Burnsville’s Performing Arts Center – Beauty & Controversy
September 30, 2009
The $20 Million Burnsville Performing Arts Center opened in January 2009 as an anchor to central Burnsville’s business district. It was envisioned as a central showcase for arts and business development in the “Heart of the City”. Along the way, there has been a backlash from some citizens about the cost and process used to approve and run the Center.
The Building
The facility itself is located at 12600 Nicollet Avenue and includes 2 theatres, a 1,014 seat main stage (the Proscenium Theater) and a smaller, more intimate 150 seat venue (the Black Box). There is also an Art Gallery which is open Thursday & Friday afternoons from 1-5pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm. Finally, the building also has rehearsal, meeting & reception spaces.
The Arts Center partnered this year with Burnsville School District 191 to open the Envision Academy of the Arts magnet school for grades 9-12. The first year attracted 65 students (capacity 150).
The Grounds
The scene outside the building is very nice. There is an outdoor performance area, lots of flowers, water features and the building lights up in different colors at night.
The Controversy
The building was back in the news this week as they city council approved more funding to improve the facility – More Funds Sought For Burnsville PAC
There was a definite lack of performances scheduled early on and the center was losing more money than expected early on (warning – salty & negative language) – PAC to Lose $825k?
Moving Forward
Despite the acrimony, the Burnsville Performing Arts Center is a beautiful space and is starting to get a much fuller list of upcoming performances across a wide spectrum of interests – Event Calendar
For a complete album of the 25 pictures I took at the PAC visit my Facebook album – Bill’s Fan Page Photo Album
Apple Valley’s Firefighter Memorial
September 29, 2009
At the Southeast corner of Pilot Knob Road and County Road 42 stands the Lebanon Cemetery in Apple Valley, MN.
In 2005, in conjunction with the Firefighters Relief Association, the city built a Firefighter Memorial to recognize all firefighters that have or will serve the city of Apple Valley.
From the application “The 13-foot memorial was noted as simple and very attractive. A total of 880 pavers are planned. Each monolith will have space for 280 names (to be engraved on two sides) for a total of 1,120 names. When a firefighter earns his or her badge, which takes one to two years, the firefighter’s name will be engraved. To date, there are 270 names to be engraved. It will take approximately 160 years until the memorial is full. 
Funds will be available for later engravings. The Apple Valley logo and Maltese cross are the only symbols allowed.”
Residents of Apple Valley and all of Dakota County should consider stopping by to see this moving and well done memorial in a beautiful setting.
Lakeville & Apple Valley – Transit Updates For Commuters
September 29, 2009
I-35W Park & Ride -
There was lots of news out of Lakeville this week in regard to their transit options as not 1 but 2 new bus routes opened up to connect Lakeville to downtown Minneapolis. On Monday, Governor Tim Pawlenty and a number of other dignitaries were on hand to open the new Kenrick Avenue Metro Transit Park & Ride center along I-35. The 750 space parking facility will serve commuters taking buses to downtown Minneapolis (pictured above).
Cedar Avenue Park & Ride -
In addition, competing service provider, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, is opening their first service into Lakeville which will run along Cedar Avenue. The route will use a temporary parking lot at Crossroads United Methodist Church and switch to a permanent 181 space lot on Cedar Avenue and 181st Street later in October. From there the buses will take commuters to the Apple Valley Transit Center where connections to both Minneapolis and St. Paul are available.
News Sources -
The opening of 2 routes follows a contentious time for the city of Lakeville which had resisted entering the taxing district and had been accused by Apple Valley of clogging their park & ride lots.
- In May 2008, the city of Lakeville finally agreed to enter the taxing district to get bus service – Lakeville Approves Transit Tax
- In September 2009, the city goes from 0 options to 2 almost overnight. It’s somewhat controversial as Metro Transit enters MVTA territory – Lakeville Bus Options
- On September 28th, the Governor and local officials cut the ribbon – Officials Welcome Transit Options
- The MVTA route ties into the Cedar Avenue Transitway which has caused much controversy in Apple Valley as it disrupts traditional traffic in Apple Valley – Cedar Valley Transitway
- The new Transitway has given rise to a major new Transit Center being built in Apple Valley that is being funded with federal stimulus funds – Apple Valley – Transit Center Funding
- The old 337 spot Apple Valley Transit Center is often overflowing. The new facility (1 block north on Cedar Ave.) is taking shape will address capacity issues. (old on left, new on right)
My Day at the Minnesota Realtor Expo – 2009
September 24, 2009
The Minnesota Realtor Expo was held yesterday, September 23rd, at St. Paul’s Riverplace. I spent the day with 400+ other people going through 5 breakout sessions and a trade show to better enhance my skills. The sessions were all well done, here’s what I attended -
- Marketplace Issues – a session that discussed Realtor contractual issues and client service recommendations. This was helpful as there are so many important rules we must follow to make sure we are doing right by our clients.
