Housing agency to sell off 100 acres of land

Talk about it

The Red Wing Housing and Redevelopment Authority is looking to sell 100 acres of land on Highway 58 near Red Wing High School.

At Tuesday’s HRA meeting, the agency’s board declared the land “excess property” and decided to move ahead with an attempt to sell the land to a developer.

The agency will accept proposals from potential buyers until April 15. After evaluating those proposals, the agency will decide which development plan it likes best, if any.

If no proposals are appealing, the HRA may choose not to sell the land.

“We have a lot of latitude,” HRA Director Randal Hemmerlin said.

The agency doesn’t have to pick the highest bidder, he said. It could sell the land to the buyer with “the best offer for the community.”

Hemmerlin said the HRA planned to turn the land into a housing subdivision when it bought the property in 1996 for $320,000.

Since that time, however, the housing market has slumped and housing needs in Red Wing have changed. Hemmerlin said there are now enough housing sites in Red Wing to meet current needs.

HRA Chairwoman Peggy Rehder agreed that the needs have changed and said the board had to make a decision based on today’s circumstances.

It isn’t likely that all of the 100 acres could be developed, the board was told. Some of the land is heavily wooded hillside, too steep for most development. According to an agency memorandum, about 75 percent of the property is developable.

Hemmerlin said about 55 acres of the 100 acres is tillable and could be used for cropland. By Jon Swedien

jswedien@republican-eagle.com

The Red Wing Housing and Redevelopment Authority is looking to sell 100 acres of land on Highway 58 near Red Wing High School.

At Tuesday’s HRA meeting, the agency’s board declared the land “excess property” and decided to move ahead with an attempt to sell the land to a developer.

The agency will accept proposals from potential buyers until April 15. After evaluating those proposals, the agency will decide which development plan it likes best, if any.

If no proposals are appealing, the HRA may choose not to sell the land.

“We have a lot of latitude,” HRA Director Randal Hemmerlin said.

The agency doesn’t have to pick the highest bidder, he said. It could sell the land to the buyer with “the best offer for the community.”

Hemmerlin said the HRA planned to turn the land into a housing subdivision when it bought the property in 1996 for $320,000.

Since that time, however, the housing market has slumped and housing needs in Red Wing have changed. Hemmerlin said there are now enough housing sites in Red Wing to meet current needs.

HRA Chairwoman Peggy Rehder agreed that the needs have changed and said the board had to make a decision based on today’s circumstances.

It isn’t likely that all of the 100 acres could be developed, the board was told. Some of the land is heavily wooded hillside, too steep for most development. According to an agency memorandum, about 75 percent of the property is developable.

Hemmerlin said about 55 acres of the 100 acres is tillable and could be used for cropland.

Tags: news, red, wing, housing, and, redevelopment, authority, property