Apartment Project Near Future Minnetonka Light Rail Station Moves Forward

Newport Midwest LLC has submitted plans for The Mariner, a 249-unit housing project at 10400 Bren Road E. The $60 million development would include 55 affordable units for those making 50 percent of the area's median income. Three small office buildings on the 3.9-acre site would be demolished, according to planning documents.

A Minnetonka Planning Commission hearing is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 2.

Newport Midwest is joint venture between Irvine, Calif.-based Newport Partners LLC and St. Paul-based Landon Group.

The five-level affordable building and the six-level market-rate building would be connected via an amenity area with a kitchen, sauna, fitness area and rooftop patio. There would be 293 underground parking stalls and 47 surface spaces, for a ratio of 1.36 spots per unit. It would also have 162 bike parking spots.

Newport Midwest is one of three developers that could bring 1,000 new units within a block or two of the light rail station. But transit isn't the only thing driving development in the area, said Landon CEO Becky Landon. "We love the site because of the thousands of jobs nearby. That and the light rail station will be a big draw for renters," she said.

The site is within a mile of the campuses of United Health Group, Optum and several other large employers.

Plymouth-based Dominium is planning a 482-unit redevelopment of the Digi International campus just to the north. Florida-based LeCesse Development. Corp. is building the 322-unit RiZE at Opus Park project just east.

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