The New Ulm Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved an update for the N. Broadway project site plan that removes residential apartment units.

In February, the EDA approved a site plan for the sale of three EDA-owned located at 318, 320, and 326 N. Broadway. The site plan called for a three-story mixed-use building that featured commercial properties on the main floor with residential properties above.

The EDA previously rented out a house at 320 N. Broadway and rented out the corner lot at 326 N Broadway for food trucks and food stands. In the summer of 2024, the EDA chose to sell the lots to a developer. To facilitate the sale, the rental house had to be removed.

The city decided that instead of demolishing the rental house at 320 N. Broadway, it would be sold to the renters and moved to a new location. On Sept. 30, the house at 320 N. Broadway was moved seven blocks to an empty residential lot at 1007 N. Minnesota Street. With the removal of the house, the EDA was able to move forward with the sale of the three lots.

The lots at 318, 320 and 326. N. Broadway will be developed into commercial space by SLD Proprieties, LLC. The original site plan called for the creation of a mix of residential and commercial space, but the owners were unable to find adequate parking for the residential units.

New Ulm City Manager Chris Dalton said that since the original site plan was approved and the lots sold in February, the developers revised their plan to have a purely commercial.

This is due in part to the parking requirements for the development. The site has three commercial spaces and a drive-thru space. Dalton said the parking requirements for the commercial space leave no room for residential parking.

Since this is a change from the original site plan, the EDA needed to grant a second approval.

EDA member Andrea Boettger made the motion to approve the all-commercial development plan.

“We still need retail space, we still have a need to have that lot development,” she said.

Board member David Christian seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved by the board.