PRIOR LAKE, Minn. - Zach Braid and his wife Erin have lived in their home for the past two years.
But recently, the two got an unexpected knock at the door. It was someone from Scott County saying there could be a chance their home would be demolished to make way for a new section of County Road 42.
"It is home. It’s everything we’d ever dreamed it could be,” said Zach Braid. "To get the knock on the door was shocking.”
The potential plan would use eminent domain to demolish two homes, one of which would be the Braids.
It's part of a major project to improve safety on a section of County Road 42 near Highway 13. It’s a project that, at least in concept has been discussed for the last decade.
"To have this five days after our wedding, it’s devastating. It’s shocking,” said Braid.
They got the news less than a week after they got married. Now they and their young son are wondering if this home will no longer be their forever one.
“It’s devastating. This is supposed to be the honeymoon phase, where we get to have time with each other,” said Erin Belanger Braid.
Scott County Highway Engineer Tony Winiecki told KARE 11 the county is working with the City of Prior Lake since it is a city street, and said they’re still in the planning stages, nothing has been decided yet.
"We don’t have to do anything out there. We could build the project as we currently have it designed right now,” said Winiecki.
He said one of the reasons they’re even considering bringing County Highway 42 through the Harbor Place area is to better connect the neighborhood. The county wanted to be as transparent as possible with the two families, he said.
"Sometimes you have to go knock on their door and start that conversation,” he said.
"This was never mentioned at any meeting,” added Braid.
Two years ago before they moved in, Braid said he called the city and the county about any future assessments on the house.
"They all said there was nothing we had to worry about. And that maybe that road out in front in 30 years may have to be replaced,” he said.
Winiecki said no matter what is decided, construction wouldn’t start until 2018. He said if the families are moved they would get “just compensation”.
“I moved my businesses to Scott County and Prior Lake to be a member of this community. Erin moved her non-profit down here,” he said.
The county plans to provide more information to the neighborhood next week.
But the couple doesn’t want to move, and is asking the neighborhood to ban together.
"Save the neighborhood, save our neighbors and save a newlywed’s house,” said Erin Belanger Braid.