HRSR INFORMATION #2 05-02-2005~~~ '~~ ROSEMOUNT
INFORMATION
City chooses
.downtown developer.
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Trust key in hiring Roseville-based firm
BY NANCY NGO
Pioneer Press
The Rosemount Port
Authority stayed with some-
thing familiar on Tuesday
night when it chose Contractor
Property Developer Compagy,
or CPDC, over two other final-
ists to head the city's massive
52-acre downtown redevelop-
ment
The decision wasn't easy,
and the Port Authority had to
vote twice to come up with a
majority.
2 think we had a good
group to choose from," said
Mike Baxter, Port Authority
chairman. "It was about the
strengths that were most
important to the city."
Familiarity and comfort
influenced the deasion among
the three finalists - CPDC,
Hansen Properties and Her-
itage. While Hansen Properties
could offer a large team with
plenty of resources and Her-
itage promised a close working
relationship with the aty in
building its vision of down-
town, the Port Authority went
with Roseville-based CPDC.
Although the company
worked mainly with new
development and had no expe-
rience in redevelopment, Port
Authority members felt trust
was key. Members said they
were pleased with the develop-
er's track record on past proj-
ects in the city.
"I see the quality there,"
said Bill Droste, Rosemount
mayor and Port Authority
member. `Tm feeling my most
comfortable with CPDC."
"My concern is their ability
to do a redevelopment," said
Port Authority member Jay
Tentinger. `But we need to put
their feet to the fire, and we're
going to make them perform"
' The city's downtown rede-
velopment project involves
transforming the retail and
scattered single-family homes
into mixed commercal and con-
dominiums and town houses.
CPDC's other projects in
the aty include Evermoore, a
1;145-unit town-home develop-
ment, senior housing and sin-
gle-family home development
north of Connemara Trail and
west of Minnesota 3. The com-
pany also is working on the
Harmony development on the
former Brockway Glass site
that includes 630 villas, fawn
homes, senior condominiums
and apartments. '
President Homer Tompkins
said that while redevelopment
was not his firm's forte, they
were willing to work hard and
be creative to make:the project
a success. Tfie companyy is also
partnering with Central Com-
munity Housing Trust in Min-
neapolis, which has experience
with downtown .redevelop- .
went and affordablehousing: ;
While CPDC's track record
may have helped them 'land
the project, Heritage's develop-
went history with the city
might have put them out of the
IR Portg Authority Member
Mary Riley was unhappy with
the company's handling of the
Chili Court town-house devel-
opment She questioned Her-
itage's ability to follow through
after the compa~ turned over.
the town-house project to a
builder instead of finishing it.
In addition to construction
delays at the site, the city has
been working to resolve prob-
lems with landscaping, erosion
and debris, according to Rose-
mount communications coor-
dinator Alan Cox. Last week,
the aty ordered a temporary
stop to construction -until a
building permit is paid.
`In the real-estate field,
Heritage does have a good
name. However, it puts up a
red flag to me that Heritage
forfeited a simple town-house
development," she said.
However, Port Authority
members Mark DeBettignies
and Bruce DiNella preferred
Heritage over the other devel-
opers, emphasizing the compa-
ny had a strong commercial
background and a good overall
vision for the project.
Jay Tentinger was the lone
member to favor Hansen Prop-
erties, which had a large team
of partners behind the project.
CPDC is currently working
out a development with the
city. and is expected to meet
with downtown business own-
ers next month.
Nancy Ngo can be reached at
nngo@pioneerpress.com or
651-228-5172.