M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners Injunction against Lino Lakes building pause denied Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parking mandates[...] Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs Twin Cities housing starts were up across the board in April on the strength of another solid month for single[...] Greco Properties plans a 20-unit memory care facility on a tough-to-develop Edina lot Rice Creek Commons begins redevelopment with Micro Control HQ marking a major step after years of delays at t[...] proposes 43-unit mixed-use building in Excelsior with a renovation of the historic Dock Cinema Sign up for your daily digest of Minnesota News Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parkin[...] will break ground this summer on The Dorian a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo af[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a [...] The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite political pressure from Pre[...] The Trump administration is swiftly remaking housing policy as the U.S Department of Housing and Ur[...] construction job openings dropped by 38,000 in March signaling slowing labor demand amid tarif[...] Trump's trade demands stretch beyond tariffs Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs is now an official city after a local vote Milwaukee Mitchell Airport will start a $95.2M international terminal project this summer after dela[...] Listen here analysis and commentary on Minnesota business We are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions the developer behind a controversial Lino Lakes proposal faced fraud allegations in civil court and pleaded guilty to theft by swindle in criminal court but supporters see opposition motivated by Islamophobia High-profile plans for a large housing development centered around a mosque in Lino Lakes are on hold well into the new year, now that a federal judge has denied developer Faraaz Mohammed’s request for an early end to the city’s moratorium that stalled his project The developers have been squaring off with city leaders and officials in federal court over a lawsuit in which Mohammed accused them of Islamophobic discrimination But critics of the proposal in Anoka County say the controversy swirling around Mohammed’s Madinah Lakes housing development has clouded legitimate concerns about the developer’s past legal troubles Those include a lawsuit alleging he lied about being a licensed contractor and a past conviction for theft by swindle “It has felt scammy to me from the beginning,” Lino Lakes resident Melissa Schultz said in an interview echoing a complaint aired frequently at public meetings about the project throughout 2024 Mohammed restated his confidence in the project in an email to the Minnesota Star Tribune He called the claims of the recent lawsuit that he settled with a client “frivolous” and said his team is “committed to working honestly transparently and collaboratively with the City (of Lino Lakes) and its residents.” who partnered with Mohammed on the project and is the founder of DJR Architecture defended the developer and said the criticisms of Mohammed’s past are driven by opposition to a Muslim-focused development “It was what I call premeditated murder of a project because they didn’t like the idea of an Islamic community,” Dovolis said bought the former Robinson Sod Farm in March with the intention of turning it into a large mixed-use development that would bring in an estimated 1,200 to 1,300 homeowners It includes more than 400 homes for sale or rent The council voted 4-1 in June to put a moratorium on all residential development in the city’s northwest quadrant until August 2025 though that does not prohibit construction of the mosque or commercial buildings The city argued that a moratorium was necessary to allow time to create a new “master plan” for that area The Zikar Holdings lawsuit alleges that the moratorium was unfairly put in place because officials don’t want a project that Mohammed described as “Muslim-friendly.” Mohammed and co-plaintiffs submitted a request for an injunction in federal court to end the moratorium the developers “are not likely to succeed” in their claim that Lino Lakes violated the Fair Housing Act Opponents have raised concerns about Mohammed’s past since the project was introduced last spring and his background became an argument for why the proposal should be denied Mohammed was convicted of theft by swindle in 2013 when he was handling accounting duties for a company called Forevergreen in Eden Prairie The owner discovered that Mohammed had written 16 unauthorized checks to himself and four electronic payments Mohammed took a plea deal that reduced the conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor Mohammed admitted to forging checks in the written guilty plea but he said in an interview this year that he believes it was a wrongful conviction He did not elaborate and did not respond to another inquiry this week for more details the Minnesota company Royal Priesthood LLC sued Mohammed alleging that a company he owned was paid $62,000 to complete renovations on a Minneapolis apartment building but the work was never finished Royal Priesthood owner Olaleye Olagbaju said in an interview that Mohammed lied when he said he was a licensed contractor in Minnesota The lawsuit alleged that Mohammed’s company never paid the money back that only part of the work on the building’s roof was completed and that it was done incorrectly Olagbaju was paid back $25,000 of the money he lost Olagbaju said he finds it “worrisome” to have Mohammed leading a project as large as Madinah Lakes “I suggest people do their due diligence to decide if he’s someone they should trust to do a big project like that,” Olagbaju said His lawsuit accused Mohammed of going by a different name to “confuse or otherwise defraud” others with whom he does business Mohammed said that he began going by a different last name because he struggled to find work following the theft-by-swindle conviction Mohammed maintains that the lawsuit was “frivolous and unfounded” and that his company fulfilled contract requirements so common that many attorneys dedicate their entire practice to the specialty,” Mohammed said Mohammed has never been licensed as a contractor in Minnesota a frequent criticism from Madinah Lakes detractors a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry said a recent theft-by-swindle conviction would “likely” make becoming a licensed contractor difficult since applicants are required to submit to a background check Mohammed is allowed to act as a developer if he contracts with licensed builders to do the work including hiring and supervising the general contractor and other licensed professionals who will take Madinah Lakes from an amazing vision to a stunning reality,” Mohammed said in response said that about 80 percent of developers he’s worked with haven’t been licensed contractors In November, KARE 11 reported allegations that Mohammed had been involved in a scheme with a former employer to forge shipping receipts. Mohammed told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he was not responsible for what happened, saying he had inadvertently passed along false information from his employer. Dovolis said it was important for him to meet with Mohammed to ask about the past allegations. After doing so, he said, he felt confident about the project. “Things happened in the past. It’s life,” Dovolis said. “But he seemed very sincere about trying to pull this development together.” Meg Sawyer, a spokeswoman for Lino Lakes, said the city would not comment for this report. David Schultz, a professor at Hamline University who previously worked as a director of planning, zoning and code enforcement for the city of Binghamton, N.Y., said a developer with a history of fraud allegations and a swindle conviction would have given him pause. “This would come under a very, very careful consideration in terms of: ‘Is this an overall feasible project?’ ” Schultz said. Jason Kuboushek, an attorney representing Council Member Michael Ruhland in the civil lawsuit against the city and two of its council members, was unsure if Mohammed’s past fraud allegations could affect the project’s chances of being approved. He said it would depend on whether Mohammed’s past allegations correlate to his ability to fund the project. Dovolis, however, stressed that the only consideration should be the merits of this particular project and whether it will be funded. The architect said that he has met with investors for the project and that the funding is already in place. Jaylani Hussein, the director of the Minnesota branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that the allegations against Mohammed are serious. But Hussein said he thinks the project is getting pushback only because it’s focused on Muslim customers. “I don’t think it would have mattered whether the developer had a past or not,” Hussein said. “I don’t think that was the reason that they were trying to stop this project.” Louis Krauss is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. Books Ariel Lawhon and Imani Perry also are coming to Hopkins for the popular Hennepin County Library series Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence The state’s 61st Teacher of the Year is the first from the Eden Prairie school district to win the award Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application a name he was known by throughout his childhood in St He then went on to enlist in the United States Army He then went on to establish a career with the Minnesota Department of Transportation until his retirement in 2007.  and drinking coffee while watching the neighborhood “happenings” from his front porch He warmly greeted every baby he saw out in public became an honorary "grandpa" to all of the neighborhood kids and was an active member at the YMCA and Rookery Buzz enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his wife He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Sullivan and unborn Baby Girl Boleen (whom he lovingly referred to as “Sarah” until his final days) Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3 PM Thursday Visitation will be held from 5-8 PM Wednesday at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home-Lino Lakes Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors the city of Lino Lakes passed a moratorium on new residential construction in a 980-acre area framed by Sunset Avenue on the west Fourth Avenue on the east and Century Trail/Carl Street on the south Architect: Lino Lakes project on hold for ‘nefarious’ reasons in Lino Lakes features 404,300 square feet of space and is occupied by Alternative Distribution Lino Lakes warehouse sold for $30.8 million a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo after buying[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a major aero[...] Medical office buildings in the Twin Cities are in high demand as investors seek stable assets amid tariffs BioMADE has bought a Maple Grove site for $16.5M to build a $132M biomanufacturing facility backed by the DoD [...] Twin Cities apartment vacancies fall to 7.03% as rent rises and construction slows Louis Park have new owners after about five years was called home to his Heavenly Father on Friday after a tough battle with stage four colon cancer Todd met his wife Sherry in the Roseville Community Band 1991 and together raised three beautiful daughters attending many family parties & gatherings Todd was in check printing for many years until the need for checks declined He then worked at Kraus Anderson as a courier and eventually got his Class A license and became a truck driver for True North Steel Even through the long workdays and odd hours he ensured that he was home each night to be a loving husband and dad He enjoyed being hands-on in helping his daughters with school projects and supporting them in their activities and the annual Olson men’s camping trip and an inventor of odd and practical things it was your lucky day if you could figure out his unique gift “wrapping” He was quick to think of a comeback and just enjoyed being goofy He was a giving of his time and would help others wherever and whenever needed.  