Met Council Awards Woodbury Redevelopment Funds

The Metropolitan Council last month approved more than $11 million in grants to promote economic development and affordable housing in the region, including funds for two projects in Woodbury.

The Met Council gave $860,572 to help create a retail/service center for the southern portion Woodbury. Plans call for retail, service and office space, higher density residential and public gathering spaces, with the potential for a future park-and-ride or other transit facilities. Housing will include senior rental, affordable and market-rate units, including family townhomes. The project will also include commercial, restaurant and office space with access to the nearby Bielenberg Sports Center.

Also, Woodbury received $78,000 to help build apartments for people with disabilities and lower incomes within CityWalk, a planned community that is already home to more than 500 units of market-rate housing, retail, commercial, education and recreational amenities. The project will provide housing affordability in a walkable neighborhood with good access to jobs and that incorporates green elements.

The grants are awarded to cities participating in the Livable Communities program.

“The Livable Communities program has been in place since 1995 and continues to experience one success after another, including the Excelsior and Grand redevelopment in St. Louis Park and the Town Square project in Falcon Heights,” Metropolitan Council Chair Susan Haigh said in a release. “These grants, year after year, performing extreme makeovers on outdated development, improving connections between people and jobs and helping to ensure the region maintains the quality of life that continues to attract quality employers.”