Boldt buys land for senior project

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With its $2.65 million purchase of land from Bethel University, The Boldt Co. is one step closer to finishing work on a new senior living community in Arden Hills.

The Wisconsin-based development company acquired more than 6 acres of property earlier this month to construct a 146-unit senior living facility, according to an electronic certificate of real estate value. Boldt is working on the project with New Perspective Senior Living, which says the facility will meet a need for this type of housing in the north-central Twin Cities suburb.

The acquired land is at 12 Pine Tree Drive, right next to Bethel University’s Anderson Center. The site currently consists of open space and a wooded area around wetlands. Bethel’s campus is less than a mile north of the site, across County Road E.

Boldt and New Perspective secured city approval earlier this year to construct a four-story, 192,390-square-foot building housing units for independent living, assisted living and memory care, according to city documents.

Planned facility amenities include a pool, library, movie theater, dog run, lawn bowling, dance hall, full-service salon and spa, bistro and bar, and on-site physical therapy and wellness services, the documents said.

With staff onsite 24 hours a day, the facility is expected to employ 80 people with a maximum shift size of 34 staff, according to documents.

New Perspective would own and manage the building, adding to its lineup of 24 senior living communities in the Midwest. Requests for comments to Boldt and New Perspective weren’t returned by publication time.

The Arden Hills City Council approved the project in January. At the time, work was planned to begin in spring, Finance & Commerce reported.

Boldt operated as Arden Hills RE LLC in the sale, which was paid for in full in the down payment, according to the eCRV.

The facility will provide Arden Hill residents with another opportunity to age while remaining in the community, city documents said.

“The proposed development provides life-cycle housing as it offers independent senior housing and transitional care into more intense care. Residents won’t need to relocate to different units as they can add additional services to their unit as they need them,” the documents said.

The project is part of a larger site, called the Anderson Center property. This 42-acre site also includes a property that Lake Johanna Fire Department is acquiring to construct a new fire station, according to Finance & Commerce reporting.

Constructing a senior living facility near Bethel allows students to gain experience working with aging people through mentorship, internships, employment, Bible studies and other interactions, according to the university’s website.

“The hope is that a senior community located in close proximity to Bethel’s would create a mutually beneficial learning partnership resulting in cross-generational relationships,” the website said.

The project is also near another senior housing development, located just west of Old Highway 10 and south of Parkshore Drive in Arden Hills. Summit Development is developing the 120-unit project, which Walker Methodist would manage, Finance & Commerce reported.

RELATED: More senior housing planned for Arden Hills

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