HRSR 09-25-2000 CANCELLED - Laserfiche WebLink

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•` MEMORANDUM TO: Housing and Redevelopment Authority FROM: Cathy Mehelich, Director of Economic Development DATE: September 19, 2000 SUBJECT: Meeting Cancellation Due to a lack of pressing agenda items, the September HRA meeting will be cancelled by order of the Chair Larry Tothe. Attached for your review are the minutes from the August 28th HRA meeting. Staff has received an update from the River's Edge group in regards to their presentation at the August 28th HRA meeting. The River's Edge group has discovered that the owner of the old Houlton building is not interested in selling. • Staff is continuing to explore potential redevelopment projects in the central business district (CBD) area. We have initiated discussions with Municipal Utilities to cooperatively schedule the burying of the overhead utility lines with a sidewalk replacement program. It has been discussed that the design for sidewalk replacement be coordinated within an overall "master central business district plan" or theme. Separate design sketches exist for Hwy 10 corridor and riverwalk from 1995- 1996 completed by Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. In 1999 the HRA and Theresa Washburn & Assoc. completed a CBD Action Plan, which largely included public and private improvement activities. This most recent plan suggested the completion of a comprehensive/beautification plan and design to use the river. Staff suggests that the "master plan" should coordinate the 3 significant areas of the CBD including the Main Street downtown corridor, U.S. Highway 10 corridor and Mississippi riverwalk area. The "master plan" should provide a 5-10 year plan for public and private improvements, and also provide design guidelines for staff when evaluating redevelopment proposals (eg. King & Main site). Moreover, there should exist a clear vision for these portions of the central business district and a framework for implementation to include design guidelines/theme, public/private funding strategies, and project schedule. Staff has talked with Larry Tothe and it is suggested that a joint meeting with • the City Council and HRA be held to further discuss and provide direction for central business district planning. The next regularly scheduled HRA meeting is October 23rd.