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R,iverfrontg ,i
<br /> revival „ -f -,
<br /> (continued) :0:1:,:i 5 - !a .
<br /> • vision for downtown in June e� 4 ;i; t ''t?� ` '
<br /> Sherman, known for its urban g
<br /> redevelo went ro ects around �
<br /> A P j ,� � ,� �#rr�'�
<br /> the Twin Cities, will only 1 a1i ��" 4' i `
<br /> ! ;:ts::: : _ .7. x _a s "l
<br /> estate broker Richard Ahern, ,. � '
<br /> who worked with the city on .. �` t�• ` " 'Alf redevelopment efforts until ; --
<br /> 2003,said he's refined plans and -:,,.1';:;,., m � 4
<br /> will move forward with Bailey's '� /, : , ' d t
<br /> Landing, a hotel, restaurant > ' i ° ---"
<br /> and shopping complex. 1 ,1
<br /> Ahern said he has found an - � ; t L investor, who has purchased r i'1114,„.,„
<br /> some prime downtown real , /
<br /> estate that neighbors the city's f P �`
<br /> property that has been „ � ,
<br /> earmarked for redevelopment. � - ,
<br /> He, too, said he ll unveil his PHOTOS BY CRAIG BORCK,PIONEER PRESS
<br /> plans in the coming weeks. Nancy Wright,who bought Peddler's Landing in January, is launching a wine shop on Main
<br /> One point where both devel Street in Hastings.Wright would like to see a farmers'market or flea market open in the city.
<br /> opers can agree:Hastings has
<br /> untapped potential-
<br /> The city of 20,000 is nestled officials, pleased with a� °"" l ,
<br /> in a crook on the Mississippi Sherman's redevelopment of a wed�3 ¢
<br /> giving downtown an_enviable local historic church, chose to ¢view of the river and te bridge enter an exclusive agreement ¢,, l U/ l',, i
<br /> that spans it. with the Twin Cities firm '� I 3 4 k
<br /> Hastings has preserved the Sherman has until October to -
<br /> waterfront with a park and two sign a development deal with � � �� 1
<br /> • city blocks of storefronts dot the city , $
<br /> mg back to the 1850s that are The city's choice has not or listed on the National Historic been without controversy. a ,
<br /> Register. Many downtown shopkeepers - sue" l ,# i 'r ,
<br /> Since the downtown was fear Sherman will build ,�° #�-
<br /> designated for redevelopment towering condos that won't ; `r , k 1
<br /> in 1973, the city has spent draw new business, will strain
<br /> $1.53 million buying and razing parking and will block the view °
<br /> industrial riverfront property of the river Results of a recent i e- ,
<br /> with an eye toward new devel- market study tIle. city and tx q'
<br /> opment. Sherman commissoned have tj
<br /> "Hastings
<br /> is way ahead of fueled fears, because it deter
<br /> s ,� h, } - €ill::
<br /> the game,"said Loren Bruegge mined a hotel project would Dave Muller sold real estate and ran a co-op after moving to
<br /> mane, vice president of devel lose money. Hastings in 1990 from the Twin Cities. Now the owner of Second
<br /> opment for Sherman Associ Ronald Craft, who owns Nature Art and Framing on Main Street, Muller says the city is
<br /> ates. "Hosting has a unique Olde Main Street Quality ripe for new restaurants,shops and development.
<br /> character because they have a Antiques&Collectibles,favors
<br /> historical,intact downtown. ... Ahern's plans for a hotel and is
<br /> The land they've acquired and staunchly opposed to a condo Sherman's project,but he'd like shop an d has just opened The
<br /> put together is crucial to the project. to include the city's redevelop Wine Shop. Wright favors
<br /> redevelopment. Acquiring the "I don't think the city has ment land
<br /> • his project.Ahern smaller downtown fixes such
<br /> property is the most expensive really listened to the people," said he has a franchise agree as a farmers' market or a flea
<br /> part." said Craft. went with InterContinential market.
<br /> But Hastings has had bad "What we want to do is Hotels group,which owns Holi But Barb Hollenbeck, who
<br /> luck with developers,including draw tourists and day- day 11.3n. Ahern said he wants owns Second Childhood and
<br /> Ahern who floated plans for trippers," Craft said. "They to buld a new boutique-style heads the Downtown Business
<br /> downtown development but have the most disposable inn that InterContinential •is Association, is content to let
<br /> couldn't find financing,city offi- income.That's what we want." launching. market forces work to the city's
<br /> cials say. Last year after the But Sherman's team said "We will be building the advantage.
<br /> city terminated its plans with their pitch will preserve the project with completely private "Competition is not a bad
<br /> Ahern, the mayor and council downtown's character. funds and without any finan- thing," Hollenbeck said. "You
<br /> had a handful of developers "We would work with the dal assistance from the city," are competing with ideas. You
<br /> • pitch proposals. character of the downtown," he said. don't have one developer
<br /> "nee really went out and
<br /> character
<br /> emann said- "You are Some are suspicious of telling you this is your only
<br /> seard for reputable, sound not going to build high-rise Ahern's attempt to squeeze his option.At least,we feel like we
<br /> developers," said Mayor towers an d dwarf the down hotel next to the Sherman have options."
<br /> Michael Werner. town. You need to be sensitive development-
<br /> Ahern, who'nos lived just t&what's there." "It's like coming in the back Shannon Prathenc�an be reached
<br /> outside Hastings for 20 years, Ahern said his hotel devel- door," said Nancy Wright,who at sprather @pioneerpress.com
<br /> -I-made an other pitch. But city opment can be built next to owns Peddler's Landing gift or 651 228-5452. a y
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