- Minnesota Real Estate Pricing Perspectives – this breakout by a national speaker discussed how Minnesota’s real estate market is near the middle of national averages and our job growth/loss has been better than many. The thing that really caught me was his projection for broad interest rate hikes in coming months & years. A 1% jump in rates reduces a buyer’s purchasing power by 10% and he projects 2% in 1-2 years.
- Effective E-Mail & Tech Savvy Realtor – These 2 classes were taught by the same national speaker. I pride myself on being ahead of the curve with my 21 years at Microsoft so a lot of this wasn’t new but I did pick up some nice tips like using a Flip video camera some additional web sites that will improve how I interact with clients.
- Resourceful Marketing for Realtors – Led by the Minneapolis Area Association for Realtors Communications Director, this session discussed a lot about social media and how to better enable it to serve clients. When I got back to my office I fired up a Facebook business site and a Twitter account.
- Here’s my Facebook Fan Page – Become a Facebook Fan
- Here’s my Twitter Page – Follow Me On Twitter
- Connect with me on Linked In – Linked In Profile
Rosemount’s Evermoor Development – Nearing Completion
September 22, 2009
In early 2000, the City of Rosemount gave final approval to start developing Evermoor – the former site of a 560 acre sheep farm that was to become home to 1,100 different units. These ranged across a number of different types from high-end custom homes to townhouses and condominiums.
Fast forward 9 years and the Evermoor development is nearing completion. The development is broken into 13 different sub-developments that span the need for different types of housing, as well as maintaining about 25% of the space for parks and open space. Here’s a breakdown of the different sub-developments and what you will find -
The Uplands -
The Uplands is the premier single-family executive home area within Evermoor. It consists of 43 homes along Danube Lane, north of Evermoor Parkway. These homes typically start at $550,000 and go up to $1 million.
Westmeath & Drumcliffe -
The Westmeath & Drumcliffe areas consist of single-family custom homes. They are located between Diamond Path and Shannon Parkway just north and south along Evermoor Parkway. These homes along with The Uplands homes are the only homes considered “custom” and will typically feature many higher end finishes and unique designs.
Clare Downs & Heath Haven -
These are more established single family homes built by DR Horton and Centex. Heath Haven is located east of Shannon Parkway and Clare Downs is east of Shannon and south of Connemara Drive. They are characterized as primarily 2 story homes with brick fronts – typically on nice sized lots.
Westport & Glendalough -
The only 2 areas still under development – Westport is being developed by DR Horton and is nearing completion. It is located just east of Shannon Pkwy and north of Connemara. Lennar is the developer of Glendalough which has a different feel including front porches, homes close to the street, sidewalks on each side and a neighborhood pool. There are quite a few lots left there to build.
Talcott Glen & Innisfree -
Talcott Glen & Innisfree are the westernmost developments along Diamond Path & Evermoor Parkway. Talcott Glen features attached townhomes while Innisfree features detached townhomes. Both include maintenance in the association fees and are located near Innisfree Park for walking trails.
Cross Croft & Waterford -
Townhomes on eastern side of Evermoor – Cross Croft features detached townhomes, while Waterford is attached homes. The Cross Croft area has a community center, swimming pool and tennis court.
Roundstone -
A more traditional, starter townhome with 4-8 units attached in a row. These are all multi-level homes – the outer units do have walkouts and nice private yards with trees behind them.
Bard’s Crossing -
Bard’s Crossing is located just south of Connemara Trail near Highway 3. It consists of 2 large condominium buildings with 3 levels of units and underground parking. The property was developed by Wensco.
I consider myself an Evermoor specialist, having lived here for 4+ years. I look forward to assisting buyers interested in this development or current residents looking to sell their Evermoor property.
Average Sales Price In Twin Cities – Down 26% in 2 Years
September 21, 2009
While we are seeing some positive signs in the Twin Cities real estate market, a lot of the activity is at the lower end of the price range which is being driven by the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers credit and investors. These groups are snapping up properties that are <$200,000 but many other homes priced above that, especially ones that are not in lender mediation, are struggling to get offers.
The Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors puts out a ton of great research each week & month and the following graphic really caught my eye (Twin Cities Real Estate – Monthly Indicators). The average sales price for homes is down over 26% in the past 2 years. That means if you bought your home in the mid-2000’s, like so many people did, you home is not only worth less than you purchased it for – it may be worth A LOT less than you bought it for.
With so many people getting low down payment loans that means there are thousands of Twin Cities homeowners with a home worth less than they owe on it. Not only is that issue driving a lot of the foreclosures, it’s become extremely painful for people that ARE making payments but want to sell. Coming to the closing with tens of thousands of dollars is not fun but it’s what reality is in this market.
The main blessing is that for those purchasing a replacement home, they are going to get that same level of discount on whatever they purchase which helps make it something of a wash.
Dakota County Real Estate News – September 16, 2009
September 16, 2009
Today I decided to take a look at a few local and national headlines that are impacting Dakota County residents. These issues are making real estate news and those people that are buying and selling homes right now might gain some benefit from staying on top of what’s happening in the marketplace.
