Master-planned communities offer those moving to Minneapolis a lot of great advantages. Many feature community centers with fitness gyms and swimming pools, manicured grounds, and lovely walking paths. Because homeowners in these communities must follow guidelines for the maintenance and upkeep of their homes, property values tend to either be stable or increase over time. Therefore, it’s probably not surprising that the number of planned communities has been on the rise throughout Minnesota. The following are six of the best planned communities located near Minneapolis.

Wedgewood

Wedgewood is located in Woodbury, Minnesota, and is about 15 minutes from downtown St. Paul and 25 minutes from Minneapolis. The first homes in this community were built in the late 1970s. Wedgewood is sprawled out over 1,200 acres and includes numerous highly desirable amenities, such as a championship golf course, parks, a lake, open space, and walking/biking trails. This community is made up of four districts: Wedgewood Valley, Wedgewood Heights, Wedgewood Shores, and Wedgewood Park.

Each district offers something a little different to potential buyers. For example, homes in the Wedgewood Valley district overlook the Prestwick Golf Course, while the houses in Wedgewood Shores are built near Colby Lake. The properties in the Wedgewood Park District are built around 26 acres of open park land, while Wedgewood Heights features the newest homes. In total, there are 20 separate neighborhoods and 958 custom homes, townhomes, and villas spread out within those districts. Each of these neighborhoods also has its own architectural style.

Overall, properties in Wedgewood tend to be good investments, with most appreciating between 5 and 15 percent in value over the last ten years. Although Wedgewood does not have its own restaurants and shops, many conveniences can be found close by, just outside this community’s borders.

Stonemill Farms

Stonemill Farms, which was established in 2002, is ideally located in Woodbury, close to several large companies and just about 20 miles east of St. Paul. This lovely community is situated on 629 acres and has a fitness center, a community center, a 32-seat movie theater, 26 miles of trails, five private parks with playgrounds, a pool, and a splash zone. Stonemill Farms even has its own hockey rink, as well as a skating rink.

The construction of new homes in Stonemill Farms was completed in 2017, and it is now home to 1,004 single-family houses and 90 townhomes. The properties in this community have maintained their value, and for the most part have appreciated five percent or more.

Stonemill Farms prides itself on being more than just a neighborhood of beautiful homes. Its homeowner’s association is very active and works hard to provide its residents with numerous exciting events throughout the year, including a Casino Night, a pool opening party, and an Independence Day celebration.

Wildflower at Lake Elmo

Wildflower at Lake Elmo is a relatively new master-planned community that first opened in the spring of 2016. It is located close to downtown Lake Elmo and the Fields of St. Croix planned community. As its name suggests, there is a focus on nature in this development. In fact, 60 acres of Wildflower at Lake Elmo has been set aside as a nature preserve that will hopefully become a habitat for butterflies and bees. Some of the best lots in this community overlook this Prairie Conservancy, which will also include three miles of walking trails so that residents can enjoy strolling through its beauty.

Wildflower at Lake Elmo will offer a nice range of houses, including detached garden villas, which will feature maintenance-free exterior grounds. Because the community’s developer placed all the garages in the rear, these villas will have exceptional curb appeal. As an added bonus, each garage faces out onto a green, private park-like space.

Included in the association dues that a homeowner pays for is snow removal, irrigation, and maintenance for lawns and shrubs. In addition to the villas, Wildflower at Lake Elmo will also offer large lots that can accommodate a variety of custom home designs, including one-story ramblers. Wildflower at Lake Elmo was recently awarded the 2017 Best New Residential Development in the Twin Cities by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.

Spirit of Brandtjen Farms

Spirit of Brandtjen Farms is located in Lakeville, just 15 minutes from the Minneapolis Airport and the Mall of America in Bloomington. It was built on the site of a dairy farm once owned by the Brandtjen Family. The developer of this community decided to preserve many of the natural features of the farm, including wetlands, wooded sections, lakes, and large swaths of green space. Miles of trails wind through the community.

Today, the farm’s old barn has been renovated into one of Spirit of Brandtjen Farms’ community centers. Known as the Barn, this center offers residents party rooms, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool. During the summer, residents can enjoy Music at the Barn. A second community center called The Granary has an exercise facility, another pool, and a playground.

The Spirit of Brandtjen Farms community is located close to many stores and restaurants, including Target, Walmart, Menards and, of course, the many options available at the nearby Mall of America.

Avonlea

Avonlea is a new master-planned community in Lakeville that is located approximately 30 minutes south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Those who commute into Minneapolis will be pleased to learn that the Kenrick Avenue Park-and-Ride is just five minutes from Avonlea.

One of the amenities offered to Avonlea residents is a clubhouse that boasts a fitness room and an outdoor playground. Potential buyers can choose from several collections, including the Grove at Avonlea, with homes ranging from 1,309 square feet to 2,185 square feet; the Landing at Avonlea, with spacious homes that are 2,218 square feet to 3,380 square feet; and the Commons at Avonlea, with townhomes ranging in size from just over 1,710 to 1,831 square feet.

Students living in this community can attend Cherry View Elementary School, Century Middle School, and Lakeville North High School. Although this community does not have its own retail stores, there are plenty of shopping options located nearby, including the Mall of America, which is only 20 minutes away.

Lakeshore Preserve

This lovely community is located in St. Michael and boasts access to Gonz Lake. Lakeshore Preserve residents can enjoy quiet days fishing from the resident-use dock on Gonz Lake. If they prefer, residents can launch a kayak or canoe from the dock and explore the lake.

Lakeshore Preserve also offers residents a pool, a picnic pavilion, a playground, and a park. Active residents will enjoy the community’s many recreational trails. Plus, Lakeshore Preserve residents can also explore the 25 miles of trails in the nearby Crow-Hassan park reserve.

This community offers both single-family homes and detached villas. These no-maintenance villas are perfect for anyone who does not want to mow their lawns or shovel snow, because the homeowner dues include lawn maintenance and snow removal. Although Lakeshore Preserve is not home to any retail businesses or restaurants, residents are close to all the shopping, dining, and entertainment options available in nearby Downtown St. Michael.

Choosing a Minneapolis Community That Will Meet Your Needs

It is apparent that a lot of thought, research, and hard work has gone into the planning of each of these communities. Any one of these options is a wonderful place for people to live. However, there are some small differences — as well as some bigger ones — that would make one community better suited to a prospective buyer than another.

If Minneapolis is the city for you, contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find your dream home today.