preservation and hoarding. You have to make good choices.”
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