6.0. HRSR 06-27-2001 Item # 6
• City of
Elk -�--�
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Planning Commission
City Council
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development����
DATE: June 27, 2001
SUBJECT: Downtown Redevelopment Plan Update
The goal of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan process is to create a guide for
redevelopment activity in the Central Business District by identifying criteria for
redevelopment projects, establishing a common vision, and providing a schedule for
implementation.
• Attachments
• Results of Priority Principles &Projects (HRA, River's Edge, Planning Commission)
• Results of Priority Principles &Projects (HRA &Planning Commission only)
Overview
The prioritization exercise completed by the HRA, Planning Commission and River's Edge
Downtown Business Association was Phase II of the three-phase redevelopment plan
workplan. Phase I included the physical inventory and market study of Downtown;Phase
III will be drafting and adopting the Plan.
The purpose of the group exercise was to determine priorities for overall guiding principles
for design and priority projects that together serve as the vision for redevelopment and new
construction. The results of the prioritization exercise will become the basis for drafting the
long-term implementation plan.
In summary the group results were as follows:
Priority Principles
➢ Utilize the River for public/private use
➢ Create pedestrian-friendly/walkable core downtown
➢ Increase awareness to downtown
➢ Locate a traffic generator downtown
• ➢ Strengthen gateways to Core CBD
➢ New construction to compliment traditional design elements
➢ Preserve/highlight original design&character of existing buildings
➢ Core CBD oriented to retail
• ➢ Northern Area oriented to office&housing
➢ Create public gathering areas
All redevelopment or new construction project to be considered in the CBD area will be
evaluated by the HRA and City Council based upon the above guiding principles.
Priority Projects
➢ Redevelop Star News/Riverfront property
➢ Implement design guidelines for rehab/new construction
➢ Develop river plaza—public park/open space
➢ Annual activities & events
➢ Public walk/bike trail along the river
➢ Redevelop Boelters area
➢ Attract hotel/bed&breakfast/restaurant
➢ Redevelop Post Office area
➢ Marketing effort—new residents
➢ Complete Historical Context Study
Unless otherwise directed by the HRA and Council, staff will begin drafting the
implementation plan based on the above principles and projects.
•
•
2001 Elk River
4i/ Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Highest Priority Lowest
Principles 1 2 3 4 5 Total Responses Average
Utilize the River for public/private use 15 4 1 1 30 21 1.4
Create pedestrian-friendly/walkable core downtown 9 6 3 1 34 19 1.8
Increase awareness to downtown 9 6 4 1 37 20 1.9
Locate a traffic generator downtown 8 5 5 1 37 19 1.9
Strengthen gateways to Core CBD 5 8 3 1 34 17 2.0
New construction to compliment traditional design elements 3 10 7 1 48 21 2.3
Preserve/highlight original design&character of existing buildir4 4 8 5 2 1 48 20 2.4
Core CBD oriented to retail 2 9 7 1 46 19 2.4
Northern Area oriented to office and housing 2 10 5 1 2 51 20 2.6
Create public gathering areas 3 7 6 4 51 20 2.6
Brick/stucco facades 5 4 5 3 2 50 19 2.6
Create a sense of place via design elements 2 3 12 1 48 18 2.7
Two-story buildings 2 6 7 3 1 52 19 2.7
Create new neighborhoods downtown(housing) 1 8 5 4 1 53 19 2.8
Sunny public spaces 4 3 8 3 2 56 20 2.8
Make storefront permeable(windows/openings at sidewalk) 2 3 9 2 1 48 17 2.8
Seating and/or tables in public spaces 2 6 6 3 2 54 19 2.8
Employ color schemes that compliment neighboring buildings 1 6 7 4 1 55 19 2.9
Western Area oriented to multi-family housing&home-office 1 6 8 3 2 59 20 3.0
• Build to the sidewalk 1 5 7 3 2 54 18 3.0
Pedestrian scaled signage(no plastic) 1 3 8 3 2 53 17 3.1
Create a"loop"in pedestrian circulation 1 2 10 2 2 53 17 3.1
Develop rear&alley entrances where feasible 2 3 7 4 3 60 19 3.2
Parking out of sight(under/behind) 3 2 6 3 4 57 18 3.2
Interesting sculptures,art,water fountain 1 4 8 4 3 64 20 3.2
Create element for children 2 1 9 8 1 68 21 3.2
Public toilets/phones(sheltered) 1 2 7 7 3 69 20 3.5
Fabric awnings compatible with building design&streetscape 1 2 6 7 3 66 19 3.5
Public service kiosks/information areas 1 6 8 4 72 19 3.8
Encourage people to"leave their mark" 6 4 5 59 15 3.9
III
2001 Elk River
• Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Highest Priority Lowest
Projects 1 2 3 4 5 Total Responses Average
Redevelop Star News/Riverfront property 11 3 2 1 28 17 1.6
Implement design guidelines for rehab/new construction 7 8 3 1 36 19 1.9
Develop river plaza-public park/open space 8 7 4 1 38 20 1.9
Annual activities&events 8 5 5 2 41 20 2.1
Public walk/bike trail along the river 8 5 4 2 1 43 20 2.2
Redevelop Boelters area 6 5 6 1 39 18 2.2
Attract hotel/bed&breakfast/restaurant 5 9 3 2 1 45 20 2.3
Redevelop Post Office area 6 4 8 2 1 51 21 2.4
Marketing effort-new residents 4 7 3 5 47 19 2.5
Complete Historical Context Study 5 5 6 3 1 50 20 2.5
Rehab facade of"Brick Block"to original character 4 6 7 3 52 20 2.6
Redevelop Martin Plaza/Hunts Feed Mill area 5 3 8 3 50 19 2.6
Fishing pier 6 3 6 2 3 53 20 2.7
Redevelop Marries/lumberyard/Eagles area 5 4 4 2 3 48 18 2.7
Artesian well 5 2 8 2 3 56 20 2.8
Construct parking ramp 5 3 7 1 5 61 21 2.9
North/South access connection(overpass) 7 7 2 2 53 18 2.9
Locate arts/community center facility 2 6 7 3 3 62 21 3.0
Redevelop American Legion area 2 3 7 5 1 54 18 3.0
• Develop City parking lot(Jackson Square) 4 3 6 2 5 61 20 3.1
Interpretive signage along the river 2 3 7 3 4 61 19 3.2
0
2001 Elk River
Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Principles suggested
• Keep post office downtown
• Business marketing courses for existing businesses
• Restaurants (no sports bars)
• Brick facades only
Projects suggested
• Build YMCA downtown
• Leave the 100 year old buildings alone! Unless you want the town to die. Once its
gone,it's gone for good and you'll look like any other suburban sprawl. Build where
you need it, not where you already have it.
