Lake Elmo, MN Real Estate

Located just 15 miles northeast of downtown St. Paul, but off the beaten path, Lake Elmo has actively fought to maintain its semi-rural/agricultural community and small town identity despite several high profile amenities such as the Lake Elmo Airport and Washington County Fairgrounds. Lake Elmo is presently a sleepy gateway to the St. Croix River Valley: wine, antiques and bed and breakfast country. However, Lake Elmo has recently been forced in line with other Minnesota communities who have been persuaded by the Metropolitan Council to implement growth and development plans in order to accommodate urban sprawl.

Lake Elmo recently lost a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Council and in April of 2007 town officials approved a plan that meets the Council's mandated growth targets. This recently adopted "Old Village Plan" is expected to triple the size of the downtown, restore parks and add trails linking downtown, neighborhoods and park areas, bring a new YMCA, arts center and City Hall to the community and all begins by adding 600 to 1,500 new homes to the area to help pay for the expansion. All development is anticipated to span about 15 years.

Lake Elmo is a quiet community of about 7,000 that values its past and, quite frankly, hasn't moved too far beyond it. The original barn that marked the first settlement of the town, built in 1852, burned to the ground in March of 2007 (intentionally), and the Lake Elmo Inn, an institution in the Twin Cities area, is still going strong after 124 years.

Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve is a natural gem boasting 2,165 acres of gently rolling hills with forest and prairie, archery range, boat launch, equestrian, group and modern campgrounds, canoe access points, fishing pier, orienteering course, picnic areas, play structures, swimming, trails for cross country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, running, and winter walking.

Homes in the area range from the grandiose, bona fide mansions on beautiful Lake Elmo, to the modest farms and homes of the traditional rural landscape. As mentioned, the City will be implementing the development of hundreds of new homes in the next few years. These will likely be in single-family and town home housing subdivisions. This city is on the cusp of a lot of exciting growth and development that is being met with mixed reaction by current and longtime residents of the community.

Local Flavor: The Machine Shed Restaurant: Restaurant, gift store and farming museum perfect for families or large groups. Try the ranch dressing-battered chicken tenders or anything pork. For a more refined, elegant experience try the Lake Elmo Inn: Established in 1881, it consistently wins Twin Cities dining and restaurants awards. Visit at Christmas time for an extra special sensory experience!

Area Shopping: Make the six-mile drive to Stillwater to find historic downtown charm: antique and specialty shops, and dining on the river.

Around Town: The Washington County Fairgrounds is a bustling place come August when the fair ramps up; Green Acres snowtubing facility is busy in the winter months.

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• Lake Elmo, MN

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