|
•
<br /> ANOKA
<br /> a[ Grand
<br /> for redoing
<br /> 3tddowntown shape
<br /> n
<br />.e
<br /> Concept aims to create a `destination' with
<br />,_ The general concept for t's,,:
<br /> h Rum River focus, the historical heart of city restoring the river is to
<br /> e
<br /> n
<br /> e BY NANCY NGO ers market drew people to the make land east of the
<br /> L- Pioneer Press river.
<br /> "Anoka's been a destina- waterway available for
<br /> 11 When it comes to redevel- tion for agricultural markets
<br /> o oping downtown, the city of forever," Kirchner said. "I walking trails, parks,
<br /> i- Anoka has decided it's best to remember bringing my
<br /> d go with the flow. cucumbers there to be sort- housing and retail
<br /> Lr The city has a concept plan ed."
<br /> for creating an urban "desti- • South of that district is development.
<br /> nation" that takes better the city's Historic Business
<br /> 6, advantage of the Rum River, District, which includes
<br /> its main waterway. The proj- Anoka's main downtown area
<br /> d ect would include construction of shops, restaurants, the
<br /> of homes, shops, an expanded county courthouse and sher- UP NEXT
<br /> e farmers market and transit iff's department.
<br /> hub along the east bank of the The city has been working The city is waiting for a
<br /> river. to rehabilitate some of the response from the Metro-
<br /> "It's been an emerging aging properties and to bring politan Council on a
<br /> concept to focus more on the them up to meet safety stan- $70,000 grant it applied
<br /> river. It's the historical heart dards. The city has offered a for to develop a land-use
<br /> of the city,"said Bob Kirchner, low-interest loan program for plan for a commuter rail
<br /> �
<br /> ommunity development rehabilitation projects in the hub and the north cen-
<br /> irector. "It's clearly a renais- area. Block grant funds are tral business district. If
<br /> sance of rivers and rails. The also expected to be available approved,the city would
<br /> city's here' and developed in the near future. provide matching funds
<br /> because of both of these •South of the business dis- for the planning.
<br /> things." trict is a small section desig-
<br /> Eventually,Anoka planners nated as the Transitional
<br /> hope people will see the river Revitalization District, which
<br /> as a destination for taking a could be home to higher den- ble, with three to six acres
<br /> walk,going shopping or catch- sity housing,but would not be being added.
<br /> ing a ride on a commuter rail developed for five to 10 years. The Rum River restoration
<br /> train. Currently the land is made up project also includes a histori-
<br /> The general concept for of mostly single-family cal trail along the east bank of
<br /> restoring the river is to make homes. the river. Most of the trail has
<br /> land east of the waterway •The last project,the River been completed,with only two
<br /> available for walking trails, Redevelopment District, small portions remaining,
<br /> parks, housing and retail encompasses several projects. along the townhouse project
<br /> development. South of the Transitional and near the river dam,where
<br /> The city has divided its Revitalization District is a 58- the trail would intersect Har-
<br /> river restoration plan into five unit townhouse development rison Street.
<br /> pieces: called RiversPointe currently
<br /> • The Transit Station under construction. It should Nancy Ngo, who covers north
<br /> Neighborhood, 150 acres be completed by the year's suburban communities, can be
<br /> bounded by Garfield Street, end.Nearby Akin River River- reached at nngo@pioneer
<br /> U.S. 10, the Rum River and side Park is expected to dou- press.com or(651)228-2149.
<br /> Seventh Avenue, should be
<br /> developed if a transit station is
<br /> built.
<br /> Anoka is one of the cities ,:;. ,-.•3
<br /> identified as a stop for a pro- . Anoka rl(efront revitalization Northstar Corridor The city of Anoka has a series of projects planned to revive
<br /> •ommuter rail line running the business di rk*s adjacent to the Rum River.
<br /> om downtown Minneapolis - ,,,,- ,,,' i
<br /> o St.Cloud. -;T'ransitstation NeighbarhoQtl
<br /> A transit station would be �, 47 ' -'` wits probably include"a •• ,
<br /> built in the northeast corner . ''�,"�.._ .. ,commuter rail stationx high'l
<br /> :,,:! dens`rky residential,light affie
<br /> of the Fourth Avenue and the ANOKA and li9ht4industrial uses,,,::,,
<br /> Burlington Northern Santa Fe _,,e
<br /> Railway tracks. COUNTY - • .e,.� ,&
<br /> Other developments on the : - ; , "'`' • .
<br /> land could include high-densi- ' •`°
<br /> ty housing, offices and light 1 ( ,
<br /> industry. St. Proposed
<br /> "There's likely to be a lot Paul 4th Avenue ,1
<br /> more activity than there is • , station ,, erre t
<br /> now,"Kirchner said.
<br /> Currently, the area 10 - r
<br /> includes about 50 acres of 4 Proposed `""
<br /> green space that are owned by Qt commuter
<br /> the city, county or state. The ¢�a '� rail line
<br /> area also includes residential- '
<br /> ly zoned land, which could be �4 ' North Central
<br /> subject to future rehabilitation River Business District
<br /> projects. Walk . Harrison St.
<br /> • The North Central Busi DOWNTOWN
<br /> ness District, roughly six
<br /> square city blocks south of '' Van Buren St, O KA
<br /> U.S. 10 along the river, is slat- •`• tat_. -
<br /> ed for a mixture of shops, ''"� • ' r ,l
<br /> housing and offices.
<br /> The cityhas been acquiring �� " `"'-6=;, i =;. E.Main St.
<br /> q g -zg .ytr.. - •, ,
<br /> properties in the area for the w r>„„'$,t *; - ;w
<br /> past 10 years,and owns all but •”->
<br /> •one lot. Anoka officials hope Transitional Revitalization District ,
<br /> to attract private development `, will probably include a higher density
<br /> P of residential housing five to 10 years
<br /> to the district, which was the from now.
<br /> city's old industrial area, 0-- River Redevelopment
<br /> including a lumberyard. That District will include:
<br /> section of the riverbank also ASa-townhome project and park
<br /> might be home to a farmers - N \ IN
<br /> market larger than the cur-
<br /> rent one. ALEX LEARY,PIONEER PRESS
<br /> Historically, a large farm-
<br /> +
<br />
|