Lyndale Garden Center Developers Receive Funding for Site Contamination Study

The site moved one step closer to fruition after its developers, The Cornerstone Group, received a $38,100 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to conduct a contamination investigation.

The 7.5-acre site is contaminated with pesticides, lead, volatile organic compounds and asbestos, according to a DEED press release. .

The garden center project—which will be developed into a mixed-use site with commercial, public and housing elements—was one of 19 projects in Minnesota to be awarded DEED funding. The grants aim to get contaminated land restored and put back on a city’s tax roll, while also creating jobs. According to the release, the project will create 89 jobs and increase the tax base by $123,908.

Colleen Carey, president of The Cornerstone Group, told Patch the investigation work will likely begin in July 2011 after the company has finalized the grant agreement.

As far as costs of the study go, Carey said the grant will cover about 75 percent of the investigation and The Cornerstone Group will cover the rest with other funds. Once the investigation is complete, the company will also apply for a remediation grant to help cover most of the cleanup costs. Carey said the company hopes the remediation grant will cover 88 percent of the total costs.

Richfield Patch will continue to cover the development of the project.