Les Bolstad Golf Course Sale

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Golf Course Sale Map

On Friday, June 6^th, the City of Falcon Heights was notified of the University of Minnesota’s intent to pursue the sale of the Les Bolstad Golf Course property. The University intends to sell the entire property to one buyer through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. As part of the drafting of the RFP, the City and University worked together to ensure expectations for development were conveyed appropriately to potential buyers.

Since the announcement of the sale in June, City staff met with staff at the University of Minnesota, Ramsey County and neighboring cities to share information and collaborate. A Visioning Committee was formed, consisting of two City Council members and three Planning Commission members, to discuss guiding principles for the development. This was conveyed to the University to be included in their RFP, along with the Larpenteur and Snelling Corridor Development Study, which was adopted in 2024 and included a high-level look at redevelopment of the golf course should it ever be sold.

Current Status of the Project

The Request for Proposals by the University of Minnesota closed on December 18, 2025. The University is in the process of reviewing the proposals they received. As they are interviewing potential developers for the property's sale, the City is outlining a community-focused master planning process to help guide redevelopment.

To support this work, the City has hired a planning consultant from Bolton & Menk to assist with the master planning process, technical expertise, and community engagement efforts. As part of this process, the City is considering forming two advisory bodies: a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The TAC will include representatives from partner agencies such as Ramsey County, the Metropolitan Council, and local watershed districts. This group will provide technical expertise related to infrastructure, planning, and environmental considerations.

Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

The CAC will include representatives from the Falcon Heights community, City commissions, The Grove neighborhood, and nearby communities. This group will serve in an advisory role, helping identify community priorities and values that should guide redevelopment of the site. City staff, consultants, representatives from the University, and eventually the selected developer will also participate in the process.

The applications for the CAC are now closed. The City Council will review applications, interview with the finalists, and officially appoint them towards the end of April. The CAC is expected to meet monthly at City Hall beginning as soon as mid-May.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the websites below:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the University of Minnesota selling the property? According to the University of Minnesota Golf Course website, "This decision reflects careful consideration and was made in light of today’s challenging financial environment. As a public university, we have a responsibility to ensure that our land and resources are aligned with our core mission: supporting students, advancing research, and serving the state of Minnesota." For more information on this decision, please click here to visit the University of Minnesota Golf Course website.

Which exact portions of the property are being sold? According to the University of Minnesota Golf Course website, "The approximately 141 acres of the golf course property on both the north and south sides of Larpenteur Avenue West are included in the sale. The property will be sold as-is and will include the existing structures on the site such as the original club house. The John W. Mooty Golf Facility and associated short game outdoor training area, used by the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams, as well as Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, used by the Women’s Soccer team, are not included in the sale. The KUOM radio tower that serves the University’s Radio K station is located on land that is not part of the sale and will remain under the ownership of the University of Minnesota." For more information, please click here to visit the University of Minnesota Golf Course website. Additionally, maps have been included at the top and bottom of this webpage.

Can we stop the University of Minnesota from selling the land? Much like most residents of Falcon Heights own their land and home and are able to sell it at their discretion, the University of Minnesota owns the golf course land and controls the sale of it.

Will the City of Falcon Heights consider purchasing the property? The University of Minnesota did ask the City of Falcon Heights whether it wished to pursue purchasing the property. The price was, and still is, undetermined, but will undergo two appraisals for fair market value. Using similar property appraisals and recent sales of vacant land prices averaging $500,000 to $750,000 per acre in our region, it is unlikely that the property would be valued under $100,000 per acre ($14.1 million total), and is more likely to be valued at significantly more than that figure. The City’s legal debt limit is approximately $30 million, but has historically maintained under $2 million in outstanding debt. The City has not identified the purchase of the golf course property as a goal within our 2025 budget, nor our 2025 Goal Setting Report. As the City likely does not have the financial capacity to feasibly purchase the golf course, and it has not been identified as a goal of the City, the City Council voted on July 9, 2025 to formally confirm the intent to not pursue the purchase of the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Will the new development include parkland as part of their design? The City of Falcon Heights' Subdivision Code requires 8%-10% of land (dependent on zoning) in a subdivision be dedicated as public parkland, a playground, open space, trail system, or other public recreational purpose. Alternatively, at the option of the city, a fee in lieu can be paid by the developer equal to the fair market value of the land that would otherwise be dedicated. The Larpenteur & Snelling Corridor Study recommended that closer to 18-22% of the land be used as open space, so there are additional opportunities for the future owner to dedicate space as public.

What happens once the golf course is sold? To address this question, the full process needs to be taken into consideration. Prior to the final closing of the sale, the University will issue an RFP (UPDATE - RFP has been issued as of October 15, 2025) to developers to respond with offers for purchase, including potential plans for the land. When the land changes hands from the University to a developer, it officially changes from Public Land zoning to R-1, Single Family zoning. Developers will likely not be able to meet City Code exactly as it is written for R-1 zoning, so they will need to come before the Planning Commission and City Council with their plans. City Council makes the final decision on changes to City Code. If plans are submitted that do not align with City goals, they will not be approved by City Council. To mitigate the potential of unworkable plans being submitted and the sale ultimately not closing, the City worked directly with the University to set out the guiding principles for the development. Many factors were addressed, including land use, housing density, open space, maintenance, utilities and infrastructure, and more. This can be accessed here: Goals and Guiding Principles for Les Bolstad Golf Course.

What about Lauderdale, Roseville and St. Anthony Park residents? Can we comment? One representative from Lauderdale, Roseville and St. Anthony Park will be selected by their Council to serve on the Community Advisory Committee. Additionally, community meetings will be held throughout the process. These will be open to the public, and any interested parties may attend and comment.

Who do I contact with more questions? This webpage will be updated with all current public information as the City of Falcon Heights becomes aware of it. If you have questions about anything else, you are welcome to contact City Hall at 651.792.7600 or email mail@falconheights.org.