6. HRSR 04-04-2005ITEM # 6.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Housing and Redevelopment Authority
FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development .~'~
DATE: April 4, 2005
SUBJECT: Discuss Draft Purpose, Project Goal and Objectives for
Downtown North of Hwy 10
Attachments
• Redevelopment Concept Map
• Draft Purpose, Project Goal and Objectives
Background
The HRA began work to develop the attached concept map for Downtown North of Hwy
10 in June of 2004. The HRA's consensus in December of 2004 was that the HRA was not
interested in circulating a Request for Proposals for the area but preferred to use the concept
map as a guiding document for redevelopment proposals and inquiries from the private
sector.
Action Requested
The next step prior to adopting the redevelopment plan is to develop a narrative description
of the HRA's vision for the area. A similar narrative that includes a description of the
project purpose, goal and objectives was developed in the early planning stages of the
current Downtown Revitalisation Project.
Staff requests the HRA's input on the draft description. Staff will refine the narrative and
present it at the next HRA meeting for adoption of the plan for Downtown North of Hwy
10. Following the HRA's adoption of the plan, the City Council will be asked to adopt the
plan and action steps can be developed.
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Downtown North of Hwy 10
Purpose, Project Goal and Objectives
Purpose: Various studies and proposals have examined the need to redevelop ,Clk River's Central
Business District (CBD). Investment in the downtown has stagnated and area businesses and residents alike
are concerned about the need to revitalize downtown and attract people there.
Neighborhoods age, and change will occur whether or not the Cite intervenes. Controlling that change
through revitalization and redevelopment planning will ensure that the types of changes that occur in
downtown Elk River are the ones people want -those that will keep our communifi vital and flourishing.
Primary Goal: To assure the long-term viability of downtown b~- making a connection to the rest of the
community by strengthening the commercial and residential neighborhood, and to stimulate new
investment.
Development Objectives:
• Strengthen gateways to Core CBD
• Encourage office, service, institutional and housing uses in addition to mixed use with first priority
of mixed use redevelopment being located north of the railroad tracks and east of Jackson Avenue
• Rehabilitation of residential areas
• Strengthen connection to the community
• Recognize those buildings that have potential for rehabilitation
• Replace market/economic obsolete buildings
• Identify areas of greatest opportunit<~ such as the Post Office, the former Arrow Building Center
site/Eagles building and the homes for sale along Main Street