Gunflint Vue sets opening date, developer to host open house construction tours on Sunday, March 2
Feb 28, 2025 10:05AM ● By Content Editor
Gunflint Vue development project as of fall 2024. Photo: Gunflint Vue Facebook page
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 28, 2025
June 14, 2024, officials representing the City of Grand Marais, Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority, IRRR, the State of Minnesota, and developer P&R Companies broke ground on the 51-unit development Gunflint Vue. Now, on Sunday, March 2, P&R Companies is hosting two open-house construction tours of the building at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. for anyone interested in seeing the progress.
The 5.5-acre project sits on 16 acres of land sold for $1 to the Cook County HRA from the City of Grand Marais, located along the Gunflint Trail near Creechville (officially at 861 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604). Originally referred to as Switchback Village, the work for the mixed-income rental housing project began behind the scenes in early 2023. By May of that year, the land transfer had been completed, and the Planning Commission had approved a conditional-use permit for the project.
According to the HRA, by September 2023, a wetland delineation had been conducted, which identified that there were wetlands on the property. The state of Minnesota requires wetland delineation for new construction that may impact wetlands as part of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) and the Clean Water Act. According to the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, the division that oversees wetland delineation for the state, if wetlands are identified on a property, credits must be purchased to offset the wetlands removed from the area of construction. P&R Companies purchased the required credits, ensuring construction could begin that fall. However, grant logistics created a delay that pushed the start date too far into the cold season and, ultimately, was pushed to spring 2024. Construction has made steady progress since then, and an opening date of May 1, 2025, has been set.
Out of the 51 initially available units, 24 were income-based rentals (11 were reserved for 60% of the Annual Median Income (AMI) as set by the state of Minnesota, and 13 for 80% of AMI). Megan Holsclaw, operations manager for P&R Companies, told Boreal Community Media that as of February 27, 40% of the total units have been reserved with a one-year lease (with one-year renewal options). The units are a mix between studio apartments, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedrooms. Additionally, "the building's first floor, ADA unit, and garages are designed to be ADA accessible, ensuring that everyone in the community can comfortably utilize the space," Holsclaw said. There is, however, no elevator in the building to the second floor.
Jason Hale, former Cook County HRA director, said during the June 14 groundbreaking event that “Gunflint Vue represents a 10 million dollar investment in Grand Marais and is the biggest rental housing project in the history of Cook County.” While the project does provide additional housing availability, some community members expressed concerns that the units would be rented by people as second or vacation homes. When asked if this concern had been taken into consideration, Holsclow said: "Our focus remains on providing quality, long-term housing for local residents. We're currently limiting our advertising to our job-site sign, [our] Facebook page, and our non-promoted website, ensuring that local residents have first access to available units." The units cannot be rented out as short-term rentals or VRBOs.
For those attending the open house construction tour, Holsclow said that P&R Companies is "excited to welcome everyone eager to see our progress and will share any additional updates at the event." She also recommended wearing sturdy shoes, as it is a construction site and some surfaces may be uneven. Additionally, attendees should be prepared to walk up a flight of stairs to see the second floor.
Learn more about the March 2 tours here.
Learn more about Gunflint Vue here.
Editor's note: This article was updated on 2/28 at 12 p.m. to clarify that the units cannot be rented out as short-term rentals or VRBOs.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 28, 2025
June 14, 2024, officials representing the City of Grand Marais, Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority, IRRR, the State of Minnesota, and developer P&R Companies broke ground on the 51-unit development Gunflint Vue. Now, on Sunday, March 2, P&R Companies is hosting two open-house construction tours of the building at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. for anyone interested in seeing the progress.
The 5.5-acre project sits on 16 acres of land sold for $1 to the Cook County HRA from the City of Grand Marais, located along the Gunflint Trail near Creechville (officially at 861 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604). Originally referred to as Switchback Village, the work for the mixed-income rental housing project began behind the scenes in early 2023. By May of that year, the land transfer had been completed, and the Planning Commission had approved a conditional-use permit for the project.
According to the HRA, by September 2023, a wetland delineation had been conducted, which identified that there were wetlands on the property. The state of Minnesota requires wetland delineation for new construction that may impact wetlands as part of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) and the Clean Water Act. According to the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, the division that oversees wetland delineation for the state, if wetlands are identified on a property, credits must be purchased to offset the wetlands removed from the area of construction. P&R Companies purchased the required credits, ensuring construction could begin that fall. However, grant logistics created a delay that pushed the start date too far into the cold season and, ultimately, was pushed to spring 2024. Construction has made steady progress since then, and an opening date of May 1, 2025, has been set.
Out of the 51 initially available units, 24 were income-based rentals (11 were reserved for 60% of the Annual Median Income (AMI) as set by the state of Minnesota, and 13 for 80% of AMI). Megan Holsclaw, operations manager for P&R Companies, told Boreal Community Media that as of February 27, 40% of the total units have been reserved with a one-year lease (with one-year renewal options). The units are a mix between studio apartments, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedrooms. Additionally, "the building's first floor, ADA unit, and garages are designed to be ADA accessible, ensuring that everyone in the community can comfortably utilize the space," Holsclaw said. There is, however, no elevator in the building to the second floor.
Jason Hale, former Cook County HRA director, said during the June 14 groundbreaking event that “Gunflint Vue represents a 10 million dollar investment in Grand Marais and is the biggest rental housing project in the history of Cook County.” While the project does provide additional housing availability, some community members expressed concerns that the units would be rented by people as second or vacation homes. When asked if this concern had been taken into consideration, Holsclow said: "Our focus remains on providing quality, long-term housing for local residents. We're currently limiting our advertising to our job-site sign, [our] Facebook page, and our non-promoted website, ensuring that local residents have first access to available units." The units cannot be rented out as short-term rentals or VRBOs.
For those attending the open house construction tour, Holsclow said that P&R Companies is "excited to welcome everyone eager to see our progress and will share any additional updates at the event." She also recommended wearing sturdy shoes, as it is a construction site and some surfaces may be uneven. Additionally, attendees should be prepared to walk up a flight of stairs to see the second floor.
Learn more about the March 2 tours here.
Learn more about Gunflint Vue here.
Editor's note: This article was updated on 2/28 at 12 p.m. to clarify that the units cannot be rented out as short-term rentals or VRBOs.