He volunteered at church and enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher and served as an usher for many years He was adamant about being a donor and was able to donate his corneas to the Lions Gift of Sight his wife of 33 years; daughters and sons-in-law Skip Schilla; seven nephews; one niece; and other extended family and friends October 25 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Circle Pines               Northbound I-35W between Lino Lakes and Columbus are back open after a crash shut down all lanes in that direction for nearly seven hours on Friday morning A Minnesota State Patrol incident report says the crash happened shortly before 4 a.m The agency says a semi tractor/trailer combination that was hauling fuel overturned near Lakes Drive in Lino Lakes meaning hazmat crews had to respond in order to clean up the spill Although the incident report initially stated the crash involved an injury the State Patrol said early Friday afternoon that no one was injured The truck was the only vehicle involved in the crash No word on what caused the truck to turn over The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the lanes were closed between Anoka County Road 23/Lake Drive in Lino Lakes and I-35E in Columbus Only emergency vehicles were allowed to drive through the area Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Lennar Homes has proposed building 113 townhomes and 149 single-family houses in Lino Lakes west of 20th Avenue North and north of the city’s border with Centerville Homebuilding pitches advance in Lino Lakes This landscape concept image shows a mix of housing that could be built by North Oaks Co on a 38.2-acre site west of Centerville Road and north of Wilkinson Lake Boulevard Lino Lakes launches review of large mixed-use development Lynda was an administrative assistant at various corporations and spending time with her family and friends She was actively involved in church and teasing people with a playful nature Lynda is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mildred (Everett) Glockzin and George (Mary) Strecker; father, Niel Banta; brother Ashlie (Dane) Dewall and Tim Sundstrom (Jessica Enger); granddaughter Nancy (John) Nipp; multiple cousins and cat Interment Wyoming United Methodist Cemetery Visitation 4-7 PM Friday at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home-Lino Lakes (County Hwy 23) and from 10-11 AM Saturday at the church The developers behind a proposed mosque-centric housing development in Lino Lakes have sued the city over a year-long development moratorium in part of the city claiming the city’s action discriminates against Muslims City Council members approved the moratorium on development in the northwest corner of the city in July Plaintiffs Jameel Ahmed and Faraaz Mohammed name Lino Lakes and City Council Members Michael Ruhland and Chris Lyden in their federal lawsuit alleging the defendants “do not want Muslims in their City” and that they “have made a series of obviously discriminatory statements and official decisions in furtherance of that unlawful and unconstitutional purpose.” delivered remarks on the filing Tuesday outside the federal courthouse in downtown Minneapolis “This is not a situation where we have to rely solely on circumstantial evidence or inferences of discrimination,” Diehl said “But members of the City Council have — from the dais at city council meetings — made blatantly anti-Muslim statements and demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and for the requirement that they consider applications on their merits and not on the identity or the religion of the applicant.” The lawsuit comes one day after the Lino Lakes City Council voted 3-1 to censure Lyden because he appeared to endorse an Islamophobic rant that was sent to his city email account Ruhland was the only member who voted against the resolution citing a New York Times report on the conflict over the Madinah Lakes development spouted hateful rhetoric against Muslims and signed off by writing “Good luck halting the Muslim conquest of Minnesota!” Lyden responded using his official city email: “Might be the best email I have ever received Ahmed and Mohammed draw on how the city approached a previously proposed 707-unit housing development planned for the same property Madinah Lakes sought to build on Those parcels on what is now a sod farm were inside the “10-year staging area” of Lino Lakes’ comprehensive plan meaning future development in that area would be within the city’s anticipated infrastructure expansion needs and would “not negatively impact natural features of the community,” the lawsuit states The plan was submitted by Integrate Properties was reviewed within two months and did not receive scrutiny on its potential impact on the environment or congestion on Main Street IPL did not move forward with developing the property clearing the way for Zikar to explore putting the Madinah Lakes project there Zikar entered an agreement to buy the sod farm contingent on its plan being approved by the city The developer posted a video online previewing Madinah Lakes a city planner allegedly called Mohammed to share that the video had gotten backlash from community members and that he should attend the next City Council meeting Council Member Ruhland introduced an item to