A new multi-family housing project is rising in southeast Willmar near the Highway 23/71 bypass–15th Street Flats. This affordable housing project consisting of 47 multi-family rental units is definitely taking shape. Commonwealth Development, the project developer, closed on funding with the State of Minnesota on August 31, 2018. Commonwealth gave the notice to proceed with construction on September 4th to the general contractor, Project One Construction of Kimball, MN. Shortly thereafter,
The 2019 Strategic Planning Session for the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) took place this past March. EDC Marketing and Public Relations Committee Vice Chair, Melissa Knott, shares her experience with us as a first-time attendee:
“On March 14th, I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Strategic Planning Session for the EDC where the separate committees came together to establish and discuss the primary focus areas for 2019. It was an eye-opening
Late in 2018, Willmar City Planner, Sarah Swedburg, published another episode of “the Buzz”. In this episode, Sarah talks about several projects taking place in our community.
Co-Op Credit Union
Co-Op Credit Union is located on the corner of 5th street and 19th avenue. Construction of this project is underway and is scheduled to be completed in late Spring of 2019.
First Street Station
First Street Station is a 4-unit strip mall located on the old Dairy Queen on First Street. Weather
Popular destination in Kandiyohi County was designated on April 23, 1919
Celebration events are planned throughout the summer to honor 100 years of Sibley State Park, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The park, in west-central Minnesota, is named for the state’s first governor, Henry Hastings Sibley, and was funded by the state Legislature and designated as a state park on April 23, 1919.
“Sibley State Park is a special place for many people,” said park naturalist Kelsey
After meeting with representatives of nonprofit senior living organization Bethesda, of Willmar, the City of New London passed a resolution Wednesday evening calling for a public hearing to establish a TIF (tax increment financing) District.
This TIF District would allow Bethesda to construct a $16 million senior and assisted living facility in New London near Peterson Parkway.
Although the project is still in its preliminary design phase, Bethesda plans to create a 72-unit, 95,000 foot facility
WILLMAR—To help move the construction of new 24-unit apartment building at the Sunwood Apartment Complex near Ridgewater College forward, developer AEHM LLC has requested the Willmar City Council consider approval of a 10-year tax abatement for the project.
Gabe Olson, of AEHM, explained that with rising construction costs, the project would probably not be possible without assistance from the city.
“Construction costs are pretty high,” Olson said. “Without the abatement, it would
WILLMAR — Building on their success last year to lobby the Minnesota Legislature for money to build two four-lane gaps between Willmar and Interstate 94, the Highway 23 Coalition has set new legislative goals for 2019.
The board of directors for the coalition, which is a public-private partnership with more than 100 members that promotes infrastructure improvements on Highway 23, recently identified support for four projects on the Highway 23 corridor.
The projects include:
Construction of a roundabout
WILLMAR—As a requirement of the $606,000 Legacy grant Willmar received for improvements at Robbins Island Regional Park, the city needed to update the land use covenants for the park, to lay out in black and white that someday the park won’t turn into a strip mall or housing development. The park has covenants, but they haven’t been updated since 1974.
“This is basically saying this is going to be a park and it is always going to stay a park,” Willmar Parks and Recreation
WILLMAR—The Kandi Mall’s southside anchor location has stood empty since 2012 when Kmart closed. For the past four years, Kohl’s has been eyeing Willmar as a possible location for a new store, according to Andy Weiner, CEO of RockStep Capital, owners of the mall.
“We are thrilled to have Kohl’s open up a 40,000-square-foot store in the former Kmart building,” Weiner said in an email to the West Central Tribune. “They believe they will have a very strong store
WILLMAR – It looks like the rumors are true. National retailer Kohl’s is coming to Willmar’s Kandi Mall.
Mayor Marv Calvin made the announcement at the end of Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“Kohl’s has pulled a building permit from the city of Willmar,” Calvin said.
City Planner Sarah Swedburg said the building permit was taken out by Kohl’s last week and is for work to split the former Kmart location in the Kandi Mall into two different retail spaces, with Kohl’s planning to fill
