Bethel to expand into Arden Hills Library site

Bethel University has announced it's buying the 3.5-acre site of the former Arden Hills Library from Ramsey County for somewhere between $450,000 and $580,000.

The university says it needs the space, and that the new location is less than a mile from campus. Bethel may work with the Minnesota Iowa Baptist Conference, located next to the library, so both can share the library and Conference site.

Kathleen Nelson, Bethel's senior vice president for finance and administration, said the university has no set plans yet for the site, but mentioned some possible uses on the university's Web site:

  • Create a one-stop adult learning facility. Currently the CAPS/GS offices are located at the Bethel Office Center and the classrooms are scattered throughout our facilities. Having this location conveniently off of a major interchange like 35W and 694 is great. We imagine being able to use classrooms during the daytime for College of Arts & Sciences and Bethel Seminary classes as well, something we’re not able to do at the Red Fox facility.

  • Adding much-needed office space.

  • Replacing the Bethel Office Center with more conveniently located office space.

Read more about the project here, and a Q&A with Nelson on the Bethel president's blog, Just Jay. A Shoreview Post article is here.

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