• Public walk along river-only if existing structures are removed/renovated to view
river.
• Attract top brand retail for redevelopment - Ruth's Chris steakhouse, Manny's
• Relocate bank & fix intersection
• Botanical garden
•
•
2001 Elk River
• Downtown Redevelopment Plan
(HRA&Planning Commission only)
Highest Priority Lowest
Principles 1 2 3 4 5 Total Responses Average
Utilise the River for public/private use 8 3 1 1 21 13 1.6
Increase awareness to downtown 6 4 2 1 24 13 1.8
Strengthen gateways to Core CBD 5 3 2 1 21 11 1.9
Locate a traffic generator downtown 5 4 2 1 23 12 1.9
Create pedestrian-friendly/walkable core downtown 3 5 2 1 23 11 2.1
Brick/stucco facades 5 4 2 1 1 28 13 2.2
New construction to compliment traditional design elements 3 6 4 1 31 14 2.2
Two-story buildings 2 6 4 1 30 13 2.3
Northern Area oriented to office and housing 1 8 3 1 31 13 2.4
Make storefront permeable(windows/openings at sidewalk) 2 3 5 1 27 11 2.5
Core CBD oriented to retail 1 6 5 1 33 13 2.5
Create public gathering areas 2 4 5 2 33 13 2.5
Employ color schemes that compliment neighboring buildings 1 6 3 3 34 13 2.6
Create a sense of place via design elements 2 1 7 1 29 11 2.6
Sunny public spaces 2 2 6 2 32 12 2.7
Seating and/or tables in public spaces 1 2 6 1 27 10 2.7
Preserve/highlight original design&character of existing building 1 4 4 2 1 34 12 2.8
Create new neighborhoods downtown(housing) 5 4 3 34 12 2.8
ii, Build to the sidewalk 1 4 4 2 1 34 12 2.8
Western Area oriented to multi-family housing&home-office 1 4 5 2 1 37 13 2.8
Pedestrian scaled signage(no plastic) 1 2 5 3 32 11 2.9
Develop rear&alley entrances where feasible 2 1 5 3 2 41 13 3.2
Parking out of sight(under/behind) 1 2 5 2 2 38 12 3.2
Create a"loop"in pedestrian circulation 1 1 7 2 2 42 13 3.2
Create element for children 1 1 5 6 42 13 3.2
Fabric awnings compatible with building design&streetscape 1 2 3 4 2 40 12 3.3
Interesting sculptures,art,water fountain 2 5 3 2 41 12 3.4
Public toilets/phones(sheltered) 1 4 5 2 44 12 3.7
Public service kiosks/information areas 2 8 1 43 11 3.9
Encourage people to"leave their mark" 3 4 3 40 10 4.0
0
2001 Elk River
• Downtown Redevelopment Plan
(HRA&Planning Commission only)
Highest Priority Lowest
Projects 1 2 3 4 5 Total Responses Average
Redevelop Star News/Riverfront property 7 2 2 17 11 1.5
Redevelop Boelters area 6 4 2 20 12 1.7
Attract hotel/bed&breakfast/restaurant 4 6 1 1 23 12 1.9
Implement design guidelines for rehab/new construction 5 6 2 1 27 14 1.9
Develop river plaza-public park/open space 4 5 2 1 24 12 2.0
Annual activities&events 5 2 3 2 26 12 2.2
Rehab façade of"Brick Block"to original character 3 5 3 1 27 12 2.3
Redevelop Martin Plaza/Hunts Feed Mill area 5 2 4 2 31 13 2.4
Marketing effort-new residents 2 6 1 3 29 12 2.4
Redevelop Post Office area 3 3 5 2 32 13 2.5
North/South access connection(overpass) 6 6 30 12 2.5
Redevelop Marties/lumberyard/Eagles area 4 1 3 2 1 28 11 2.5
Complete Historical Context Study 3 2 6 1 1 34 13 2.6
Public walk/bike trail along the river 2 4 3 2 1 32 12 2.7
Redevelop American Legion area 2 2 5 3 33 12 2.8
Locate arts/community center facility 2 3 4 3 2 42 14 3.0
Artesian well 1 1 7 1 2 38 12 3.2
Fishing pier 3 5 2 2 39 12 3.3
Develop City parking lot(Jackson Square) 1 3 3 2 3 39 12 3.3
III Construct parking ramp 1 1 6 1 4 45 13 3.5
Interpretive signage along the river 1 6 3 3 46 13 3.5
•