- There is a battle looming as the National Association of Realtors is trying to get Congress to extend the $8,000 first time homebuyers credit which is set to expire on November 30, 2009. The tax credit has already cost the federal government $15 billion (about twice what was expected). By extending it the credit would certainly help stimulate additional sales but at a price tag that could exceed $50 billion. There is a very good recap of the issue in today’s New York Times – Fight Looming On Tax Break
- In addition to looking at news I read a lot of other real estate blogs and the following article on the Top 10 Tips to Sell Your House was very good. The author, in Tallahassee, FL, discusses how 82% of homes in their market haven’t sold during their listing periods and what you can do to address it – 10 Tips To Make Sure Your Home Doesn’t Sell
- On the local front, last week I discussed how Dakota County and a few local cities were holding steady on taxes. The latest city to make a decision on taxes was Lakeville and they’ve decided to both raise taxes and raise utility fees – Lakeville Raising Taxes & Adding Utility Fees
- Finally, the Hastings school board is going to seek a bonding levy this fall from voters but has some good news as they qualify for no or low interest federal government bonds which could save them up to $11 million in financing costs – Voter Approval May Net Fed Funds
Lebanon Hills Regional Park – Dakota County’s Largest
September 14, 2009
The largest park in Dakota County is Lebanon Hills Regional Park which is located on 2,000 acres stretching across southern Eagan and Northeastern Apple Valley.
The park is popular in both the summer and winter seasons with outdoor enthusiasts, swimmers, skiers, bikers, canoe/kayakers, hikers, campers and horseback riders. According to the main Dakota County Park site -
the park offers miles of trails and many lakes for year-round outdoor sports, recreation and environmental education. The Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, located in the eastern section of the park, offers park information, interactive nature displays, courses and programs, and access to all the beauty the park has to offer.
Some of the resources that might help you enjoy this amazing park -
- You can find a trail map showing the miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails here – Lebanon Hills Park Summer Trail Map
- The Sierra Club has a nice web page on the park that describes the park and activities as well as discussing possible ecological threats – Sierra Club – Lebanon Hills Park
- The Minnesota Off Road Cyclists has a very detailed website on the parks mountain bike trail options. The call Lebanon Hills a “must ride trail in Minnesota”. The go into full descriptions of the different difficulty levels along with maps and pictures – MORC – Biking in Lebanon Hills
- Finally, for those interested in environmental issues, the Metropolitan Council highlighted the efforts of Dakota County’s Lebanon Hills Visitor Center and their “green” roof and rainwater collection system – Dakota County to Become “greener”
- Get outside and take advantage of this great outdoor play area.
Dakota County Taxes – County & Cities Holding Tight
September 11, 2009
The current economy and drop in property values is causing many local government entities to make some difficult budgeting decisions. As property values decline the amount of property taxes goes down as well unless county and city commissioners raise rates to make up for this shortfall. This is forcing some difficult decisions for many.
That said, Dakota County and many of the counties cities are making the decision not to raise rates for the 2010 budget year. Especially since the state government reduced county and city governmental aid to address its own budget issues. Luckily, Dakota County and most of its cities aren’t as dependant on state government aid as some are.
Dakota County is setting it’s taxing levy at the same amount as in 2009 and is addressing a budget gap through eliminating vacant positions. Dakota County Holds Levy Steady
The move sets the county up for a tight year financially, with the board trying to erase a projected $9 million budget gap by cutting spending
The cities of Burnsville and Rosemount also made the decision to go with no increases for the coming year. Burnsville Won’t Increase Taxes Rosemount has been reducing debt in recent years which helped it reduce taxes in 2010 and possibly 2011 – Rosemount Taxes to go Down
Mendota Heights did buck the trend and has approved a preliminary levy increase of 1.66 percent for the coming year – Mendota Heights Approves Steady Spending
Twin Cities September ‘09 Housing Supply Report
September 9, 2009
Months Supply of Inventory by Property Type:
The Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors (of which I’m a member) has published their September 2009 Housing Supply Report and there continue to be good signs in the Twin Cities housing market.
I can very much speak to Takeaway #2 below as 1 of my First Time Homebuyer clients has been in 2 multi-offer situations on <$200k houses. They had 1 deal with 20+ offers and another (which we won) with 8 offers.
September Housing Supply Outlook – MAAR Report
The September Housing Supply Outlook is online now. As usual, here’s a few quick takeaways from this hyper-detailed look at the Twin Cities housing market.
Takeaway #1: The single-family detached market segment is rapidly approaching a balanced equilibrium. There are currently 6.3 months of supply available in that segment compared to 8.0 and 11.7 months in the townhome and condominium segments, respectively. The lower price ranges of the single-family detached segment are actually now extreme seller’s markets, with only 2.3 months of supply available under $120,000, for example.
Takeaway #2: Sales continue to boom below $200,000 as first-time buyers move to take advantage of the final days of the federal tax credit. Expect sales to continue at a brisk pace for the next two months as the “last call before bar close” buyers take advantage of the final days of this substantial market incentive.
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