5.0. HRSR 07-23-2001 Item 5.
11,*
O City of
Elk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Developmen
DATE: July 23, 2001
SUBJECT: Downtown Riverfront Redevelopment Concept - Update
Since the June 27, 2001 HRA meeting staff has been working with developer, Best&
Hempel to refine the redevelopment concept based on input from the HRA. Best&
Hempel is also conducting financial and market analysis for the project. Staff anticipates
that this planning and analysis step will take several months to complete prior to bringing
back to the HRA for consideration.
Staff has also discussed with Steve Rohlf,Building& Zoning Administrator, the HRA's
• direction to proceed with an application for the historical context study grant. Attached is a
memo from the Heritage Preservation Commission regarding the commission's
recommendation to complete the study. The HPC suggests two options for HRA
consideration in light of grant funds not being available until June 2002:
1. Wait for a grant to complete the context study (thereby,wait to consider any
redevelopment proposals); or
2. Conduct a context study without grant money
The HRA will be reviewing the proposed 2002 budget at their August 27, 2001 meeting.
Staff has included$6,000 for completion of the context study. The study is estimated to cost
between$10 - $12,000. The grant would award the city half the cost of the study. The study
is anticipated to take up to six-months to complete.
No immediate action is necessary on the authorization for the context study, since the
redevelopment project is still under preliminary concept analysis by both potential
developers.
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MEMORANDUM
""*"
TO: Housing and Redevelopment Authority
River
13065 Orono Parkway FROM: Heritage Preservation Commission
Elk River,MN 55330
DATE: July 16,2001
SUBJECT: Kraus Anderson Redevelopment Proposal
for Downtown Area
The Heritage Preservation Commission(HPC) wishes to stress in the strongest possible
terms the importance of understanding the significance of the various buildings in the
Downtown area prior to accepting a redevelopment proposal. Possibly more than any
other part of Elk River,the Downtown area symbolizes the character of the community.
For a large segment of our population,the familiar visual feature of these groupings of
buildings is a direct tie to our past that instills a sense of community.
The HPC is not necessarily opposed to selective redevelopment, but the true significance
of structures Downtown, either individually or as a district, can not be fully ascertained
without all of the necessary information. To that end, a context study with a focused
survey on the Downtown area should be conducted before any redevelopment proposal is
III
seriously considered.
Unfortunately, grant money for a study will not be available until June of 2002. This
leaves the city with only two acceptable options: wait for a grant to do the context study
(consequently wait to consider any redevelopment proposals) or conduct a context study
without grant money. Because of the irreversible nature of redevelopment,the HPC is
opposed to considering the merits of any request of the magnitude and potential impacts
of the Kraus Anderson concept without the benefit of a study.
The HPC stands ready to do its job and is currently looking for alternative sources of
funding to initiate this context study. The prudent course is to gather all pertinent
information prior to making major decisions. The HPC looks forward to working with
the HRA to revitalize the Downtown area and preserve the non-renewable cultural
heritage of Elk River.
•
Phone:763.441.7420
Fax:763.441.7425
wwwci.elk-rivecmn.us