LRT helping drive apartment project

A sign that light-rail transit (LRT) construction is influencing development in Eden Prairie is a large apartment project called Blue Stem North, endorsed Monday, Jan. 10, by the city’s planning commission.

The 425-apartment Blue Stem North project at 6901 Flying Cloud Drive would not be within walking distance to existing shopping, city parks, or schools. But it would be within walking distance to the Golden Triangle LRT Station, one of four LRT stations planned for Eden Prairie and one located in the job-rich area of northeastern EP.

It would also be another entry in the city’s transit-oriented development (TOD) zone, a type of zoning Eden Prairie adopted in 2016 to promote higher residential density, higher employment density, and pedestrian-oriented development near transit stations. TOD zoning was first implemented in the Elevate apartment project near SouthWest Station, currently a bus hub but soon to be an LRT hub as well.

Proposed by Greco Properties, the Blue Stem North project got high marks from planning commissioners as it moves forward to city council review. In addition to being near mass transit, it would have amenities that include walking trails, pools, spas, pickleball courts, and a dog run.

“I would be excited about living in this kind of community,” commented Commissioner Carole Mette.