By Scott Carlson
The on-again, off-again quest by Luther Seminary to sell a section of its campus grounds is back on again.
Seminary officials recently said their board of directors has contracted to sell its lower campus parcel to Edina-based developer Lifestyle Communities.
“The purchase agreement covers the entirety of the Lower Campus, which spans parcels in both Lauderdale and St. Paul,” the seminary said in a news release. “The property includes Northwestern Hall, Stub Hall and Breck Woods. A closing date is currently anticipated in 2026.”
Lifestyle Communities is a developer of multifamily, active-adult, and senior housing and is well known to St. Anthony Park. It previously built the Zvago Cooperative in St. Anthony Park, an active-adult community located next to Gullixson Hall at the east end of the seminary campus.
The seminary’s board of directors first approved a future sale of the Lower Campus in May 2018 as part of an overall campus redesign, with the goal of reinvesting the proceeds from the sale to support the seminary’s mission.
Information about the newest plans for the property and opportunities to learn more will be available as the project moves forward, the seminary said.
“At this time, we do not have a finalized concept or timeline for the site’s redevelopment,” said Heidi Droegemueller, vice president for Seminary Relations. “Detailed information about the direction of the redevelopment will be shared as plans evolve.
“As we move forward, both Luther Seminary and Lifestyle Communities are committed to working closely with local officials and governing bodies to ensure a transparent public engagement process.”
One issue of major concern to the seminary’s residential neighbors is what happens to the Breck Woods, a natural forested area home to many kinds of birds and trees.
Cynthia Ahlgren and Ann Juergens, representatives for the citizens group Friends of Breck Woods, said in a statement, “More housing is needed in our community.” But they added the woods also need to be preserved, because they, among other things, help filter the groundwater, filter pollutants from the air and provide an essential green corridor for animal habitat.
In a statement to residents, Droegemueller said, “Lifestyle is committed to working with the city of Lauderdale on a redevelopment plan that preserves as much of the natural resources of the Breck Woods area as possible. She added, ”As a reminder, Lauderdale zoning prevents development from occurring in the vast majority of the Woods.”
Last fall, the seminary noted it was looking to renew efforts to sell its lower campus.
“The board approved a future sale of the lower campus in May 2018 as part of an overall campus redesign. The current listing follows a period when the property was removed from active sale due to challenging market conditions.
Any proceeds from a potential sale (now) will be reinvested to support the seminary’s mission to educate leaders for Christian communities.”
For more information from the seminary, contact Rachel Farris, director of public relations, at [email protected] or Ben Landhauser, executive vice president of Lifestyle Communities, at [email protected].
Scott Carlson is managing editor of the Bugle.
Photo caption: Luther Seminary could be in for a big change in the next couple of years. The religious education institution is trying again to sell its lower campus property as part of an overall campus redesign. Photo by Janet Wight.