Aurora, Biwabik, and Hoyt Lakes each have a development project in progress with the potential to bring much-needed residential housing and other types of buildings to our growing communities.
Here’s a status update on all three projects as of Summer 2024:
Aurora
The City of Aurora has partnered with the city engineer Bolton & Menk to develop 22 acres in the western portion of Aurora along North Erie Street and Knuti Drive. The concept plan currently shows a proposed layout that would accommodate around 30 single-family homes.
The city received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation for the professional services required to complete design for the project by the end of this year.
“We hope to have a Shovel-Ready project for the road, curb, gutter, and lot landscaping by the end of this summer, apply for funds to do the road work next year, and get water and sewer stubbed into the northern part of the lots by next summer,” shares Aurora City Administrator Luke Heikkila. “With the current timeline we would like to have the lots available for sale by the end of 2025.”
Biwabik
The recent demolition of a former school on the northern side of Biwabik has helped open up space for a new development of single-family homes. The initial layout shows three parcels, all of which have now been completely restored with green grass following the demolition.
The total of 6.1 acres includes 1 acre of city-owned land. The rest are currently in a tax forfeit status and the city is collaborating with One Roof Community Housing on site readiness and working to secure Shovel-Ready certification before proceeding to obtain the remaining 5.1 acres from Saint Louis County.
Hoyt Lakes
Saint Louis County received $500,000 from IRRR to demolish the former Hoyt Lakes school located at 301 Hampshire Drive. Upon additional information being released about the funds, the city and council will discuss possible next steps for the property.
Housing Development Dollars and Assistance Available
The East Range Housing Institute cohort has created the new Seller Readiness Rehabilitation Program to support projects like these across the region. This cohort is working on housing issues across East Range communities and will have additional announcements in coming months.
