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4,/ <br /> tik <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> ""*" <br /> TO: Housing and Redevelopment Authority <br /> River <br /> 13065 Orono Parkway FROM: Heritage Preservation Commission <br /> Elk River,MN 55330 <br /> DATE: July 16,2001 <br /> SUBJECT: Kraus Anderson Redevelopment Proposal <br /> for Downtown Area <br /> The Heritage Preservation Commission(HPC) wishes to stress in the strongest possible <br /> terms the importance of understanding the significance of the various buildings in the <br /> Downtown area prior to accepting a redevelopment proposal. Possibly more than any <br /> other part of Elk River,the Downtown area symbolizes the character of the community. <br /> For a large segment of our population,the familiar visual feature of these groupings of <br /> buildings is a direct tie to our past that instills a sense of community. <br /> The HPC is not necessarily opposed to selective redevelopment, but the true significance <br /> of structures Downtown, either individually or as a district, can not be fully ascertained <br /> without all of the necessary information. To that end, a context study with a focused <br /> survey on the Downtown area should be conducted before any redevelopment proposal is <br /> III <br /> seriously considered. <br /> Unfortunately, grant money for a study will not be available until June of 2002. This <br /> leaves the city with only two acceptable options: wait for a grant to do the context study <br /> (consequently wait to consider any redevelopment proposals) or conduct a context study <br /> without grant money. Because of the irreversible nature of redevelopment,the HPC is <br /> opposed to considering the merits of any request of the magnitude and potential impacts <br /> of the Kraus Anderson concept without the benefit of a study. <br /> The HPC stands ready to do its job and is currently looking for alternative sources of <br /> funding to initiate this context study. The prudent course is to gather all pertinent <br /> information prior to making major decisions. The HPC looks forward to working with <br /> the HRA to revitalize the Downtown area and preserve the non-renewable cultural <br /> heritage of Elk River. <br /> • <br /> Phone:763.441.7420 <br /> Fax:763.441.7425 <br /> wwwci.elk-rivecmn.us <br />