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<br /> N TUESDAY, AUGUST 1. 2000 L 0 C A
<br /> These days,
<br /> downtown :'
<br /> • Rosemount
<br /> looks like a
<br /> X
<br /> +ghost town,
<br /> some residents
<br /> say. "It's kind 'a
<br /> -'
<br /> ' • ,°'°-"'''',':-.• 4 'i 1 of shabby,"said resident iV it ,I ' •
<br /> '
<br /> Laura Andrews. xs > _
<br /> "It feels like :kg ` r ,f ::.ii,::
<br /> nobody cares � a
<br /> about it." The .y M �" �': gds a 3 ;
<br /> development r `� , i � oc. 1
<br /> £ 4'4
<br /> � %�
<br /> F
<br /> plan proposes g v x sxr ' i ' ' i
<br /> $ rucin Up t k '� M � �lgilt xlPrA � i` n ,g2i� V -k
<br /> ,i 4�g,k xd ' _ �" , h �downtown with " lra 'Y su :lif , , E
<br /> 9.
<br /> new lights, :t6 4 �
<br /> fencing, trees, tgeit a�i;k '' , azo u Y�3;$ 11,: a g;
<br /> ll
<br /> and more. DAWN VILLELLA/PIONEER PRESS
<br /> . but I don't want there to be exces- for its shakes, burgers and '50s
<br /> "- sive improvements." memorabilia..Genz-Ryan plumbing
<br /> The first phase of Rosemount's has benefited from the rapid
<br /> ®CONTINUED FROM 1B project has already been approvedgrowth in the area. Friends gather.
<br /> and will begin by. late September. at Morning Glory's bakery to sip
<br /> Burnsville's "Heart of the City" That piece involves work along drinks with names like "Pepper-
<br /> project will include hanging-flower South Robert Trail between 143rd mint Bon-Bon" and to relax to the
<br /> baskets and decorative ightp01',es and 145th streets and includes. sound of the tranquillity fountain.
<br /> with banners on than. Lakeville adding lights, burying power lines, Yet for the most part, this isn't a
<br /> city leaders dream of a town road work and improving a'park- downtown where people hang out.
<br /> III square with a fountain_ visitors' and ride lot. The cost for that seg- Customers say they hop in their
<br /> center _and farmers' market. Oak ment is about $600,000. cars, drive to each shops get what
<br /> Park Heights plans to create a The goal of the project is to make: they need. and leave. They choose
<br /> downtown that will include a cen- shopping downtown more enjoyable .to shop here as.an alternative to
<br /> tralgreen for festivals, housing and for customers, attract new business- nearby megastores for the personal
<br /> commercial areas. They share the es and create a more pedestrian- service andsmall-town feeling.
<br /> similar goals of creating attractive, friendly area, said Mayor Cathy'., .Longtime resident Mary Duffy
<br /> pedestrian-friendly downtowns that Busho. The mayor said she disagrees explains why she still "shops at the
<br /> offer something different than with those who describe the area as • local Horizon Pharmacy - which.
<br /> nearby big-box retail strips. a ghost town. "There's always hustle most refer to by its old name, Loch.
<br /> Many business owners and citi- and bustle going on," she said. Pharmacy'- rather than the Wal-
<br /> zens agree that downtown Rose- Not everyone cares about down- greens on 42: "At Loch they were
<br /> mount needs a breath of fresh air. town. Many residents do most of good to.me when my husband died.
<br /> But some feel the city's proposal their shopping an County Road 42 I would have to stay loyal to them."
<br /> is more like a windstorm. — home -to big-box retailers. and Old-timers.like'Duffy remember
<br /> They are particularly irked by a endless strip malls in Rose the '50s and '60s when the vibrant
<br /> proposal to reduce the number of mount and Apple Valley. downtown was one of the main
<br /> street accesses from South Robert "To me downtown doesn't exist, shopping centers in the county.
<br /> Trail, the main thoroughfare in more or less, anymore," said Dave There was Duffy Brothers grocery,
<br /> downtown. Andrews, who has lived in Rose- an upscale •clothing shop and car'
<br /> ` Business owners like some ele- mount for about 10 years. Down- dealerships. "You used to be able'
<br /> :Merits of the plan, such as burying town "doesn't have.'any sentimen- to come here and buy everything,
<br /> - `sower _lines_ and installing more tal value to me. If everythLng but shoes," said JoAnne Cope, who.'
<br /> 11ghts,,. moves to (County Road) 42, that's works downtown.
<br /> '`The city is seeking comments on fine with me." It isn't fine with Eventually, historic buildings
<br /> . :the proposal and hopes to start the Maureen Geraghty Bouchard':. were torn down, and the area faded
<br /> jiroject in the spring. No decisions Downtown means a lot to long- as business boomed in nearby silb-
<br /> .11ave been made about how to standing families in town, said e u bs. As the number of stores con-
<br /> :finance the 'work, which is esti- fifth-generation Rosemount rai tinues to increase on County Road
<br /> mated at '$3 million. That con- dent. The area isn't dying, she 42, some question whether the.
<br /> • cern Kim Mohrhauser, an owner insists, but it needs help. "Other small, independent businesses in'°
<br /> :of Fluegel's grain elevator, who than one or two little spots, it isn't downtown can make it.
<br /> 'doesn't want to see assessments unique in any way. I wish it were: "I wonder if 15 years from now
<br /> :hut down businesses. . . . I think it's a very blah city." if this will be downtown Rose
<br /> -` "I'm worried about paying for There are clear signs that some mount or if 42 will be considered
<br /> things that aren't really needed," businesses are successful. Fluegel's downtown Rosemount," said
<br /> Mohrhauser said. "Yes I would wants to expand. Big Daddy's diner William Schneider, owner of
<br /> love to see improvements done, attracts customers from all over McDivot's Sports Pub & Eatery.
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