Bay Center Won't Break Ground Until Fall

September. 

That is the earliest Wayzata  residents can expect groundbreaking on the long awaited Bay Center Development project.

Mayor Ken Willcox met with the project’s developer, Presbyterian Homes, last week and said Tuesday he had “no qualms” about the multi-phased Bay Center project being completed as proposed.

“It’s kind of a moving target, and hiccups happen,” Willcox said.

Construction had been planned to start by July.

What he called “lurching” in the project’s progression was, Willcox said, due to depressed condo and retail sectors. Presbyterian Homes had originally planned to build hotel and retail segments first, but those plans have since been revised. It will now be the senior housing prong of the project that breaks ground this fall.

Changing the order of construction will require the issuing of a second building amendment, which must be approved before any development can begin.

“We will not allow any demolition until that is approved,” Wayzata City Manager Al Orsen said.

Councilman Andrew Mullin said this week he wanted a public update from the developer by August—sooner if possible.

Mayor Willcox said he has been told money has been put down on somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 senior housing units of the 90 or so planned. Presbyterian Homes has also begun recruiting an anchor commercial presence for the project’s retail arm and has reportedly had encouraging results.

Engineers have run into unforeseen complications with the installation of utilities. Laying storm water treatment lines and filtration systems for the Bay Center will require dealing with “muck” 44 feet deep—much more than previously anticipated.

Updated plans on storm water and utility plans are expected to be delivered to the city next month.