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<br />14/ Star News / Wednesday, October 13, 2004 . Visit us on the web at www.erstarnews.com
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<br />Downtown: Tax-increment financing hearing SChe~Uled for Nov. 1
<br />
<br />Following that the city and The city has been talking going to happen?' I can't give would be on the site of what
<br />MetroPlains are expected to about a redevelopment proj- an answer to that. Wllat I is currently the Jackson
<br />sign a final development ect in downtown Elk River can say is that the city and block parking lot.
<br />agreement. for more than 20 years, and MetroPlains' commitment The building constructed
<br />"We anticipate the HRA has been working exclusive- has renlained the same." there would include ground-
<br />and council will see a draft ly with MetroPlains The current project would floor commercial space with
<br />agreement sometime in Development for the past begin with the bluff block, rental housing units
<br />November," Mehelich said. two. and area that encompasses upstairs.
<br />"Our goal is to have it "Redevelopment projects what is currently Nadeau's Customer parking spaces
<br />entered into and approved are long and complex," Clothing Care, US. Bank that would be lost in the
<br />by the city by the end of the Mehelich said. "The million and the next adjacent build- Jackson lot would be
<br />year." dollar question is, 'Is this ing that recently was the replaced with additional
<br />site of The Jungle hair salon. units behind Kemper Drug.
<br />That project would include That lot would be expanded
<br />commercial property on the and include space created by
<br />ground level and for-sale the removal of the old
<br />housing units up above. municipal utilities building.
<br />The project's second phase
<br />
<br />Rail: Two divided on funding
<br />
<br />priation for N orthstar. The
<br />funding is part of Gov. Tim
<br />Pawlenty's initiative to cap-
<br />ture federal dollars to keep
<br />the project moving forward.
<br />The Metropolitan Council
<br />and Anoka and Hennepin
<br />county boards have also
<br />approved funds for the
<br />Northstar commuter rail
<br />project.
<br />Nelson said he voted
<br />against the $1.8 million fund-
<br />ing in part because there is
<br />no commitment from the
<br />Minnesota Legislature to
<br />fund the building of the
<br />Northstar commuter rail
<br />project. Also, there is not yet
<br />a commitment from
<br />Burlington Northern Santa
<br />Fe to use its rail system, he
<br />said.
<br />Nelson also has concerns
<br />about Sherburne, Anoka and
<br />Hennepin counties being
<br />asked to help pay for the
<br />project.
<br />"I don't believe that we
<br />should be funding our share
<br />with Sherburne County prop-
<br />erty tax dollars," he said.
<br />"That's why I voted against
<br />it. I think it should be a fed-
<br />eral and state project."
<br />Under the plan, capital
<br />costs for the' project would be
<br />funded 50 percent federal 33
<br />~, percent state and 17 perdent
<br />." ""local.
<br />,'~'i~:d':Wl1.ile' not philosophically
<br />~~~~'.opposed to the idea of com-
<br />~c,.~"Yft...-w;.... ..",il 1'\i"...I'n~_ ~I~~ ...~...
<br />
<br />would be.
<br />"I wish we could have the
<br />train," he said. "But ... I'm
<br />afraid it will be like the
<br />Hiawatha (light rail)." That's
<br />working, Nelson said, but it
<br />came in significantly over
<br />budget.
<br />Northstar commuter rail
<br />would use existing rail lines
<br />to transport passengers
<br />between Big Lake and
<br />Minneapolis. Riebel said it's
<br />only a matter of time before
<br />the service would be extend-
<br />ed through Becker and
<br />Becker Township to St.
<br />Cloud. .
<br />Riebel said he would have
<br />voted for the Northstar
<br />funds, because the county
<br />already has invested money
<br />and energy for the project.
<br />Commuter rail is a safe and
<br />fast method to move people,
<br />and it would take cars off
<br />Highway 10, which is one of
<br />the fastest-growing corridors
<br />in the country, Riebel said.
<br />The system would result in
<br />fewer accidents and less pol-
<br />lution, he said.
<br />Riebel said commuter rail is
<br />also one way older people
<br />who may have difficulty driv-
<br />ing could travel safelv.
<br />With no plan in sight to
<br />widen Highway 10, Riebel
<br />said caillm.uter rail offers an
<br />economical and quick way to
<br />ease traffic congestion.
<br />"It makes sense," he said.
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