Agenda 06-15-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-AIL LETTER TO THE EDITOR (UNPUBLISHED) 0 P ID TEN IDEAS TO KEEP ELK RIVER'S DOWNTOWN A FOCAL POINT The announced closing of Johnson's Family Apparel in Elk River, Monticello, and Buffalo likely came as a surprise to many. To others, the closing is yet another chapter in the retailing saga that pits small, locally-owned businesses against general merchandising giants. Johnson's closing will no doubt affect other businesses in Elk River. Perhaps the closing will signal a call to action to the downtown businesses, civic groups, and elected and appointed officials. Should this occur, here are ten good ideas to keep Elk River's downtown an active and growing place. The ideas are intended to serve as a good starting point should a leadership group emerge to further explore these issues. Although no solutions are offered, many of the • suggestions are obtainable if time and scarce resources are committed. 1. Create a Master Plan for the Downtown - Many first and second-ring suburbs throughout the Twin Cities are currently undertaking exercises to create a focal point for their respective residents. The focal point that is hoped for through these exercises will likely be a "town square" concept. What Golden Valley, Eden Prairie, and Maple Grove hope to create is a "downtown". Elk River already has what these • communities are hoping for. It has a main street, complete with a vehicular speed limit and pedestrian flow. Sometimes these are taken for granted and some of these quaint elements are not appreciated until they are lost. The City and downtown property owners should commit to a "master plan" which includes such things as landscaping, parking lots, signage, and the Highway 10 and Burlington Northern corridor. No property owner wants to be pinned down to a plan that suggests that his/her property should be reserved for, say, the next jewelry store or shoe store. Those uses may never emerge. However, an opportunity exists to identify some common threads - such as signage or certain landscape elements. Once put in place, the common themes should reinforce downtown's own identity - that of a "village square". The Elk River Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is expected to retain the planning and landscape architecture firm of Hoisington Koegler Group to assist a volunteer committee in a project downtown. Assuming this project reaches fruition, the contract with Hoisington Koegler should be extended to address other issues downtown - culminating in a master plan. 9. Provide Access to the Riverfront - Last fall, the HRS allocated 1995 III budget funds toward the planning and design of a pathway along the Mississippi River in the downtown. A volunteer committee has been formed and a design firm (see above) has been selected for this exciting