the council’s April 1 work session agenda to consider a development moratorium citing concerns about water infrastructure The plaintiffs argue that Ruhland wouldn’t have asked the council to consider a development moratorium if not for the community’s response to the Madinah Lakes proposal “Defendant Ruhland proposed that the moratorium on residential development in response to negative anti-Muslim opinions they heard from Lino Lakes residents regarding Madinah Lakes and particularly the masjid it proposed,” the lawsuit states opponents and supporters of Madinah Lakes packed City Council meetings to voice their opinions The City Council was set to consider Zikar’s development plan on July 1 The moratorium gained final approval on July 8 The plaintiffs state that council members claimed the moratorium was due to infrastructure concerns and had nothing to do with anti-Muslim sentiment yet debate on the issue repeatedly focused on Muslims and immigration The lawsuit seeks to stop Lino Lakes from enforcing the moratorium and to prevent the city from requiring any conditions for Madinah Lakes that “is not neutral and generally applicable” or was not part of the city’s comprehensive plan zoning code or any other ordinance at the time Zikar submitted its proposal 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the city for comment The city said its lawyers are reviewing the case and have no comment at this time A full copy of the lawsuit is included below: went home to his Lord and Savior on October 25 at his home surrounded by his loving family He was a devoted husband and father of two Joe went on and served as a Military Police Officer while serving in the United States Army for 4 years Joe dedicated 31 years to the Minnesota Department of Corrections where he recently retired as a Correction Lieutenant he was a member of the Special Operations Response Team he led the Honor Guard and served as a member of the Marksman/Observer team Joe was born with a spirit of adventure and was known for his zest for life and his genuine ability to connect with everyone he met he was always ready with a story and a smile Joe’s life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer he faced his illness with remarkable courage cherishing every moment spent with his family and friends he had a passion for golf and loved spending time with family and friends at the beach His weekends were often filled with motorcycle or snowmobile adventures he frequently surprised Lois with new “toys” in the garage each one a testament to his adventurous spirit How he managed to embrace life so fully while being the only man in the 21st century without a debit card or social media remains a delightful mystery to all who knew and loved him and together they raised two wonderful children: their 11-year-old daughter The family also included their two cherished cats Joe's devotion to his family was unwavering Joe's legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him and ability to turn strangers into friends will be remembered forever He will be forever missed by his beloved wife Jeri (Shelly) Rosier; Tucke in-laws; Terry cousins and amazing friends who were family to him and who were touched by his infectious spirit A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m.  Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery The Polk County Sheriff's Office says 18-year-old Marley J. Mickelsen died in a T-bone crash around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the intersection of Hwy. 65 and 85th Ave.  Authorities say Mickelsen was driving a car and "failed to stop at the stop sign and went into the path of a southbound pickup truck on Highway 65." Mickelsen died at the scene, while two people in the truck were taken by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries.  No further information has been disclosed.  Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change. and shops around the Twin Cities are celebrating according to the Dakota County Attorney's Office was last seen running into a wooded area nearly a decade ago which occurred on Highway 19 at around 10:30 a.m. also critically injured a 21-year-old passenger Rochester is upgrading its wastewater treatment plant to meet more stringent state permitting requirements Lino Lakes win big in water infrastructure funding The Lino Lakes City Council censured a council member on Monday following his response to an anti-Muslim email Councilmember Chris Lyden was censured in a 3-1 vote on Monday night after his response to an email that the city said contains “very significant negative and derogatory commentary related to the Koran and the Muslim faith.” “Might be the best email I have ever received Thank you Sir!” The contents of the initial email have not been released I’m afraid of people who are afraid of the facts.” Lyden added that in his nine years on the council and throughout years of coaching youth sports he has never “been accused of being a racist.” The censure document can be viewed in full below It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James L Brown and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.  Jim spent over 20 years serving in the United States Air Force where he earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues His dedication to his country was a source of pride throughout his life Brown was a voracious reader and always eager to expand his knowledge especially loving engineering and railroads often found on the course where he spent hours enjoying and perfecting the game But perhaps his greatest joy came from spending time with his family especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren James Brown was preceded in death by his beloved wife during which time they created a family and a legacy that will live on for generations.  