By Anne Holzman

Developer MWF Properties has secured preliminary support for a 110-unit senior housing development in place of the parking lot west of Amber Union.

The plan includes underground parking for the proposed new building, which would be adjacent to the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling avenues.

At its May 28 meeting, the Falcon Heights City Council approved MWF’s request to apply for Ramsey County affordable housing funds for the site, which MWF was under contract to purchase from Buhl investors. Buhl dropped its pursuit of a similar housing plan last fall.

Although the application appeared on the consent agenda and therefore had no formal discussion, Mayor Randy Gustafson introduced MWF representative Marty O’Connell after the measure was approved.

O’Connell explained the county funding is the first of several steps needed to cover “a significant financing gap” in the proposed project. He said he expects to spend 2025 lining up financing and approach the city with zoning and related requests in 2026.

Richfield-based MWF has projects under way or completed around the metro area, including in Burnsville and Maple Grove.

Falcon Heights City Administrator Jack Linehan told the council his staff is “excited” to be working with MWF on the project. He said the company has “a lot of experience in the market.”

Linehan later told the Bugle that the plan would likely require a fresh planned unit development (PUD) process because of changes to the configuration of units.

“There’s still a long journey,” Linehan said, “but steps so far look positive.”

Buhl bought the pair of properties, on the southwest corner of Larpenteur and Snelling avenues, from the city in 2019 and renovated the two existing buildings. Buhl named that project Amber Union in honor of the original use as the headquarters of the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association.

Buhl still owns Amber Union and contracts with Halverson Blaiser Group to manage the property.

The site now proposed for development by MWF has long served as overflow parking for the neighboring buildings. 

Anne Holzman is a regular Bugle freelance writer who covers Falcon Heights and Lauderdale city news.

Photo cutline: Developers of Amber Union (pictured above) have dropped plans to build an adjacent senior project called Amber Flats. A new developer, MWF Properties, is pursuing a similar senior housing plan on the Amber Flats site. Photo from Lou Michaels—Bugle archives.