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<br /> ANOKA .DNFOFOTIOti
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<br /> Grand or re 01n plan
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<br /> n downtown takes s e
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<br /> �_ Concept aims to create a `destination' with
<br /> The general concept fory9r
<br /> h Rum River focus, the historical heart of city
<br /> e restoring the river is to
<br /> e BY NANCY NGO ers market drew people to the 7nalCe land east of the
<br /> Pioneer Press Aver.
<br /> "Anoka's been a destina- waterway available for
<br /> ll When it comes to redevel- tion for agricultural markets
<br /> 0 oping downtown, the city of forever," Kirchner said. "I walking trails, parks,
<br /> r Anoka has decided it's best to remember bringing my
<br /> d go with the flow. cucumbers there to be sort-
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<br /> and retail
<br /> r The city has a concept plan ed."
<br /> for creating an urban "desti- ■ South of that district is development.
<br /> r, nation" that takes better the city's Historic Business
<br /> 3, advantage of the Rum River, District, which includes
<br /> o its main waterway. The proj Anoka's main downtown area
<br /> d ect would include construction of shops, restaurants, the
<br /> of homes, shops, an expanded county courthouse and sher UP NEXT
<br /> e farmers market an d transit iff's department.
<br /> hub along the east bank of the The city has been working The city is waiting for a
<br /> river. to rehabilitate some of the response from the Metro
<br /> "It's been an emerging aging properties and to bring politan Council on a
<br /> concept to focus more on the them up to meet safety Stan $70,000 grant it applied
<br /> — river. It's the historical heart dard5. The city has offered a for to develop a land use
<br /> of the city,"said Bob Kirchner, low interest loan program for plan for a commuter rail
<br /> community development rehabilitation projects in the hub and the north cen
<br /> director. "It's clearly a renais- area. Block grant"funds are tral business district. If
<br /> sance of rivers and rails. The also expected to be available approved, the city would
<br /> city's here and developed in the near!future, provide matching funds
<br /> because of both of these ■South of the business dis for the planning.
<br /> things." trict is a small section desig .
<br /> ted as the Transitional
<br /> Eventually,Anoka planners na
<br /> hope people will see the river Revitalization District, which
<br /> as a destination for taking a could be home to higher den ble, with three to six acres
<br /> walk,going shopping or catch sity housing,but would not be being added.
<br /> ing a ride on a commuter rail developed for five to 10 years. The Rum River restoration
<br /> train. Currently the land is made up project also•includes a histori
<br /> The general concept for of mostly single family cal.trail along the east bank of
<br /> restoring the river is to make homes. the river.Most of the trail has
<br /> land east of the waterway ■The last project,the River been completed,with only two
<br /> available for walking trails, Redevelopment District, small portions remaining,
<br /> parks, housing and retail encompasses several projects. along the townhouse project
<br /> development. South of the Transitional and near the river dam,where
<br /> The city has divided its Revitalization District is a 58- the trail would intersect Har
<br /> river restoration plan into five unit townhouse development rison Street.
<br /> pieces: called RiversPointe currently
<br /> • The Transit Station under construction. It should Nancy Ngo,who covers north
<br /> Neighborhood, 150 acres be completed by the year's suburban co;n;uu.nities, can be
<br /> bounded by Garfield Street, end.Nearby Akin River River- reached at nngo�pioneer
<br /> U.S. 10, the Rum River and side Park is expected to dou press.com or(ssi)228-2149.
<br /> Seventh Avenue, should be
<br /> developed if a transit station is
<br /> built.
<br /> Anoka is one of the cities ; •y �,
<br /> identified as a stop for a pro Anoka I�t1V 'ron revitali a on
<br /> posed North star Corridor } city Anoka has sei ies of prolecks planned to r stive
<br /> commuter rail line running the busine s dl trios adjatdnt tci the Rum River s rs = a m`
<br /> from downtown Minneapolis r 0; is t ,, lg
<br /> to St.Cloud. -;.:414k": �1ra $ ti n�er liba h'
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<br /> A transit station would be 47 : ili ftrof�ab[a inch iPlItk � - fi s ` '
<br /> built in the northeast corner ... ,., „ .
<br /> ttir»tt'ryt raii stattbgi tkl
<br /> of the Fourth Avenue and the ' and.1.y residenfi�al,3iig fi q�I e
<br /> Burlington Northern Santa Fe t ANOKA end ght ihiluj:ril ue „ F KIM
<br /> ` �, igij f art °". nw%� L s tit
<br /> Railway tracks. COUNTY , o 3�t ,rat"
<br /> Other developments on the y ` ;� s x
<br /> land could include high densi «£ ,
<br /> t housing, offices F r..- xi ;: ne
<br /> y g, es and fight i
<br /> industry t ' St. Proposed a "
<br /> "There's likely to be a lot Paul 4th Avenue
<br /> more activity than there is station � t , 's
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<br /> now,"Kirchner said. : *, Po� r•
<br /> Currently, the area �,, 10
<br /> includes about 50 acres of i S , Proposed ti, I
<br /> green space that are owned by commuter
<br /> the city, county or state. They rail line
<br /> area also includes residential z3 „t '
<br /> ly zoned land, which could be y x °f North�ent�rai K
<br /> a 4?. Business D`15trid`t Vr,I
<br /> subject to future rehabilitation River i
<br /> projects. Walk . a Harrison St
<br /> ■ The North Central Busi , � f DOWNTOWN,�
<br /> ness District, roughly six ' as` i �°-� _
<br /> square city blocks south of �� , � Wan Buren St ANOKA ��
<br /> U.S. 10 along the river, is slat is lV en t` 4
<br /> . ,0,11.9 Ibis ,
<br /> ed for a mixture er of shops, `„ , h� 1 tt t. �
<br /> housing and offices. ` e '
<br /> The city has been acquiring Rt � � � � E,Maim Stay
<br /> properties in the area for there ph '
<br /> past 10 years and owns all but EEv
<br /> one lot. Anoka officials hoe TransrfilanaN l3euiteltza#ran DlsfiriCfi .
<br /> to attract private officials
<br /> pm nt M 3 !'f residents l house e a higher density
<br /> of resldebtaal housing f�ste fib I0 ye�r�
<br /> to the district, which was the from now
<br /> city's old industrial area, € r si`
<br /> including a lumberyard. That • [R�ij�tpryf;edejv(elo menfi
<br /> �' sots}l IMt Ill(n uuei F h 3:�' e
<br /> section of the riverbank also
<br /> . ES8#awnhorne protect and parr n ;
<br /> might be home to a farmers Y� M 3
<br /> market larger than the cur ,.:, : cy �. .:.xxry .zz. a . R,a �<.:.xr
<br /> rent one. . ALEX LEARY,PIONEER PRESS
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<br /> Historically, a large farm-
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