Lindstrom council approves application for $11.23 million redevelopment grant for Lindstrom Landing

The Lindstrom City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city to apply for a DEED deed redevelopment grant to help prepare the Dinner Bell/Lindstrom Landing property for redevelopment.

Dan (city staff member) told the council the city will serve as the applicant and that the resolution includes language noting a local match. “I wanna make it clear to the council and to the residents and the taxpayers of Lindstrom that that local match is not coming from the city of Lindstrom or the city of Lindstrom taxpayers,” Dan said, adding the city would enter into a sub‑grant agreement with the developer if the grant is awarded.

The move matters because the site has been vacant for more than a decade and faces steep grade changes and stormwater challenges that increase development costs. Phil, representing Prelude Holdings, said the developer is seeking $11,230,891 from the DEED redevelopment program to fund site preparation work including stormwater upgrades and utility improvements. “We’ve already, spent about $600 in matching to get this far,” Phil said, describing community focus groups and how the proposal responds to resident input.

Phil outlined the project’s early concept: waterfront hospitality and event space toward the highway and lower‑intensity residential toward the site’s southern edge. He said residential plans would not exceed 30 units — “I believe it’ll be 20” — and the proposal includes a pocket park to memorialize the site’s history. Phil said the team has done design workshops with residents and community leaders and that the plan responds to common hopes — restaurant and pedestrian connections to Main Street — and fears such as overflow parking and excessive density.

Dan also flagged grant terms that could require a lookback or clawback if a developer fails to perform, and emphasized the city’s intent that any repayment liability would be addressed through developer agreements rather than city general funds. Council members asked technical questions about access, left‑turn restrictions discussed previously with the state DOT, and how the project’s site constraints affect design.

A council member moved to adopt Resolution 07162026‑01 authorizing the application; the motion was seconded and carried with an aye vote. With council approval the city will submit the redevelopment grant application and, if awarded, negotiate a sub‑grant agreement that spells out match responsibilities, performance milestones and any clawback terms.

Next steps: the city will file the grant application as authorized; if DEED awards funds, staff will return with a proposed sub‑grant agreement and further project approvals required for entitlement, permitting and construction.