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<br /> August 7, 2000
<br /> Minnesota Real Estate Journal • Page 13
<br /> the future. says. "If we would have gone ahead with
<br /> The four block downtown area, with another power center, it wouldn't have
<br /> 90,000 square feet of retail space,is about mattered to them because they would have
<br /> three-fourths complete and is part of the a
<br /> sold their land anyway.But they felt oblig-
<br /> larger,three-phase,Arbor Lakes mixed-use cc � ated to do something different in Maple
<br /> project under development by Opus North- ere hearing from many tenants that t'"'Zr stores Grove — something to create more of e
<br /> west LLC and designed by St. Paul-based community.They had a bigger vision than
<br /> KKE Architects Inc.The downtown is part or restaurants (in the Arbor Lakes downtown) are their we
<br /> Act•didually, Sauer, of Tiller Corp., said he
<br /> of the first phase.
<br /> The entire $260 million Arbor Lakes best stores in terms of Sales, or are in their top five. was a bit skeptical of creating a downtown.
<br /> project, which is Maple Grove's newest "We definitely wanted something differ
<br /> planned development, will one day be 450 when you hear that, you realize this is working.�� ent, that's why we built the three lakes in
<br /> acres of mixed uses, such as large and the area," Sauer said. "We wantedl
<br /> some
<br /> small retailers, restaurants, offices, resi -Tim Murnane thing that would attract people and be
<br /> deuces, a library, community and civic vice president, real estate development unique for Maple Grove.But when I found
<br /> buildings and outdoor amenities such as out the idea was to possibly build an 01d
<br /> trails, three lakes and, possibly, a band Opus Northwest LLC fashioned downtown, I wasn't too sure
<br /> about it.I was under the impression down
<br /> shell.
<br /> Of course what makes Arbor Lakes towns were not surviving:'
<br /> unique, according to civic leaders,devel It looks as if Maple Grove's new down
<br /> opers and residents,is the small downtown ta,where people still like to live out in the Like the downtown buildings, they, too, town,which had a grand opening party that
<br /> area, which is anchored on, of course, a woods In man of these new downtowns have brick exteriors and what looks to be included a parade this spring,is doing quite
<br /> newly created Main Street. they put restdentta units a ove the retail second floors(they are indeed false second well.
<br /> stores. We didn't think that would work floors complete with windows). "We're hearing from many tenants that
<br /> How did it happen? here, even though we knew we wanted "When you come to an intersection and their stores or restaurants (in the Arbor
<br /> There was no doubt about it, Maple housing near the downtown.And we also look.away from the downtown and catch a Lakes downtown) are their best stores in
<br /> Grove was, and still is, on a fast track of found that there are some thins ou ust glimpse of the big retailers behind the terms of sales, or are in their top five,"
<br /> commercial,residential and office devel can 4 . You can t dust Dui d it and wait smaller stores,you'll think they're part of terms of says. "And when you hear that,
<br /> opment. In the last 13 years or so, the for the people to come." the downtown as well," Anderson says. ou realize this is working."
<br /> booming city of an estimated 52,000 peo Anderson is referring to the fact that "That was the goal—to create the idea y In developing •its leasing strategy,Opus
<br /> pie continued to add hundreds of thou- some of the other newly developed small that the downtown extends beyond what it decided to reserve most of the store spaces
<br /> sands of square feet of new development. downtowns around the country rely solely actually is" at intersections for restaurants. So far,the
<br /> And the proposals kept coming in for more on small retailers to draw customer traf c. Like most small downtowns, Arbor lineup includes Panera Bread, f ar,t le
<br /> restaurants,numerous big box retailers— Niether Opus nor KKE believed that would Lakes'Main Street also has several build Mexican Grill, Noodles & Co., Leeann
<br /> such as Best Buy and Old Navy—offices, work in Maple Grove. So,Anderson and ings with rentable space on its second Chin and others. The other storefronts
<br /> strip malls galore,lots of new housing,and the designers decided to try a uni ueQlan floors in addition to those buildings that include doth national and local tenants,
<br /> hold on. to use big box retailers as part of the own- have the false second floors.The rentable such as Schuler Shoes, Mark Michael
<br /> That's what the city and a longtime town aTtraction. The result is a layout in second floor spaces are occupied by many Design Jewelers, Shoe 's on Main flower
<br /> major landowner told Opus, which was which big box retail stores,such as Jo-Ann traditional, second floor downtown ten shop and women's clothing.
<br /> planning to continue with the successful etc.and Best Buy,are located close behind ants, such as insurance offices and other The downtown still has another block to
<br /> formula for more commercial development and share some parking with the small service related businesses. be completed,and Murnane says Opus has
<br /> in the area just north of I 694 and east of retail shops on Main Street. While Murnane says the cityand Ander signetion
<br /> d restaurants, such as Houlihan's, rr
<br /> 1-94 as it heads toward St.Cloud. "Creating a downtown is a great idea son deserve plenty of credit for how the Buca di Beppo and Ground Wound's new
<br /> "We came out here in 1993 and did and should attract customers,but we also downtown is turning out,he also says the concept,to ci•rcle the critical i new
<br /> Maple Grove Crossing with many national had to understand what the market could impetus came from Gary Sauer at Tiller of Elm Creek Boulevard and Main Street.
