NEW HOUSING PLANNED FOR DULUTH

Duluth's Smithville neighborhood is about to get some new neighbors. 67 to be exact.

Construction has begun on Grand Avenue Estates, a new residential development located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Zimmerly Avenue.

The housing development will consist of two three story, 29 unit apartment buildings that will feature 1, 2, and three bedroom units. The buildings will also feature a community room on the ground floor, a fitness center and sitting room on the second, and a library on the third. Space behind the building will house a children's playground along with an outdoor grilling area.

The development will also feature 9 townhomes, or "Patio Homes" as they are being called by the developer. The Patio homes will either include 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms or 3 bedroom/ 2 bathrooms while each home will also have a two stall attached garage. There will be additional detached covered parking available for the apartment units within the development.

Rents for the units will begin at $975 for a one bedroom unit and go as high as $1,475 for a three bedroom unit. The townhomes will rent for $1,795 for the two bedroom units and $1,945 for the three bedroom units.

Developers will set away 11.6 acres of the 18 acre project that will remain as green space.

The $10 million development would have likely not been possible in it's current state if it had not been for the City, the Duluth Economic Development Authority, and the Department of Employment and Economic Development lending a helping hand. They contributed $654,000 for site preparations after unexpected contamination was found on site during the early phases of construction.

Construction is expected to completed in November 2017.