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di Dt00r!li gut&atth
<br /> mir 8CA I. 11 ews letter
<br /> City Of
<br /> Elk
<br /> River�� OCTOBER 2002 Enhanang Downtown Elk River's Role
<br /> � ° As a Vital Retail C,ommeraal and Residential Area
<br /> Q. What is happening with the revitalization and analysis of market feasibility,financial feasibility,as well as communi-
<br /> redevelopment of Elk River's downtown? ty input. It is possible that as a result of this review,the exact proper-
<br /> A. The Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority(HRA)and City ties to be acquired and the project area may change somewhat.An
<br /> Council will enter a preliminary development agreement with open house will be held later this year for public input into a prelimi-
<br /> MetroPlains Development for the downtown revitalization project.The nary site plan.
<br /> HRA selected and the City Council ratified the selection of
<br /> MetroPlains from three finalist developers at its August 26 meeting.: 0. Do we know at this point which downtown
<br /> City officials said MetroPlains demonstrated the most experience o buildings will be excluded from the development?
<br /> similar projects and had received a high level of support at the July A. No,we do not have those specifics yet. However,consistent with the
<br /> open house from residents and the busi- recently completed Historic Contexts Study,the itys,,iii,,,,,, ,,,,,:,:,,,,,,,,,
<br /> Hess community.
<br /> i. project will respect the traditional character of
<br /> °SGL downtown.We do know the project will exclude
<br /> Q. What happens next? ;,, y p I
<br /> A. The HRA and the developer will enter a prey
<br /> � ,Q the"brick block"which includes the buildings
<br /> � `to �� along the west side of Jackson Avenue south of
<br /> liminary development agreement in the com S{ a � Highway 10.
<br /> ill
<br /> ing months.During the preliminary devel �� ?,
<br /> op-
<br /> ment agreement phase,the developer works rye Q.What will happen to the existing
<br /> with the City to identify issues that must be 'OW n' vita : 1
<br /> addressed prior to the final development
<br /> g businesses in the downtown
<br /> agreement phase.These issues include redevelopment area?
<br /> financial and market feasibility,project sched- -" k=.., '', v .- ' �,.... „ . A• What typically happens in other downtown
<br /> ule,and a refined site plan. If the City chooses to move forward to a redevelopment efforts is that some businesses
<br /> final development agreement,that is when the planning and zoning choose to stay and some choose to relocate.The developer will.
<br /> approva►s,land acquisition and construction will occur. work with downtown business owners within the project area to den-
<br /> tify their interests and how they could be incorporated in any rede-
<br /> Q. What is the timetable for a-downtown project velopment plans.For those businesses that do not stay,arrange
<br /> to occur? ments for acquisition and for relocation assistance will be offered.
<br /> A. The HRA expects to enter a preliminary development agreement
<br /> with MetroPlains in October.The preliminary development agreement Q. When will the developer contact downtown
<br /> phase is expected to last for at least six to nine months with a corn- businesses and property owners?
<br /> munity open house later this year on preliminary site plan options. If A. MetroPlains will start to make initial contacts with property owners
<br /> the developer satisfactorily completes the preliminary development and tenants this fall after a preliminary development agreement has
<br /> agreement phase,the City and developer would enter a final devel- been reached with the HRA. Property is not actually acquired until a
<br /> opment agreement.The earliest construction could begin would be final development agreement has been reached by the City and
<br /> sometime in 2004. the developer.
<br /> Q. Does MetroPlains already have a completed Q. If my business or home must relocate in the
<br /> plan for the project? future,will I receive any financial assistance?
<br /> A. No, but MetroPlains has a concept for redevelopment which A. Businesses and residents who are required to relocate from the
<br /> includes the following sites: redevelopment area are provided relocation assistance to help with
<br /> . East King Avenue and the northeast corner of moving costs,as provided for under the Uniform Relocation
<br /> King&Main, and, Assistance Act. Properties that are purchased for redevelopment
<br /> • The southwest corner of Main and County Road 42 must be purchased at fair market value.That value is determined by
<br /> (Parrish Avenue Bridge). a professional appraisal. In situations where communities are under-
<br /> taking redevelopment,the acquisitions are typically accomplished
<br /> The next step will involve refining the MetroPlains concept for through voluntary sales.
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