For years it’s sat vacant.  But a new housing community could be coming to what’s known as Port Riverwalk on Coon Rapids Boulevard.

Port Riverwalk is located between Avocet Street and Egret Boulevard, a highly visible and heavily traveled corridor.

"It will be an opportunity to ask questions, for us to get some feedback and we can move forward from there," says Gran Fernelius, Community Development Director.

Residents are invited to an open house next week to learn more about a proposed housing development in Port Riverwalk. For the last decade, several development proposals have been brought to the City, but none have materialized, until now.

"The City is working with Centra homes, which is a Coon Rapids-based company on a housing proposal which includes detached family homes, detached townhomes in the concept," says Fernelius.

The first phase of the project would include 110 for-sale detached townhomes, with room for growth in the future.

"There’s about four acres of the parcel, of the entire site, that would be available for some kind of additional development beyond the proposal they’ve submitted to the City," says Fernelius.

A more formal development proposal is expected by late summer, with grading and site preparation to begin as early as this fall.

"Ideally in the spring of 2018 they would start construction of the actual homes," says Fernelius.

The Port Riverwalk Development Open House will be held Wednesday, May 17 from 5-7 p-m at the City Center, Civic Room A.

To learn more about the plan, click here.