Bailey Nurseries is putting a massive stretch of its land along the Bailey Road corridor on the market, teeing up a roughly 184-acre mixed-use makeover that could bring hundreds of new homes, a sizable business park and fresh retail space to southern Woodbury, while still carving out room for a school expansion and tying into long-held family parcels in neighboring cities.
As first reported by the Business Journals, the Bailey family has listed the land with a concept plan that folds in retail, business-park space and an expansion of New Life Academy. City planning materials and an environmental assessment show the concept could accommodate up to 360 housing units, about 660,400 square feet of business-park space and roughly 89,600 square feet of retail, and that the size of the proposal triggers a state environmental review with a 30-day public comment period, according to Finance & Commerce.
Why The Nursery Is Selling
Brokers stress that Bailey Nurseries is not shutting down operations, it is cashing in on land that has become far more valuable as suburban development keeps moving east. “They just simply have land that is in the path of development,” Luke Appert of Cushman & Wakefield told Finance & Commerce, adding that Bailey Nurseries will continue to operate while selling off portions of its holdings.
Where The Project Would Sit And What Comes Next
The site is north of Bailey Road and east of Century Avenue, in a broader redevelopment zone that spans parcels in Woodbury, Newport and Maplewood, according to city planning materials. Woodbury’s workshop packet lays out a master-plan schedule that calls for neighborhood meetings and a planning commission review in late spring, with grading and utility work possible as early as this summer if the project clears its required approvals, per City of Woodbury documents.
How The Wider Area Is Already Moving
Developers are not waiting around on nearby Bailey-owned land. United Properties and Real Estate Equities are already pursuing industrial buildings, workforce apartments and a Kwik Trip in neighboring Newport, work city officials expect to follow once those plans are approved. The Development Tracker notes those proposals are being synced with planned road extensions and stormwater ponds, a sign that any Bailey land sale here is likely to slot into a larger regional buildout.
Local Institutions And The School Expansion
New Life Church has already voted to purchase 30 acres inside the broader development area for a major New Life Academy expansion, with the school’s site stating an agreed purchase price of $6.5 million. Church leaders outline plans for a larger worship center, more classrooms and upgraded athletic facilities as part of the expanded campus, according to New Life Academy.
Next Steps For Residents
Residents can look for additional neighborhood outreach and a formal public comment window during the environmental review process before the project hits the planning commission and city council agendas. City materials note that any approvals, along with early grading or utility work, hinge on those reviews, with key public hearings and votes expected this spring, per City of Woodbury documents.
