What is Happening at the Former Maple Grove Library Site?

After sitting empty for more than a year, changes are reportedly coming to the former Maple Grove Library site.

The property, located at 8351 Elm Creek Boulevard on about 2.09-acres of land, was sold in November 2012.  Steven Fischer, who is the CEO and co-founder of Arrow Companies in Maple Grove, closed on the $1.5 million sale Nov. 15.

The deal came after the Hennepin County Board approved a purchase agreement in August with Arrow Real Estate after receiving a proposal in May 2012.

“Arrow Real Estate Corporation is proposing the renovation of the existing structure for a Spanish immersion daycare and preschool,” according to documents provided to the Hennepin County Board in August 2012.

According to an email from Fischer, the owners of Jardin Magico contacted him earlier in the year about potential sites for a Spanish immersion preschool and day care center in Maple Grove. The owners of Jardin Magico could not immediately be reached for comment.

Renovation of the former Maple Grove Library is set to begin in January and completed in early spring 2013, according to Fischer.

Background

The building sat empty after the new Maple Grove Hennepin County Library opened on Main Street in May 2010.

Hennepin County decided to put the Elm Creek Boulevard property up for sale in the fall of 2010. In the spring of 2011, the Hennepin County Board authorized a purchase agreement with Semper Development. Semper and Walgreens were reportedly in discussion about the property.

“Due to difficulties that Semper Development encountered with its tenant, a purchase agreement was not entered into,” according to documents provided to the Hennepin County Board in August. The property was put back on the market and “over 100 individual, firms and organizations” received information and/or toured the property.

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