5.1. HRSR 02-02-2004 ITEM # 5.1.
•
.J1/
City of
Elk -�-1
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development 'S
DATE: February 2, 2004
SUBJECT: Downtown Property and Business Owner Feedback
Attachment
Memo from Jim Prosser, Ehlers &Associates, dated January 27, 2004.
Issue
Fifteen one-to-one meetings with approximately thirty downtown property and business
owners took place during the month of January. Jim Prosser of Ehlers and Associates and
Chris Leeseberg, City Planner conducted thirteen of the meetings. The Director of
Economic Development, Chris Leeseberg, and I conducted the final two meetings.
The purpose of the meetings was to gather additional input on the Downtown Revitalization
Project and particularly parking options from the downtown property and business owners.
The meetings were an additional tool used to communicate the project to the public.
List of Meetings Held
The attached memo from Jim Prosser summarizes the results of the property and business
owner feedback gathered during the one-to-one meetings. Mr. Prosser will be available at
the HRA to discuss the findings and recommendations.
• Ed Barder, Property Owner — Olde Main Eatery
• Jeff Krueger, Property&Business Owner — Daddy-Os
• Tony Mikols,Business Owner — Mikols River Studio
• Sue Anderson& Cookie,Business Owners — Sunshine Depot
• Mike Rafferty,Property&Business Owner — Elk River Chiropractic, P.A.
• Keith Holme, Property Owner&Joy McChesney,Business Owner — Kemper Drug
• Frank Galli,Property Owner — Diamond City Bread
• Richard Hinrichs,Property Owner — The Jungle
• Steve Johnson,Property Owner — Antiques Downtown
• Dennis Larsen, Property Owner&Mike Scheevel,Business Owner — Waterfall Spa
Downtown Property and Business Owner Feedback
Page 2 of 2
• Tammy Weeks,Business Owner — The Jungle
• Jeff Jenson,Property&Business Owner — Marlo's Haberdashery&Jenson&
Associates
• Chuck Christian,Property Owner — Cinema Building&the following tenants:
—Bruce Bromen,Bromen Systems
—Richard Anderson, Senior Estates Specialists
—Curt Snesrud,Thrivant Financial for Lutherans
—Bernice Johnson, Receptionist, Cascade I Land Co.,LLC
—Bob Pampusch, Farmers Union Insurance
—Dean Peterson,Allstate Insurance
• Lyla Aaland,Business Owner — Creative Genius
• Steve King,Manager — American National Bank
A total of ten property and business owners did not participate in the meetings due to lack
of interest or no response.
•
•
Page 1 of 3
0• EHLERS
& ASSOCIATES INC
OTo: Cathy Mehelich, City of Elk River
From: Jim Prosser, Ehlers Associates
Subject: Downtown Property and Business Owner Feedback
WDate: January 27, 2004
Ehlers & Associates and City staff member Chris Leeseberg have conducted a series of
thirteen interviews with downtown business and property owners. The purpose of these
meeting was to seek feedback on parking issues, including reaction to several options to
address the removal of the public parking in the Jackson Block. In addition feedback and
• questions were solicited on general issues related to the proposed development.
In total, fifteen meetings including about thirty people were conducted. Those
interviewed were advised that their comments would be shared with the HRA and the
City Council on a non-attribution basis. A summary of the findings is as follows:
FINDINGS
1. All of those were generally well informed and cooperative. It was clear that they
were concerned about assuring the long-term viability of the downtown area.
Most recognized the need to stimulate a positive change to achieve long-term
viability. There was some misinformation about project details (i.e. the type of
proposed housing and the underground parking for retail and housing tenants) that
was corrected, however it is likely that those not interviewed may still have
misconceptions about some project details.
2. Several of the businesses along Main Street currently provide off-street parking
for employees or rent space from adjoining property owners.
3. Most agreed(including Cinema tenants) that the Jackson parking lot was
primarily in daytime hours used by Cinema Building employees and clients.
Observations during the days interviewed appeared to confirm this.
Jim Prosser,CIPFA (651)697-8503 Fax:(651)697-8555
Executive Vice President/Director jim @ehlers-inc.com
3060 Centre Pointe Drive http://www.ehlers-inc.com
Roseville,MN 55113-1105
Elk River it: inevs'Parking Js'ues
Page 2 of 3
• 4. No one supported the idea of a pedestrian bridge over Highway 10.
5. There was strong support for the idea of an expanded parking lot behind the Brick
Block whether the proposed development proceeded or not. Most (including
Cinema Building tenants) thought that this would mitigate the loss of the Jackson
Block parking. This support was conditioned on the premise that the expanded
parking would be in place prior to the loss of the Jackson Block and that the lot
would contain an area reserved for employees of the downtown merchants.
6. There was support to close King access to Highway 10 to accommodate the
expanded parking. Some observed that this would discourage the commuter
parking that presently occurs on this site. One interviewee did indicate that the
loss of King access would degrade traffic flow in the downtown area.
7. There was minimal support for preserving the Utilities building both because of
perceived lack of historical significance and the need for parking.
8. There was general support for a parking ramp (two level)behind the Brick Block.
But recognition that the cost may not be justified based on current parking
requirements.
• 9. Most of those interviewed acknowledged that employee on street parking reduced
the available parking for customers.
10. Two business owners (out of the 15 property and business owners interviewed)
opposed the development on Jackson block under any circumstances. One of
those encouraged the City to evaluate moving the proposed Jackson development
to the north of Highway 10 and across the railroad tracks as a superior location.
11. There was strong support for a pedestrian countdown timer for the Highway 10
and Jackson Avenue intersection.
12. There was mixed, but generally positive, support for the renewed enforcement of
three hour parking limits if reserved parking was provided for employee parking
in the expanded parking lot behind Kemper Drug.
13. One business identified the potential for creating more private off-street parking,
however cooperation between the City and adjoining property owners would be
required.
• l
3060 Centre Pointe Drive «Phone» Fax:(651)697-8555
Roseville,MN 55113-1105 «Email_Address»
http://www.ehlers-inc.com
Page 3 of 3
•
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the interviews conducted the following recommendations are provided:
1. The City should construct the surface parking lot behind the Brick Block. This
recommendation includes removal of the Utilities building. The parking should be
installed prior to removal of Jackson parking.
2. Additional efforts should be made to encourage usage of existing commuter"ride-
share" parking options on the north side of Highway 10. This could include
signage and public education. Those currently parking on the south side of
Highway 10 within the downtown area should be interviewed to assess barriers to
use of designated parking.
3. The City and the existing downtown business group should cooperatively develop
efforts to encourage education and self-policing of employee parking.
4. The City should renew its enforcement of 3 hour parking limits within the
downtown area in conjunction with the cooperative efforts with downtown
merchants.
• 5. A couple of business owners thought that in the long term, consideration should
be given to evaluating development of additional ramped parking in cooperation
with the Bank of Elk River as an option for additional parking in the future.
6. A pedestrian countdown timer should be installed at the intersection of Highway
10 and Jackson Avenue.
7. The City should consider some cost sharing with business for building and
maintaining employee parking within the downtown area.
8. The City should explore options to permit the private development of additional
off-street parking as permitted.
9. The City should consider assisting Brick Block businesses in design and funding
for improvements to the rear entrances of their businesses.
• A
3060 Centre Pointe Drive «Phone» Fax:(651)697-8555
Roseville,MN 55113-1105 «Email_Address»
http://www.ehlers-inc.com