Carlson Real Estate Company Breaks Ground on The Oaks Business Park

Minneapolis, Minnesota—Carlson Real Estate Company commemorated the start of construction of The Oaks Business Park with an official groundbreaking ceremony that took place on June 29 at the development site located on the northeast quadrant of the I-694 and I-94 interchange in Oakdale, Minnesota. The 55-acre mixed-use project is the only master-planned development of its kind in the east metro. Included are four flex/light industrial buildings, two single-story office structures, two-story and six-story Class A office buildings, four office condominium buildings, and space for a two-story build-to-suit structure.

Initially, Carlson Real Estate will construct nearly 200,000 square feet comprised of a 98,000 square foot flex/light industrial building, a 58,000 square foot single-story Class A office building, and four office condominium buildings of 9,000 square feet each which offer ownership opportunities for business users as small as 1,500 square feet. Ultimately, The Oaks Business Park will consist of over a dozen buildings and 650,000 total square feet. Significant site preparation work has already been performed and the entire business park is scheduled for completion within 5 to 10 years.

Design work was performed by Edward Farr Architects, Inc., with RLK Kuissisto operating as the civil engineer. McGough Construction has been selected as the general contractor for Phase I of The Oaks Office Center Class A office, and The Oaks Tech Center flex/light industrial buildings. The Bainey Group has been hired as general contractor for The Oaks Office Suites business condominiums. Other partners and vendors include Belair Excavating, Mohagen Hansen, and Clark Engineering.

“We believe that this project is well positioned to meet the high demand for office and flex space in the eastern Twin Cities metro,” said Wayne Teig, Vice President of Carlson Real Estate Company, “Because we are offering several product types, it will appeal to a wide variety of users including service providers, Class A office and light industrial users, and the ever-increasing numbers of small business operators seeking to own their own space.”

Oakdale Mayor Carmen Sarrack is equally enthusiastic about the potential impact of The Oaks Business Park, which is expected to bring as many as 1,900 jobs to the city. “Carlson Real Estate’s track record speaks for itself,” he stated. “They build high quality, long-standing developments and we anticipate nothing less from The Oaks. This will be an excellent addition to the city as well as one of the premier business parks on the east side.”

Craig Lien and Jay Chmieleski of NAI Welsh Companies will represent Carlson Real Estate Company in the leasing of the buildings. Mr. Lien touted the project’s Oakdale location as a strong selling point. “It offers multiple access points to major thoroughfares and is just minutes from both the Minneapolis and St. Paul central business districts and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport,” he stated.

Stylish landscaping, dynamic water features, a signature bridge, and a scenic overlook with views of natural wetlands and ponds all add to the overall charm and continuity of The Oaks Business Park for tenants and guests alike. Nearby amenities include multiple shopping centers featuring major national retailers such as Home Depot, Target, and Barnes & Noble; well-known lodging and dining chains including Country Inns & Suites, Holiday Inn, TGIFriday’s, and Red Lobster; and recreational opportunities at Tanners Lake, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, and Prestwick Golf Club, all within a short distance of the beautiful St. Croix River Valley.

The land for The Oaks Business Park was purchased in several phases over the past two years and represents the first significant development for Carlson Real Estate Company in the east metro. Carlson Real Estate has worked diligently with the City of Oakdale to ensure that The Oaks Business Park meets or exceeds all of the expectations the city had for development at this site. “We very much look forward to bringing this development to this market,” said Matt Van Slooten, President of Carlson Real Estate Company. “We are glad to have the opportunity to create a business park setting with multiple properties. This allows us to continually satisfy our customers’ changing space needs as they grow or contract in size.”

When completed, The Oaks Business Park will expand Carlson Real Estate Company’s total portfolio, consisting of office and flex/light industrial space in Arizona and Minnesota, to over 6 million square feet.

Carlson Real Estate Company is an affiliate of Carlson Companies, parent company of Radisson Hotels, T.G.I.Friday’s Restaurants, and other national and global businesses, and one of America’s largest privately held companies.  Carlson Real Estate Company is dedicated to developing long-term client relationships by operating with integrity and care, and providing innovative and accommodating solutions.  Its portfolio of office and flex/industrial space concentrated in Minnesota and Arizona exceeds 5 million combined square feet.