7.2. HRA SR 11-01-2021 Request for Action
Cir•ci
Elk -
River=
To Item Number
Housing and Redevelo ment Authority 7.2
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business November 1, 2021 Brent O'Neil, Economic Development Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Main and Gates Redevelopment Update Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Item presented for discussion purposes.
Background/Discussion
Responses to the Request for Information (RFI) for the Main and Gates site are due on October 29 at the end of
the day. Staff will have an update for the HRA on responses received and will want feedback and consensus
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
The HRA has acquired these properties for redevelopment purposes.
Attachments
■ Main and Gates Request for Information
The Elk River Vision P O N E R E o R Y
A welcoming community avith revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional [NAWR
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. Updated.August 2020
of
Elk
River
Request for Information
Main and Gates Redevelopment Project
Section I: General Information
Contract Administration
All correspondence regarding this RFI and the proposed project must be directed to
Brent O'Neil, Economic Development Director
City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
boneil o ElkRiverMN.gov
All persons or companies who download this RFI are requested to register their name and email
address by sending an email to boneil&ElkRiverMN.gov. Any revisions to or corrections of this
RFI, after it has been advertised,will be communicated to those registered RFI holders. Failure to
register your contact information as described is at your own risk. A proposal will not be considered
if it fails to include all requested information as detailed in this original RFI and any subsequent
modifications.
Project Overview
The City of Elk River's Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is releasing this Request for
Information (RFI) to obtain input from qualified developers,businesses, and/or organizations
(Respondents) that are interested in a redevelopment opportunity on the HRA's owned 1.73+ acre
site in the City of Elk River.
The HRA is proposing to redevelop this property for mixed use development in Elk River,MN.
The HRA has conducted its own preliminary due diligence and market research for future Main and
Gates Redevelopment. The HRA hosted a Developer Forum and a visioning session and is now
looking for feedback from qualified developers, businesses, and/or organizations.
The HRA is excited to present this unique opportunity to the development community and intends
to ultimately engage a Respondent to conceptualize a vision and later transform Main and Gates into
a quality driven development that provides jobs and services within the Elk River community.
With this RFI the HRA seeks to obtain feedback to assess the interest of qualified Respondents who
can work together with the Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the City of Elk River to
realize Main and Gates highest and best development potential.
Site Overview
The Main and Gates Redevelopment site is a 1.73+ acre parcel located at the corner of Main Street
NW and Gates Avenue NW in Elk River. It is a Mixed-Use Development,with a PUD opportunity,
and qualifies for Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing (TIF). There is potential for trail
connectivity to downtown and the parcel is in a Quiet Zone. Over 12,100 vehicles per day go past
the site which has access to U.S. 169 to the East and Hwy. 10 to the West.
The HRA consulted with American Engineering Testing who performed a scope of work which
consisted o£
• Drilling 4 standard penetration test boring to depths of 14 1/2 feet each
• Performing soil laboratory testing
• Performing a preliminary geotechnical engineering review based on the data and preparing
this report
The HRA approved the Report of Geotechnical Exploration,which did not reflect any unacceptable
concerns.
Development Opportunity
Main and Gates presents an opportunity for development on a 1.73+ acre site with high visibility
between TH 169 and Hwy 10 on Main Street. The site was zoned residential and included seven
homes (one still to be acquired). The HRA acquired the seven homes, five of which were
demolished and two were moved off the property. The site was rezoned to C-2 Office District,
which is intended to buffer residential districts from arterial streets or from commercial districts and
to provide a district which is compatible with and may reasonably adjoin residential districts. The
office district provides for the location and development of offices and other service and light
commercial uses which are subject to more restrictive controls.
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority seeks to retain a qualified Respondent with a long-term
vision for the site that achieves the HRA's policy objectives. The site presents an opportunity for a
Mixed-Use Development with a PUD opportunity in the heart of Elk River.
Information Requested
The HRA requests Respondents submit a letter or narrative response to the inquires below. Please
include the name,address, telephone, and email address of the primary contact person for the
Respondent on the first page of the narrative.
1. Organizational Background
a. A brief introduction of the Respondent and each member of the Respondent team
(if applicable);
b. A brief description of the project concept(s) and anticipated approach to the
development of Main and Gates;
c. A summary of the Respondent's experience with development projects similar to
Respondent's anticipated approach to Main and Gates; and
d. Identify the primary contact person fore the Respondent so that he/she can be
notified if there are any announcements regarding Main and Gates development
opportunity.
2. Project Understanding and Assessment
Please provide a narrative description of the Respondent's vision for Main and Gates and
how this is consistent with the HRA's Project Overview. Respondents are encouraged to
offer any feedback they may have regarding the Respondent's Assessment of the
development opportunity, such as site compatibility, cost considerations,preferred deal
structures, or other aspects of the overall opportunity.
3. Approach to Development
Please provide a narrative description of the specific project concept(s) and contribution(s)
proposed,and how the proposed project realizes the overall project opportunity.
4. Qualifications and Relevant Experience
In narrative form,please demonstrate the Respondent's or Respondent team's experience
developing Mixed-Use Developments. The HRA is looking for relevant experience with
respect to the development of undertakings of similar uses and scale where the Respondent
held a financial interest throughout the duration of the project.
Submission Instructions and Communication
If you are interested in responding to this RFI,please send Brent O'Neil, Economic Development
Director,a narrative responding to our inquiry. Responses should be submitted in the form of a
single PDF. All sections must be labelled in the sequence above. Please limit the narrative to ten
pages or less, excluding the cover letter,drawings, and exhibits.
If you have any clarifying questions about this RFI or need additional information,please email your
questions to boneil&elkrivermn.gov by October 1, 2021.
Responses to this RFI are due on or before 4:00 p.m. on October 29, 2021. Late submittals will not
be accepted.
Responses should be sent by email or USPS to:
Brent O'Neil
Economic Development Director
City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
or
boneil@E1kRiverMN.gov
Please include RFI—Main and Gates in the subject line of the email, attaching a PDF of the
narrative.
It if anticipated that the HRA may issue a Request for Proposals after the completion of the initial
RFI process,the content of which will likely be informed by the responses received.