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Steering Committee Minutes <br />June 15, 1995 <br />Page 4 <br />- Red Wing has been successful using a theme and preserving historic buildings. <br />- some grants and revolving loan fund helped to finance revitalization of <br />downtown. <br />Keith Holme <br />- with taxes and businesses costs, the profit margins are becoming smaller <br />- many businesses in areas such as Red Wing and Excelsior last a year or two <br />and then move out <br />- cost prohibitive to renovate; expensive to put in elevators and sprinkler systems <br />Pat Dwyer <br />- no longer tax benefits for historic districts <br />Arne Engstrom <br />- old courthouse built better than buildings today <br />-was demolished because it was to costly to renovate; requirements for <br />sprinklers, elevators, windows, insulation too restrictive <br />Robin Tuttle <br />- Compared Elk River to Stillwater where they have taken advantage of their <br />riverfront with walkways, specialty shops, restaurants, etc. <br />- Enhancing the downtown would bring people to the downtown <br />Marly Glines <br />- signage restrictions hinder the downtown businesses in drawing people off the <br />highway <br />Chris Kreger <br />- possibly an "architectural style" could be incorporated in downtown theme <br />-not in favor of giving up safety to safety to the public to save old buildings <br />-supports residential use in upper levels of businesses <br />Barb Maricle <br />-questioned if rents are too high in downtown; why are businesses leaving? <br />Bud Houlton <br />- downtown rent is less than other areas which are $5.00 - $5.50 per square foot <br />plus taxes <br />- rent is immaterial if retailers can get the draw of people through the door <br />Jeff Gonaoll <br />- Discussed softening restrictions in the downtown such as parking, signage, etc. <br />at EDA workshop. EDA is considering options to offer direct financial <br />assistance for changes in downtown. <br />Chris Kreger <br />- Possible language changes to ordinance to allow more signage and reduce <br />parking requirements. <br />Bud Houlton <br />- Rules too strict for remodeling; more common sense issues <br />