01-02 Jan/Feb 2026 Arden Hills Notes

Home Browse Search

cityofardenhills.org • Jan/Feb 2026 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents Jan/Feb 2026 Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP): A Look Back at 2025 Outlot A Development In April, Ryan Companies US, Inc. broke ground on Micro Control Company’s new headquarters, the first development at Rice Creek Commons. The 157,000 sq. ft. advanced technology project is the first phase of developing Outlot A, a 40-acre parcel on the north end of Rice Creek Commons that is zoned for commercial use. The headquarters for Micro Control Company, which manufactures test equipment for the electronics industry, will span approximately 10 acres of Outlot A and be home to more than 200 jobs. Ryan has been working with Micro Control Company and project partners to implement a low- carbon and energy-efficient design for their new headquarters. This is the first project to be approved under the sustainability design guidelines that were adopted by the Joint Development Authority (JDA) in January 2025. To meet these goals, the building includes a range of sustainability measures, including a hybrid ground-source heat pump system as well as rooftop solar, which together mean that the building is almost entirely powered by electricity, with just a small amount of natural gas used for backup heating. By following the sustainability design guidelines, the building is 55% more efficient than baseline and has reduced its carbon emissions by 98.8%. Construction is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2026. California Parcel Developer In 2023, the JDA and a developer, Alatus, entered into a Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA). The signing of the PDA triggered 19 months of negotiations related to future development of the approximately 390-acre site within Rice Creek Commons for Outlot C, referred to as the “California Parcel.” The PDA had an expiration date of Jun. 30, 2025, and it outlined the parties’ commitment to exclusively negotiate terms for a final Development Agreement. On June 25, 2025, the JDA met to review a request from Alatus to extend the PDA for the California Parcel because final terms to a Development Agreement had not yet been reached. After discussion and consideration, no commissioner made a motion to approve the request for an extension, so the PDA terminated with Alatus on Jun. 30, 2025. The JDA began evaluating next steps and decisions toward the selection of a developer for this parcel in late 2025 and will continue this work in 2026. Rice Creek Boulevard On Sept. 9, 2025, the JDA approved the final plat for Rice Creek Commons Second Addition. The final plat was for Outlot C to subdivide the parcel for the dedication of the public right-of-way corridor for Rice Creek Boulevard (previously referred to as the Spine Road). Two large Outlots were created as part of the plat for the future Rice Creek Commons development. These Outlots will be further subdivided and replatted at the time of the future development. This platting process was to enable the construction of public infrastructure and is not associated with any specific development on the site. Request for Information Also in September, Ramsey County released a Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of the JDA. The RFI sought input from real estate experts to help guide the JDA’s approach to the next phase of the site’s redevelopment. Six responses were received that provided input on opportunities and challenges of the continued development of Rice Creek Commons, key factors affecting financial success, current real estate trends and development approach preferences. A summary of the RFI responses was presented to the JDA in December, and discussion of next steps toward a Request for Proposals is expected to continue in early 2026. Continued on page 3