A Tradition of Excellence
Robert Engstrom is currently concentrating development activities on environmentally friendly conservation communities.  He is developing or has developed several residential communities in the Twin Cities region including Cloverdale Farm, a 250 acre neighborhood, and The Fields of St. Croix, a 241 acre community that preserves over 50 percent of the site for open space and agriculture.  Both are located near Lake Elmo, Minnesota. 

The Fields of St. Croix was the first conservation community in Minnesota and received the first permit from the MPCA for a constructed wetlands wastewater system.  The Fields of St. Croix was also awarded two Best In American Living Awards at the National Association of Home Builder’s convention.  In recognition of the nation’s best new housing designs it received a Gold National Award for Best Community Under 150 Units, and also received the highest National Award for being judged “Best in Region”.  New Century in Maplewood is a 165-unit infill neighborhood featuring a variety of housing types and an improved streetscape.  New Century received the Regional 2002 Best “Smart Growth” Neighborhood Award.  New developments for 2006 include Territorial Place, a 37-unit condominium building in downtown Stillwater; and The Fields at Burandt Lake, a 150-acre low impact development in Waconia.

"Champion of Open Space"
In 2004, Bob Engstrom was named Champion of Open Space by the Embrace Open Space organization, the only developer to receive this recognition.  In the June 2004 issue of Urban Land, he was featured in the Community Builders Profile sponsored by the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.

He is a pioneer in the planning and development of townhouse and open space communities, and the developer and builder of Summit Place, a three block urban restoration and new construction neighborhood in the Cathedral Hill Historic District of St. Paul.  In 1992, Summit Place received the Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence, the most prestigious national land use recognition.  Previous developments include Highpointe, the Woods at Elm Creek and White Oaks of Elm Creek in Champlin; Chatterton Ponds, Deerwood, Wildflower, the Woodlands and Great Oaks in Eagan, and Woodbury Crossing, which includes the new Math and Science Academy Charter School.

Urban Land Institute Leader
He is a longtime member of ULI—the Urban Land Institute, a 25,000-member research and education organization. He was Vice President of ULI, and Chairman of the Education, Membership and District Council committees. During 1997-1999, he was chairman of the ULI Inner City Forum.  He is the author of the Urban Land Institute’s publication, The Planning and Design of Townhouses and Condominiums. He is one of seven Life Trustee Members elected by the ULI.

At present, he is a member of the ULI Sustainable Development Council, a ULI District Council Counselor, and a member of the ULI Minnesota District Council Executive Committee.  Also, a member of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities Public Policy Committee, a Board Member of SLUC, the Sensible Land Use Coalition and the Minnesota Thunder PLUS, a non-profit organization working with inner city youth of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the first ring suburbs.

Bob and Phyllis Engstrom are graduates of the University of Minnesota and are longtime residents of the city of Minneapolis.  They enjoy a lake across the street from their home, along with easy access to the Minneapolis Parks and Parkway System.  Also, Bob is currently a Board Member of KNA—Kenny Neighborhood Association and an active member of Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield.