|
. .
<br /> . .
<br /> II :,
<br /> X-rated shops moving to suburbs - •:.
<br /> .;,...,
<br /> Businesses find cheaper rent, fewer restrictions; some town officials worry ---
<br /> BY MARY DIVINE nesses move from urban to subur- "It's not surprising that suburbs
<br /> Pioneer Press ban areas to reach their client base would be getting more interest,
<br /> and take advantage of cheaper rents. particularly in locations where the WWW.T W I N C I T I E S.COM ■ ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS
<br /> Intimate Treasures may sound "As land values have risen population is growing and where
<br /> like an antique store, but the new downtown, porn shops have basi- there is affordable,low-cost space,"
<br /> shop in downtown Forest Lake cally been pushed out and have she said.
<br /> hawks the racy and raunchy—not had to find secondary locations," The shopkeepers are also going
<br /> the quaint and charming. said Michael Beyard, a senior fel- "where the market is," said Bill and Radio drives.The ordinance community has to decide."
<br /> The adult-entertainment store low at the Urban Land Institute, a Lyon, executive director of the was adopted in 1993 after city City Council Member Terry
<br /> —the first of its kind in Washing- Washington,D.C.-based real estate Chatsworth, Calif.based Free *
<br /> officials noticed that the opening Smith worries that the business
<br /> ton County—has been the talk of education and research organiza- Speech Coalition, the adult enter of such businesses was becom- will attract crime and become a
<br /> the town since it opened earlier tion. "Suburban strip malls, tainment industry's trade associa- ing an issue around the metro public-safety issue.He points to ,
<br /> this year in an area city officials because of their low rent, have tion. "From a marketing stand- area,said Dwight Picha,comma- . the adult bookstores that used .,
<br /> are slating for redevelopment.The become favored locations." point, they see that their audience pity development director. to be on University Avenue in
<br /> store's co-owner, Melissa Meyer, Barbara Lukermann,a land use is out there (in the suburbs). Peo- Roseville,on the other hand, St. Paul and became "a haven
<br /> said she chose the location for a planning expert and senior fellow ple who buy these products are does not yet have an adult-use for prostitution." "We like to
<br /> simple reason: "There's nothing at the University of Minnesota's generally folks that are primarilyordinance, said Dennis Welsch, think of our community as a
<br /> else like it close." Humphrey Institute,said adult ori better off financially. It certainly is community development direc- family-oriented community,"
<br /> Forest Lake finds itself in a ented businesses seek out cities discretionary income." tor."The city is revising its total said. "This kind of business .
<br /> predicament that other suburbs that don't have restrictive ordi- code, and it would not surprise really doesn't fit the profile."
<br /> could face as adult-oriented busi- nances. X-RATED SHOPS,4A me if that is included in that Having the.shop on the city's 1.
<br /> effort,"he said."(But)there's no main street "doesn't say much f`
<br /> overt effort at this time." for downtown Forest Lake,"
<br /> says Penny Balfany, owner of ,,...,
<br /> • COMMUNITY REACTS Frankincense and Myrrh, n
<br /> 'e.
<br /> upscale gift shop just south of
<br /> 4A C MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2002 N E W Sorest Lake immediately Intimate Treasures."It's not the
<br /> r established a yearlong mora- kind of store that fits in this ii,
<br /> • FROM PAGE 1 A torium on sex-oriented busi- area.This is a quaint area.It's a 2;„_,
<br /> nesses after Meyer, who previ- family area,"Balfany said. •:
<br /> ously worked at Sex World in Once the proposed new
<br /> Minneapolis, opened Intimate downtown redevelopment plan :'i4=_
<br /> X-rated shops store. The owners,Dwayne and want to take a look at them
<br /> Jackie Fladland, declined to before those businesses come Treasures. Meyer, 25, grins is in place, there will be more
<br /> + comment on their new tenant knockingat their door," Bach when she says she won't face restaurants and retail shops, =
<br /> • any competition for at least a and the area will be "more like ,
<br /> (continued) council has since instituted a said. year. "And any new ordinance Stillwater,"she said."This does-
<br /> : yearlong moratorium on similar X-RATED IN SUBURBS Daninger said other suburbs wouldn't affect me. We're , n't fit in." - . .
<br /> ` Suburban communities such businesses as it studies new should learn from Forest Lake• grandfathered in,"she adds. But Meyer says her shop fits :,
<br /> • as Woodbury,Eagan,Apple Val- zoning rules for adult-entertain- Communities like Forest Lake and consider establishing an - Based on the number of peo- in just fine."Not everything can _ `
<br /> •• ley, Burnsville and Stillwater ment establishments. V"that are a little more free- adult-entertainment ordinance ple who have stopped in to buy be family oriented. Adults need _,!
<br /> have had sex-business ordi- "It's been extremely upset- standing or on the edge of the sooner rather than later. "I'm blow-up dolls, magazines, mas- to have fun, too. The area isn't .
<br /> I nances for years. Roseville is ting," said Forest Lake Mayor metro area are attractive loca- sure it's a concern for most corn- sage oils and lotions, lingerie, that family oriented anyway. '''` ,14
<br /> • one of the few large local cities Ray Daninger."It was a big-time lions (for adult-oriented busi- munities.And I would say if it is pipes and gag gifts, Meyer says We're in between three bars." ".-.
<br /> without an ordinance; restric- surprise. We're a family-orient- nesses)because they don't have a concern, they should act on she and her business partner "We're a little shocked to see _ '';'•
<br /> tions could be put in place as ed community.We like to think regulations in place,but there is it,"he said. are filling a demand in the area it in a town like this," said Joe ;p{
<br /> city officials revise codes. we've got a small-town ambi- a client base," said Jeannette Eagan's adult-entertainment
<br /> g (She co-owns the store with a Ersfeld,owner of Ersfeld Meats, ,,
<br /> ence. We do not pursue this Bach, research manager of the ordinance was established after businessman who operates sim- the butcher shop just a few -qtr.
<br /> CITY CAUGHT UNAWARE type of business." League of Minnesota Cities. city officials began getting hints liar stores in Wisconsin; she doors down from Intimate Trea- `'t
<br /> The city's Economic Develop- The League fielded a number of"somethingin the air" about "All ..,}:`
<br /> declined to identify him,and his sures. of a sudden, it just :;_A..,
<br /> In Forest Lake, Intimate Trea- ment Authority is pursuing an of calls about adult-entertain- a possible adult-oriented busi- name is not yet listed on busi- popped up.I was surprised that --
<br /> sures opened two months ago aggressive redevelopment plan ment ordinances last fall after ness opening in the suburb,said ness records filed with the the city allowed it." ',
<br /> in the old Forest Lake Theater for downtown Forest Lake. two college-age men opened a Mike Ridley,senior planner.The state.) But, he says, he's not upset ,
<br /> building on Lake Street, the Plans for the area near Intimate strip club almost overnight in city's ordinance permits adult- Debby Feist, executive direc- by it. t '=ti;
<br /> city's main drag, much to the Treasures include a restaurant Nicollet,Minn.While cities can- oriented businesses only in cer- tor of the Forest Lake Chamber "I've heard a lot of people
<br /> consternation of city and busi- complex and banquet center. not decide to keep those types tain commercial districts and of Commerce, said the opening laugh about it," he says. "I per
<br /> • ness officials who are working Under the proposal,the building of businesses out of their tom forbids them from operating has upset many people in the sonally don't care. Everybody .--
<br /> on a downtown redevelopment that houses Intimate Treasures munities, they can restrict within a certain distance of a community."Can we deny them has a right to make a living." •..:
<br /> plan. would be razed to make room where such businesses locate, church or school. the right to exist?No,"she said.
<br /> The Forest Lake City Council for a new parking lot. Bach said. Woodbury limits adullt-enter- "Does the community believe Mary Divine covers Washington -
<br /> - had been considering an adult- The building, which is for "They have some options in tainment businesses to a one- that the best location for them is County.She can be reached at ,.
<br /> oriented business ordinance sale, previously housed a base- how they regulate those kind of mile commercial strip along right-smack in the middle of mdivine@pioneerpress.com or
<br /> when the new shop opened.The ball card shop and antique businesses, and they might Interstate 94 between Woodbury - downtown? That's what the (651)228-5443.
<br />
|