Laserfiche WebLink
Economic Development <br /> 2003 Annual Report <br /> • Road 42 Bridge). The <br /> Main), and the Bluff Block (southwest corner of Main and County Roa <br /> HRA also provided feedback regarding the draft downtown district zoning standards. <br /> A fair amount of time was taken to work with the west Brick Block to see if it could be <br /> made to work When it didn't work, the developer's focus changed to one of its original <br /> RFP concepts for the Jackson Block where issues existed, including I) replacement <br /> parking, 2) concern of historic significance. Mid-2003 MetroPlains presented the HRA <br /> and Council the design concepts for the Brick Block (Nadeau's through The Jungle) and <br /> Jackson Block (northeast corner of Main Street and Jackson Ave). <br /> The plan for the Jackson Block includes about 10,000 square feet of first floor <br /> commercial along Main Street and Jackson Avenue; approximately 66 underground <br /> parking stalls, and two stories above the commercial space holding 32 rental housing <br /> units. <br /> The plan for the Bluff Block includes about 10,000 square feet of commercial space <br /> along Main Street; a three-to-four story building with 70 to 80 underground parking stalls; <br /> 52 units of for-sale housing, and a river walk connection to a city park built along the <br /> river. <br /> The HRA directed MetroPlains to proceed in taking the design concepts to a public open <br /> house for feedback. Staff researched and responded to a list of issues including, but not <br /> limited to replacement parking options, residential tenant mix, and Jackson Block title. <br /> The HRA directed staff and MetroPlains to begin work out the details of a development <br /> agreement. In addition MetroPlains submitted application and was awarded a Multifamily <br /> and Housing Tax Credits from the MN Housing& Finance Agency for the residential <br /> component of the proposed Jackson Block project. In support of the Jackson Block <br /> residential component and downtown property rehabilitation, the City submitted a Small <br /> Cities Development Program application to the MN Department of Employment& <br /> Economic Development. Grant funds awarded from the application would be used <br /> toward commercial and residential rental rehabilitation and the proposed new residential <br /> rental construction in the Downtown Revitalization Project Area. <br /> The next steps will involve working out issues as part of a development agreement that <br /> would then authorized the proposed projects to proceed through the regulatory process <br /> for land use, DNR, and TIF approvals. <br /> Communication with the public has been a key component of the Downtown <br /> Revitalization Project. The multiple means of communications continued in 2003 to <br /> including the following <br /> • Project updates on the City Website <br /> • Q &A inserts and project coverage in the Star News <br /> • Project update articles in The Current <br /> • Monthly updates to River's Edge Downtown Association group <br /> • Monthly HRA/Council meeting updates <br /> • Direct mailing of meeting notices <br />