Photo: Sundance Woodbury
Woodbury welcomes a wave of high-end living spaces.
Amenities abound, special activities and events, open pet policies—those are just some of the offerings luxury apartments are making now-a-days. And as recent graduates search for first-time housing, seniors vie for community-styled living and empty nesters look to downsize, luxury apartments are seemingly the way to go.
“Woodbury has long promoted a diversity in its housing stock to create a strong community,” says the city of Woodbury’s community development coordinator Karl Batalden. “The recent and forthcoming rental communities help the city achieve that goal.”
Woodbury is not the only suburb (or larger city, for that matter) that has been increasing the range of housing. According to Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence company, the rate of urban, high-end rental apartments in the U.S. has skyrocketed, from 52 percent in 2012 to 87 percent in 2018—classifying every eight out of 10 apartments as “luxurious”—featuring more communal amenities and top-of-the-line finishes.
For the Twin Cities, that rate is slightly higher—90 percent of multi-family properties with 50 units or more are in the range of high-end apartment complexes.
“As a city with more than 75,000 residents, Woodbury households have a wide range of housing needs and desires,” Batalden says. “The new rental stock has created additional options that were not previously available within [Woodbury].”
For millennials and first-time home buyers, luxury apartments connect the bridge between college living and purchasing a home. For empty nesters and those who rent by choice, luxury apartments provide a sense of community among other amenities.
Batalden says many of the rental community residents have lived in the Woodbury community for a long time but need a housing change. “An example of this is how having high-quality rental options in the community allows seniors who are looking to downsize to continue to have high-quality amenities and a flexible lifestyle, while decreasing the need to spend time and money on maintenance,” he says.
Although Woodbury features a galore of shopping, dining, parks and recreational facilities, it lacked high-end living options for those who are looking to rent. But for the city, an ever changing community which first saw a housing boom in the 1980s, the housing market is rapidly changing, and is now home to several “luxury” apartment complexes, including Ascend at Woodbury and Sundance Woodbury, with more on the way.
Sundance Woodbury
“Who says you need a mortgage to live like a homeowner?” That’s just one phrase used at Sundance Woodbury, where apartment-style living meets single-unit home living to create one-of-a-kind apartment homes.
“There’s a trend shift … A lot of people used to love big apartment complexes,” says Calsey Smith, community manager. “Now, during this pandemic, residents don’t want shared spaces. Their privacy is huge.”
And with private entrances and garages, residents at Sundance Woodbury are getting what they’re looking for. Each home-styled apartment features that sought-after privacy, as well as open floorplans and premium finishes.
The first move-in at Sundance Woodbury happened just this past January, but Smith has been leasing out since August of 2020. “Residents couldn’t take an in-person tour,” Smith says. Prospective residents could only tour digital renderings, however, Smith says Sundance Woodbury began leasing quickly.
“It truly has been so many different age groups, and people with different backgrounds, who are interested,” she says.
At 23 buildings and 218 homes, the complex made sure to feature an array of amenities for its residents and their pets, including an outdoor pool, fitness center, dog park and wash station, and miles of private sidewalks.
“It’s a very resort-style,” Smith says. She adds that once safe, Sundance Woodbury plans to offer resident events, such as a community garage sale.
“I’m from a small town in Wisconsin and every year my mom would pull me out of school to come to the Woodbury Lions Garage Sales,” Smith says. “I lived for that in high school, so I thought it would be so cool to do a weekend garage sale.”
“[Sundance Woodbury] is going to be big for folks thinking about home ownership,” Smith says. “But also, those who have just sold their house. We can be a good fit for every background.”
Sundance Woodbury
355 Karen Lane; 763.316.2199
Instagram: @sundancewoodbury
Ascend at Woodbury
Though Ascend at Woodbury first welcomed residents in 2018, the community, which was under construction until June of 2019, is one of the newest apartment complexes in Woodbury.
Focusing on community, Ascend at Woodbury has an array of communal amenities, including a 24/7 coffee bar, movie theater, pool table and lounge area. There is also a clubhouse—available to rent and used for private resident events, like cocktail hours—and a fitness center, which houses a group fitness studio and other workout amenities.
And that’s just on the inside. Outdoors, the complex features a pool, firepit, grilling patio and a hammock space—a hit among the residents.
“The people of Woodbury were waiting for something like this [community],” says Alyssa Nimmo, community business manager.
Photo: Ascend at Woodbury
The 305-unit complex ranges from studios, one-bedroom and one-bedroom/den floorplans to two- and three-bedroom floorplans, all outfitted with upscale finishes and stainless-steel appliances. The units are housed in four residential buildings, all differing in size and finishes.
From beautiful dark cherry cabinets with granite countertops to top floor, penthouse-style finishes, including a light/dark cabinet finish with quartz countertops, gas fireplaces and stoves, the units are suited to fit all types of residents.
“We have had residents move over from luxury apartments in downtown Minneapolis … [Also] Woodbury residents, who were looking for housing like this, came to us,” Nimmo says, adding on that the centralized community is also a great location for 3M workers and people who are relocating.
“Jerry’s Foods, Third Act Craft Brewery and all of our neighbors are so great …” Nimmo says. “We love our neighborhood here at Ascend at Woodbury.”
Ascend at Woodbury
4151 Benjamin Drive; 612.444.9823
Instagram: @rentascend
