Developer explains City Center
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NEW ULM -- Potential tenants of the planned City Center apartment building had the chance to meet with the developer, general contractor and kitchen designers Thursday.
Developer Minnesota Strasse LLC hosted the meet-and-greet in The Grand Center for Arts and Culture, to inform the public on some of the features of the 55-years-old-and-up apartments.
"We have got enough amenities in here to enjoy having the free time (of retirement)," Minnesota Strasse President James Kretsch said. "It is designed for camaraderie and activity, rather than just sitting there by yourself looking out the window."
When asked, guests expressed excitement at the apartment's amenities. Most were quick to praise the building's proposed location on Minnesota Street between South 1st Street and South 2nd Street.
"I like the idea that it is close to downtown," Cliff Vath said. "We can walk up to the restaurants, German Park is down here, just a couple of blocks (away)."
Vath and his wife Sheryll put down the first pre-construction lease deposit in the apartment. They are moving from Iowa to New Ulm because they enjoy the community.
The apartment building is attracting local homeowners as well. Husband and wife Jerry and Marian Kamm said they were "pretty excited" about its proximity to businesses and the amenities offered.
While its location is one of City Center's biggest selling points, guests also commented on the dedication of Kretsch to organize a community in the building.
The general contractor tasked with building the structure expressed confidence in the quality of the building's design, materials and of course the location.
"What strikes me is, it is a great design," Brennan Companies President Michael Brennan said. "Quality materials, good layout. I knew all of that as we were putting our numbers together, but the first time I came to New Ulm with Jim and our group met him onsite, that is when I thought 'oh my heavens what a great location.'"
A specific component, the kitchens, were shown off at the meet-and-greet. They are noteworthy because this will be the first multi-family apartment building in the United States to use the Miinus system designed by Puustelli, a family-owned kitchen furnishing company based in Finland.
"Everything is built around a biocomposite frame, which is a revolutionary new way of cabinet construction," Bjorn Freudenthal, the Puustelli vice president of sales and marketing for North America, said. "The biocomposite is a stable material so it does not expand or contract. Compare that to the standard construction of MDF, that is manufactured density board, and particle boards that, if they get moisture in them, swell and expand and contract."
Puustelli's Miinus system uses pre-molded pieces for a more environmentally friendly product, Freudenthal said.
There were three points Freudenthal stressed for why his product has lower environmental impact.
First is stability, which prevents off-gassing that happens when chemicals from glue or other material are released into the air as a gas.
Secondly, the company uses 100 percent recycled goods.
Thirdly, it uses half the material used by standard kitchen construction.
Kretsch has been working on the City Center apartments for about four years, he said. He hopes to break ground this summer and finish construction late next spring.
Currently the developer is taking pre-construction lease deposits from potential residents. To learn more, visit citycenterapartmentsmn.com, call (772) 633-1417 or email jkretsch@comcast.com.
Minnesota Strasse LLC also has an office in room 211 of The Grand. The office is staffed from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.