6. EDSR 07-09-2007Item # 6
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Catherine Mehelich, Director of Economic Development
DATE: July 9, 2007
SUBJECT: Update on Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce
In October 2006 Commissioner Tviete was appointed by the City Council as the EDA
representative to serve on the Downtown Redevelopment Planning Taskforce.
The Taskforce recently held its ninth meeting on Monday, June 25`h. Commissioner Tviete
is asked to provide an update at the EDA meeting.
Attached is a recent project article which was published in the July/August edition of the
City's "Current" newsletter that is distributed to household via insert to Star News.
City of Elk River Newsletter
Volume 16. No. 4
July/August 2007
City Hall
Police
Fire
Building
Planning
Streets
WWTP
Utilities
Library
Parks &
Recreation 635-1150
Senior Ctr 241-4434
Ice Arena 635- 1140
WEBSITE
(City Hall)
www.ci.elk-river.mn.us
Mayor
Stephanie Klinzing
441-2210
Councilrnembers
Ward I
Nick Zerwas
635-1005
Ward 2
Jerry Gumphrey
44 I -7363
Ward 3
Larry Farber
441-5317
Ward 4
Paul Motin
24 I -0592
The Cu~ent
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635-1000
635-1260
635-1100
635-1060
635-1030
635-1120
635-1170
441-2020
441-1641
City Conducts Redevelopment Framework Study
The City of Elk River is conducting the
Mississippi Connections Redevelopment
Framework study to develop a blueprint
for future private investment in the 400-
acre greater downtown area.
The study would create an overall plan
and vision for the greater downtown area
to ensure its long-term health and vitality.
The three purposes of the study are to:
^ Develop a framework to encourage
the vitality, vibrancy and reinvestment
of the study area that is consistent
with the community's future vision;
^ Encourage reinvestment and assure
the long-term stability of existing resi-
dential neighborhoods;
^ Develop a plan to protect one of the
major highway corridors through the
city-Highway 10-from piecemeal and
inappropriate development.
The City Council created a 13-member
task force to gain public participation in
the redevelopment framework study. The
Task Force consists of residents, business
people, and members of city boards and
commissions that deal directly with devel-
opment.
"As with other cities, Elk River's down-
town is no longer a retail center partly due
to the evolution of strip malls and big box
retail along Highway 169. At the same
time, we have the amazing asset of the
Mississippi River through our downtown
and we want to take advantage of it and
ensure downtown is once again a destina-
tion place for residents and visitors alike,"
said Mark Urista, Task Force Chair. "We
called the study Mississippi Connections
because the river is a natural focus point in
which we want to connect the community."
"Because of changes downtown and gen-
eral development patterns, the Task Force
extended its study area beyond the core
downtown to neighboring residential and
commercial areas and the Highway 10 cor-
ridor," said Urista.
Urista adds, "We expect with the suc-
cesses downtown, there will be additional
redevelopment interest in the community.
We want to ensure that the only type of
development that takes place is consistent
with community goals and achieves the
community's long-term 20-year vision. We
want to encourage the vitality of some of
the community's oldest residential neigh-
Framewnrk Study corazirxuerl on page 1
Framework Study continued from page I
borhoods which are near downtown,
encouraging reinvestment in homes."
The study area (see map) encom-
passes about 400 acres of the core of
the City of Elk River. It includes the
core downtown commercial district,
north Highway 10 corridors (Jackson
Avenue, Main Street and Proctor
Avenue), adjacent resident areas, and
recreational amenities (Lion's Park,
Handke Center, River's Edge Park, the
Elk and Mississippi Rivers).
The Mississippi Connections Task
Force's mission is, "To develop a
comprehensive plan that will. redefine
the 'greater downtown area' to pre-
serve its historical character while
promoting the future viability of the
community. Maximum public input
will be gathered to create and assess
alternatives resulting in a formal rede-
velopment plan with a combination of
a master vision, working policies, spe-
cific area recommendations and
implementation priorities."
Key goals of the Mississippi
Connections Redevelopment
Framework include:
^ Redefine the vision for and func-
tion of the core downtown area to
ensure its economic viability.
^ Establish the core area as an
identifiable asset to current and
future residents by creating con-
nections to downtown and mak-
ing sure it is a des-
tination for resi-
dents and visitors.
^ Encourage reinvest-
ment and strength-
en existing residen-
tial neighborhoods.
^ Emphasize the
value of the area's
recreational ameni-
ties-Mississippi
River and area
parks.
^ Maintain the core
downtown's unique
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historic character as defined by
the river.
^ Identify potential land use
changes north of Highway 10 to
complement the core downtown.
area.
The Mississippi Connections Task
Force has been working with a plan-
ning consultant since its kick-off
meeting late last year. Over the past
several months the Task Force has
explored and discussed issues related
to history of the area, river design, a
vision for the area, market opportuni-
ties and Highway 10 concepts.
A important component of the
planning process is public participa-
tion. In late summer/early fall, the city
will be hosting a series of open hous-
es to maximize public input on the
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
DEVELOPMENT Sr CONSTRUCTION TIME TABLE
THE BLUFFS OF ELK RIVER
Construction Startcd .............5pring 2006
Completion ............................July 2007
JACxSOIN PLACE
Construction Started..........Sununcr 2(106
Completion...Septem ber/October 2007
RIYERS ~pGE COMMONS PARK
COMPLETED
Fat motiv information, please con-
tact the Economic Development
Division at 76~.6~S.IOdO.
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plan prior to its refinement and adop-
tion later this year.
"We will be providing more infor-
mation later on the date, time, and
location of the open houses, but we
hope everyone will turn out and give
us feedback on the draft
Redevelopment Framework," Urista
said.
"By having a plan in place, we can
make sure that any future private
development does not occur in a
piecemeal fashion., inconsistent with
the vision for our community," said
Urista.
QUESTIQNS:
Contact the Economic Development
Division at 763.635.1040.
>:~ ~
FREE , ;
Music in ~.ivertrart
the Park ~ ~ " ~~ ~.~
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L/t~RIVgF()F.
July 12 Blue Wolf
July 19 Sound of Hope
July 26 Michael Monroe
August 2 Bill Koncar
August 9 Elk River German Band
August 16 Splatter Sisters
August 23 Movie (8:30 p.tn.)
August 30 Teddy Bear Band
Enjoy the Mississippi River and a variety of
entertainment, Thursday evenings, 7 p.m.,
at Rivers Edge Commons Park.