Chad and Alisha; and two great-grandchildren all of whom were the pride and joy of his life He will also be missed by his extended family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.  Memorial Visitation will be held from 10 - 11 AM Friday January 3 at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-LINO LAKES In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to American Heart Association The Lino Lakes city council voted in favor of a moratorium to postpone Madinah Lakes development in the first ordinance reading on Monday night Dozens of people came to the meeting to voice their concerns during the public hearing Some people think the development is the right fit for the city while others do not.Plans to build Madinah Lakes “It’s just the first time that Muslim developers are building housing for everybody,” Jaylani Hussein said.The nearly 1000-acre site would include housing retail and a grocery store among other things.The center point of the major development is a mosque.Council members said the pause in development would be to conduct studies including community impact and an environmental review.“There’s a lot of islamophobia A lot of comments couched in too much traffic and too much density,” Dean Dovolis The Minnesota Council on American-Islamic relations calls the moratorium discriminatory.“We’ve been fighting this is a continuation of islamophobia That is when cities and towns use land use as a way to deny Muslims either moving in to housing or schools,” Hussein said.When the project was introduced there was push back rooted in concerns about additional traffic overcrowding of schools and more stress on the infrastructure                                               Residents who support the project also spoke out at the public hearing and expressed delaying development would not be beneficial The council will vote again during the second ordinance reading in the July 8 meeting it will go into effect in August for one year North Oaks Company has pitched apartment buildings senior housing and townhomes at a 76-acre site just south of County Road J/Ash Street/CSAH 32 west of Centerville Road and north of Wilkinson Lake Boulevard in Lino Lakes We celebrate the life and legacy of Arty Ortiz where he touched the lives of many with his kindness and determination His bright spirit and unwavering commitment to his loved ones will be deeply missed Arty's journey included graduating from Paso High School and pursuing a Master's Degree from Metropolitan State University leading him to a fulfilling career as a human resource director at Pace Analytical His passion for guiding and supporting others in their professional growth left a lasting impact on all who knew him Arty's love for his family shone brightly and together they raised their children in Lino Lakes fostering a home filled with warmth and love Arty's dedication extended beyond his immediate family as he also coached football teams in Wayzata and White Bear Lake exemplifying his commitment to mentoring and shaping young lives Arty could often be found cheering on his favorite team relishing in the excitement of game days as a devoted season ticket holder His infectious enthusiasm for life and his unwavering support for those around him made him a treasured friend and confidant to many Cecilia Ortiz; other members of the Ortiz and Gutierrez families A visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Arty Ortiz's spirit will continue to shine brightly in the memories and hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him and unwavering love serve as a guiding light for us all Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A rendering of the mosque that is part of the proposed Madinah Lakes development in Lino Lakes.Courtesy of Faraaz YussufGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories including a Muslim-oriented project that has divided the city and its residents over the past few months The 156-acre development project dubbed Madinah Lakes would include 434 units of housing businesses and a mosque on the site of an old sod farm Since the project was announced to the public hundreds of people have swarmed City Hall in support and in opposition of the project A second and final reading of the moratorium is set for July 8 Opponents of the development have concerns about residential density and argue that the development would put too much stress on local infrastructure MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all I’d be so excited I’ll make a donation to your cause,” said resident Jason Sonnek it’s of over-building and excess population density that will destroy the character of the community we love.” Those backing the project say opposition to the project is linked to Islamophobia is based on the fact of the developer building a mosque,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein The moratorium would pause any development in that area of the city for one year City officials say they want to use that time to create a master plan for that area the owner of the company proposing the development “I will be standing here at the end of this moratorium not by forcing anyone’s hand “But by rolling my sleeves up and working with this great city to find the best solution for this development plan and this area that preserves its unique character.” passed away in North Branch on September 4 She is preceded in death by her best friend and beloved husband, Ralph; parents Evonne grew up in Lino Lakes and graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1958 She met Ralph in her senior year and they were married in September of 1958 they were together until Ralph’s death in May of 2018; 60 years Evonne’s life was filled with her children they spent their winters in Arizona escaping the cold Evonne loved her church and was kind to everyone she met.  September 9 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home-Lino Lakes