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<br /> Building on the City's Tradition
<br /> History of Downtown Public Process for Building a
<br /> Downtown
<br /> Today, downtown Chanhassen is a compact commercial hub In 1858,when Chanhassen was first organized, citizens held a
<br /> --::,: ` isp / in an expanding suburban community. But when it was first public meeting to set a course for their new town. In 1993,
<br /> -- �.~.: xT P•l,� -"r-i, settled around 1850, mature hardwood forests dominated the citizens were asked to lend insight and knowledge to guide the
<br /> i. �LL d - t ``' '•�'I5` 4 - area.The Dakota tribes called the region Chanhasen,refer- creation of aplan that would reflect the community's needs and
<br /> =r4-h .. r g Y
<br /> -- .� „ . ring to the sweet juice of its numerous maple trees.These desires for its downtown. In a series of public meetings, more
<br /> Big Woods were especially attractive to the early German
<br /> / than 100 residents participated in a process that defined a
<br /> � and New England settlers.In 1858 the Chanhassen precinct vision and a set of guiding principles for the downtown.An ad
<br /> - i - I adopted the Dakota name in a public meeting at the school- hoc committee met frequently over the course of eight months
<br /> ct \HASSEN house.At the same time,officers were elected and structures to further shape this vision and to craft a plan that closely fit
<br /> .�2�.,� were established to guide the town's future. Chanhassen.
<br /> The original Chanhassen plat map
<br /> dated 1898 shows settlement near St. Chanhassen's gradual development as a small trade and The needs and issues considered most important for downtown
<br /> Hubert's Church. railroad center in a rural township resulted in a limited but Chanhassen's future included:
<br /> significant collection of now-historic buildings.Turn-of-the- •a balance between the pedestrian and the automobile
<br /> century houses,old St.Hubert's Church and cemetery,and environment;
<br /> the Village Hall signal the city's eastern entry and define the 'continued opportunities for development of new businesses
<br /> architectural and cultural roots of the community.These in downtown;
<br /> buildings are critical markers of the city's history.Together •the need to keep important public facilities downtown;
<br /> they preserve the attractive fabric of a traditional main street •the recognition that downtown contains historic features
<br /> while providing lessons for the expansion of downtown. which are important to the community;
<br /> •the need to plan with some degree of flexibility for
<br /> Downtown grew slowly through the 1960s.A modest wave changes in the future;
<br /> of construction around 1970 resulted in new apartment •the strong desire to keep and enhance downtown as the
<br /> Significant events which buildings,St.Hubert's School and the Chanhassen Dinner center of community life in Chanhassen.
<br /> shaped downtown during the Theater, all located adjacent to the historic center. Most Also noted were strengths of the existing downtown including:
<br /> city's early years include: notable about these buildings was the change in scale,form 'public buildings located at the center;
<br /> •1865, dedication of first and siting that formerly characterized the streets of down- 'unique features such as the Chanhassen Dinner Theater;
<br /> church,St.Hubert's town.Although the sidewalk was not abandoned, these new 'nearby residential areas and recreational opportunities;
<br /> •1880s,current developments stressed the importance of parking for retail •a compact downtown.
<br /> Klingelhuetz Building developments and diminished the pedestrian experience in Focus group participants felt that downtown could be im-
<br /> built as carpentry shop or the downtown.Today,the intersection of Great Plains proved by addressing some key issues including:
<br /> hotel Boulevard and West 78th Street marks the boundary between •a lack of identity from Highway 5;
<br /> •1885-6,railroad the historic core or traditional downtown and the modern •an incomplete pedestrian network and an emphasis on the
<br /> constructed through town entertainment,business,retail and civic center of the city. automobile;
<br /> •1893,Village Hall •the need for night-time activities in downtown;
<br /> constructed Changes in Chanhassen's downtown continued through the •the lack of senior housing;
<br /> •1896, village incorporated 1970s with the establishment of the tax increment financing •the need for expanding some public facilities to serve the
<br /> (previously platted as St. district(a funding tool used by cities to pay for public growing community.
<br /> Hubertus in 1887 by the improvements using taxes generated by the new develop- -
<br /> Franciscan Brotherhood) ment).This district spurred development of larger-scale A community survey conducted over the next several weeks
<br /> 'Shift of the depot from commercial projects and brought aesthetic improvements to will provide a critical check for the plan's fit to Chanhassen
<br /> the north side of the the expanding downtown streets.Today downtown reaches and determine whether or not the plan moves forward to
<br /> tracks to the south of the from the historic center to Powers Boulevard nearly one mile adoption by the community.
<br /> newly expanded railroad to the west.
<br /> •1930s,Pauly's Bar and
<br /> Lounge constructed as a
<br /> general store ,` -
<br /> •1968,Chanhassen Dinner 4 '`')`' i �; �.*'
<br /> Theater opens
<br /> .1978,Tax Increment ��`° ........ 4...•;.:,, a . "�`„. , , `i" .- .FinancingDistrictcreated .. - ; \ 1,,,,i1...i)...1..;,:".„..",:,,,,...-"::6.,,,,.:'....7-i,,.
<br /> `' - -: ��•1978,new city hall - ,,\ r. , .; ,;� r, Y: \ -
<br /> v �:, .:.,
<br /> dedicated r �•1980,Business Park ' s , :_ �t• v.', - 1-j . " -
<br /> .,. ,'.created ''• - ✓� ,� �/� �� �:•1989 downtown "*"``infrastructure improved . ), .,, �
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<br /> ,-- - 1.
<br /> Old Village Hall • //r ,;. , � . '_ * '�
<br /> relocated '. ' .e.,.,'", ''-...). -4,...,
<br /> ,— Y. -:;',,,,,,:s[ =�, :` X` C
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<br /> •1990,new Chanhassen r'4 r � "�
<br /> Bank built .,��� \_ � ./°� � _ - •. --" ` ( "' �►` r
<br /> •1992,Market Square ` \ / : '' :} � ' . :�
<br /> Shopping Center opened �� �' f `�
<br /> '.
<br /> •1993,Target opened , ° - j "`�2 -
<br /> •1994,Byerly's opened y $ I "` #�
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<br /> Today,downtown Chanhassen is a compact commercial hub in an expanding suburban community. 0
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