4.2. HRSR 02-04-2002 Item 4 . 2.
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City of
Elk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development
DATE: February 4, 2002
SUBJECT: Downtown Riverfront Revitalization Project
- Communication Activities
Communication with the public is an important component of the revitalization process.
Following are communication activities that staff is currently completing:
• • The attached Downtown Riverfront Revitalization Q&A Newsletter has been
developed to inform the public about the project and opportunity for comment.
The newsletter will be distributed via insert in the February 6, 2002 Star News paper,
which has a distribution of 7,300. In addition, the newsletters will be available at the
City Hall Reception Desk, Chamber of Commerce, Elk River Municipal Utilities,
Open House, and River's Edge Business Association members. A database of
property and business owners in the revitalization area is being developed for future
mailings of next edition newsletters.
• The City will hold an Open House on Tuesday, February 12, 4-6pm at City Hall to
receive comment from the public on the alternative downtown revitalization design
concepts. In addition, staff will be providing the same information and opportunity
for public comment at the February 13,2002 River's Edge Business Association
meeting at 3 p.m. at First National Financial Center. Announcements about the
Open House have included ERTV Cable, front page Star News 1/29/02, February
Chamber of Commerce newsletter, and flyers distributed to the Elk River Rotary
Club and River's Edge members. A summary of the comments will be presented to
the HRA at the February 25 regular meeting,prior to sending out request-for-
proposals.
• Staff interviewed with the editor of the Star News to discuss the Downtown
Riverfront Revitalization Project and upcoming Open House. An article about the
11111 project is expected to appear in the February 6, 2002 edition of the Star News.
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City of 8c.A Newsletter
Elk -�
Ri �� FEBRUARY 2002
ve r Enhancing Downtown Elk River's Role
rte° Asa Vital Retail,Commercial and Residential Area.
Q.Why is the City planning to Neighborhoods age, and change
revitalize and redevelop Elk This first edition of the will occur whether or not the City
River's downtown business River eve fi t revitalizes and redevelops down-
district? town. Controlling that change
Revitalization newsletter through revitalization and redevelop-
A. For more than 30 years, various features a Q&A of ment will ensure that the types of
studies and proposals have changes that occur in downtown Elk
examined the need to revitalize frequently asked questions River are the ones people want -
and redevelop Elk River's about plans
downtown business district. those that will keep our community
Investment in downtown has for revitalization, vital and flourishing.
stagnated and the riverfront is Q.What is the status of the
underutilized. The purpose of the developer's proposal for down-
redevelopment will be to enhance downtown Elk town that was featured on the front page of
River's role as a retail, commercial and residential the newspaper in July?
AK area and revitalize the investment in the downtown A. In response to the HRA's request for development
business district. concepts, Best and Hempel submitted in July a
Q.What are the consistent themes that concept to redevelop a portion of downtown. A
occur throughout all the previous downtown sketch of that concept was featured on the front
revitalization planning studies? page of the newspaper. After some discussion, the
A.The studies consistently emphasize a downtown HRA determined that a more comprehensive and
that would better utilize the riverfront, capitalize on coordinated look at the entire revitalization area was
the traditional character of downtown, and ensure necessary before selecting a development propos-
safe pedestrian and vehicle movement. al. As a result, the City has developed alternative
design concepts for the revitalization area. Once
Q. Can you tell me what are the HRA has generally accepted the design
the boundaries of the
downtown revitalization area? THE DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT
A.Yes. See the map at right. REVITALIZATION AREA
The downtown revitalization area ti,\``
encompasses the downtown busi- r J �s - .---„,
ness district and reaches from the , 9Y,o ,,
Main Street/Highway 10 intersec- la a o °14,.-
tion to Lowell Avenue. The area � � '6;;n .,�, , r
extends as far north as Highway -,"s-,,,, ,,-,,,-
1 n a far has the
Oad sasout ~�Mississippi River. 1 ii;(7 f
Q.Why can't we just leave r kkEy"ill downtown like it is? '
110%. Investment in downtown has stag- �, �
nated and area businesses and i
la residents alike are concerned ...ii
about the need to revitalize down-
town and attract people there. IRA RIVER
CITY OF ELK RIVER DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT REVITALIZATION O&A NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2002
concepts in late February, it will issue a request for could begin to occur is in 2003. The HRA is likely
proposals for the entire revitalization area. to issue a request for proposals from developers 411)
Q. What can you tell me about the design in March 2002. After reviewing various develop
concepts for downtown? ers' proposals, the City may choose to enter into
a preliminary development agreement with a
A. A design concept is not a detailed plan or a blue developer or developers. During the preliminary
print. Instead, it provides a framework for revitaliza- development phase, the developer provides a
tion by identifying general areas and potential types more detailed revitalization plan to the City, and all
of development within the revitalization area. The financial, planning, land acquisition and zoning
City's two alternative design concepts will be based issues must be addressed. If that phase is
on the previous studies and on the goals developed satisfactorily completed, the HRA and developer
by the HRA. They will take into consideration the would enter a final development agreement
market analysis and the historical context study. and land acquisition and construction could
Q. What is the historic context study and when then proceed.
will it be completed? Q. Is it possible that not all of downtown will be
A. The historic context study that is currently redeveloped at the same time?
underway is a framework used to help determine A. Yes. In fact, it is certain that the downtown
the historic significance of particular buildings revitalization will need to be phased and the
and places within the City. Structures within the entire revitalization and redevelopment is likely to
downtown area will be evaluated in a Phase I occur over the course of 7 to 10 years.
study and identified as either "non significant" or Q. How do we know that revitalization and
"potentially significant." The study's final report redevelopment will occur at all this time?
should be available in May 2002. The results of
the study will be used to facilitate the final A. The City has hired redevelopment consultant
development design. Ehlers & Associates and is proceeding with a
Q. When is the open house for the design very deliberate revitalization process which has
concepts? been successful for cities throughout Minnesota. •
A. The City will hold an open house on Tuesday,
Q. How can I stay informed and involved?
February 12, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., at City Hall, to A. The City will issue periodic newsletters to update
receive feedback from the public on alternative the community on the revitalization. Information on
downtown revitalization design concepts. That the February open house and other opportunities for
public feedback will be presented to the HRA public involvement throughout the revitalization
at the February 25 regular meeting. process will be provided in the Elk River Star News
Q. When is the earliest that revitalization and and on ERtV Channel 12. If you have any
redevelopment could begin to occur? questions about the revitalization, feel free to
contact City Administrator Pat Klaers, or Director
A. The earliest that revitalization and redevelopment of Planning Michele McPherson at(763)441-7420.
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City of
Elk
River
13065 Orono Parkway, Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
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