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6. HRSR 06-26-2006item # 6. ~~~ ~~ ver MEMORANDUM TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development DATE: .June 26, 2006 SUBJECT: Downtown Revitalization Project Update Attachments • Rivers Edge Meeting Minutes, May 8, 2006 Staff will provide the HRA a verbal update on the Downtown Revitalization Project, including the following items: • Recent marketing and communications activities • Status of Jackson Place financing and construction • Status of Bluffs of Elk River and The Bank of Elk River construction projects • Status and changes to River's Edge Park Rivers Edge Meeting Minutes Wednesday, May 10, 2006 The meeting was called to order at 8AM. Attending were: Tony Mikols, Patti Hipsag, Fred Mccoy, Roger Hebeisen, Wendy Simenson, Heidi Steinmetz (Assistant Director of Economic Development), Scott Clark (Community Development Director), Vern Hanson (MetroPlains and Adam Holmes (VanMan). Treasurer's Report from Jim Simpson: $3899.76. (Thanks to MetroPlains for sponsoring Santa and Reindeer) Received dues from MetroPlains and American National Bank. Minutes from March Meeting were reviewed and Accepted. Old Business: Revitalization Plan Update from Heidi and Scott: Main street closing will take place on Monday, May 8th. This will be done for The Bank of Elk River project and The Bluff project. The Jackson Square project will begin next month. A public notice will be put out as to when it will start. The park in the green space could begin sometime this summer; no specific month has been set. The ground breaking for The Bank of Elk River took place on April 24th. The completion date is set for March 1st, 2007. Rivers Edge Park This project, as stated above, could start some time this summer, no date has been set yet. The bids came in higher than expected and the project will need to be presented to the City Council again to decide what to do. New Business: On or before June 1st the Jackson Square property will be transferred from the City to MetroPlains. This work area will not be fenced off until the day they start the project. When the area is fenced off, Jackson Ave will become one way coming into Downtown. Local businesses will be informed before this happens. The Bluff Project underground parking project had some trouble with one of the rigs, but the shoring is 95% done. There will be two levels of underground parking at the Bluff Block. It will be a secure lot -only available to tenants. The concrete work will begin next week. The further along in the project they get the number of workers will increase; there will be more trucks, deliveries, etc. As for parking during the construction period, at peak times there could be about 150 contractors downtown when all projects are under construction. They will park off site. VanMan had to have the utility lines moved and reconnected for The Bank of Elk River expansion project. This should not disrupt service to downtown. The precast concrete for the first floor has been poured and is ready to be shipped. The structural steel is scheduled for delivery in a couple of weeks. Terry Mauer is working with the MnDOT to change the signal lights to accommodate the change in traffic flow to downtown. Heidi will speak with him and get an update for us. Marketing Downtown during Construction: The HRA approved some funds for ads in The Star News that will run every week for 14 weeks, stating that the downtown businesses are "open for business". The ad could change a bit from week to week. Another project will be a flyer that merchants can put a coupon or special in the flyer to help draw business downtown. The city will have updated maps available on their website as the traffic flow changes and Jackson becomes one-way and when Main Street is reopened. The maps will also show alternate routes downtown and where parking is available. Alternative Parking for overflow parking during construction was discussed. There may be some spots available by First National Bank. We would need to get permission from the Bank to use them. Flower Pots: Meryl will be back sometime the end of May to start working on the Flower Pots. The meeting was adjourned at 9AM. Please thank Vern from MetroPlains and Adam from Vanman for taking time out of their busy schedules to come to the Rivers Edge Meeting to answer our questions.