<br /> retailers, and then were doing small outlot bear,"Murnane says. `And that meant we Corp. and Charlie McCrossan of C.S. As Opus moves Arbor Lakes into its
<br /> developments of 2 to 3 acres at a crack," needed the draw of the bii retailers to help McCrossan Co.The firms have been min second and third phases during the next
<br /> says Tim Murnane, vice president, real din Street.Most retailers or restau- ing gravel in the area since the 1960s,sell- years,there will be to draw pex
<br /> estate development for Opus Northwest. rateurs don't just say, `Oh,you're building ing portions of the 2,000 acres they once few to the area,will be plenty says. For exam
<br /> "After we did the first project,we had four a small downtown,we want in"' owned as they progress. ple, Maple Grove's 90,000 square foot
<br /> Obi'five more national retailers wanting to The big box retailers that help draw cus "The landowners could have kept on government center, complete with City
<br /> be in Maple Grove
<br /> 'because it is such a suc tourers and businesses, however, do not selling 5 a74:1
<br /> a time for piecemeal ARBOR L l ete to next page
<br /> cessful location; it draws both an outstate resemble most traditional big box retailers. developmeolong time," Murnane
<br /> clientele and people from the northwest �,t 7t7quadrant,, 1 ,, % F a � s �i kBut city Officials and that landowner,the .- . -.,� ��",,,i -; 4,,,,,-,
<br /> : �y ,`s 3;E
<br /> `a a ra� �, ae,�ry `,� ���.e�.5�,;,iC .�ax�n � ..� � 4� z� s i'se �s � E v: ' .c ' ,.mow..
<br /> Tiller Corp.,a holding company fora funs b ' dsat
<br /> �; .o eL; P t 7.„t �.„s, sa ga ,, -€�. . ss ;,;:i�.' - :01 e a Lai E �- 3 „ate r �-
<br /> that has long mined gravel in Maple Grove, j f ;`-`ti _ A t ,. � t` -� _ l j i. � . t .- - ,,
<br /> ' {TtY: ti 3 :� ro. 'r`°ea� x metro- t4 '3 } ��� '$ €a ?� ira�'- `t` a
<br /> said they wanted something different. ,,, Y +' $ ,7
<br /> "We could have done another owerAill �x f m .ANS � - a . .4`' `:1:4.,• ,, "
<br /> center that would have been very success :11.174.0i, j , ;< 4 ``
<br /> ful,"Murnane sa s."But the cit and G '``. t ,1 ,;, '`' 'l "' '• Wigg
<br /> r t# a
<br /> Sauer at Tiller Corp. wantedya distin t '''' #' ,1. r ` � t �: 1 f d �» F
<br /> downtown. They wanted to explore the ,1101111111110”,- ��1 �, y" � !-7. 4 :dI `?
<br /> idea of new urbanism;neo traditional plan ° .4 } ;M¢ s ,, a i y t' `
<br /> mil .Theywanted a downto n e ' i � 1 ¢ ' iR6 ::,-,-t-,-,.:Ti."-.7:,,,,,,:ii!;,:/.1:,,,:,..0,,,vi'',::".,-
<br /> ,� 4
<br /> g �, .; ,,,, ,tai"3 ,, ttThat's when Opus hooked up with KKE .C?~.rp{� 1� {, r} . ., ,� ¢Architects and architect Kathy Anderson ' ". '- Jig' ' ,7 it ` - `
<br /> (see related colunm on page 15 j."The idea :cr
<br /> was to not continue with the development r••+:y` :t �. • � ' ' w ^ '�
<br /> of the old-time suburbs,where there were ,-1:'"''''',,i,,-;;,-;:," ``t, " :I, °I:, 1111,'''''='::11442",t rA��,3„,,..„,,,,,,,;,:,,,,,,,,,;:;...,,,,,..3:7,,,,,,,„,„„„..„�
<br /> lots of cul-de-sacs so residents could be ` . 1 R "� t t � *.
<br /> isolated from their neighbors, and where • 4 ��`� ir, .,I ,
<br /> stripcenters acted as the downtown areas,” ��` * "` tf i, t ;` , ! , �''' F } 1 * t4`4
<br /> Y
<br /> ,041411
<br /> Anderson says. 4 , yin. .71 ,t.` �� '4 ;rte , `, :il
<br /> Murnane adds, "We knew that small 2 ��s y , i-,,,,,,-47,444.40a.,14' r, f 1' .�
<br /> downtowns and retail areas k ��f3„k ., a. Al t� . £g ,,` t , :: *,. - t
<br /> and thrives in existing urban_were workingke = 1 � u k .- s _ > ”
<br /> Highland Park in St. Paul and 50th and jy ' r { ? y s
<br /> France in Edina. Hut the challenge here ,,,- .,e,�,,.,,,F 4,,¢" ' '� ,Yl ; i ',t17:: t�Fri
<br /> was to do it from scratch:' ' i
<br /> So Anderson,Murnane and several 0th s � i"' b� $ � , µ fi
<br /> ers embarked on a fact-findin , idea en7,,:;:7;17:4;;;:,-..:-1:',i,;,-,;':;7,,,,;:.;
<br /> . i� •erating mission.They flew to four places tti:�` e,': l 'i ` ' ' ' • `• '
<br /> in the United States where small down � . y ., ` ii 4 '
<br /> towns and business districts had been cre ki.,,,,,,i1„,....1;iii,,,,,,f_.,i,„;,,c;,:z;,,:,,,,,:,,,,t,
<br /> � � � ��-� � , ,�.�f � _ +�,,cdi,,,,:.,.:;:it.,;;::::i,,,,,,,,::: _,,:„ , _,, ,,, ,, ,,.: _. i,
<br /> ated and were receiving greatfanfareasW' < ' - : r y
<br /> examples of new urbanism. -Ji k , a � }a: ._
<br /> "I think we actually found more of what g w"
<br /> trot to do;' recalls Anderson. "For one Residents say the downtown is working, with its mix of restaurants and retail, and design details, such as brick
<br /> thing,these other places weren't Minneso- sidewalks and decorative light posts.
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