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<br /> <br />Downtown Redevelopment Plan Taskforce <br />February 5, 2007 meeting <br />Small Group Question: “What are some of the policy issues that stand out after the <br />first four taskforce meetings?” <br /> <br />Group1 <br />1) Redevelopment planning is more difficult than anticipated. <br />2) There is a need for higher density housing than was originally anticipated (scale <br />as well). <br />3) Long-range redevelopment opportunities for the funeral home and nursing home <br />should be explored. <br />4) MetroPlains’new 20,000 SF of retail will take time to absorb so the City shouldn’t <br />look to more right now (access issues/profitability). <br />5) A“wow” factor/amenities are needed to attract families/early baby boomers to <br />shop downtown. <br />6) There is a need to spread the value of the river view heading west along Main St. <br />(capture and share the value). <br />7) Single-family rehab is necessary to strengthen redevelopment and infill has to <br />have concurrent flow with existing neighborhoods. <br />8) The best land use from a market standpoint for north of Hwy 10 should include <br />uses with greater employment opportunities. <br />9) Can the City get a rail station downtown to support higher density housing north <br />of Hwy 10 and more retail? <br /> <br />Group 2 <br />1) Outside experts have expressed two different opinions on the necessity and <br />accessibility of parking (park less vs. park more). <br />2) Hwy 10 and the railroad are natural barriers and perhaps the north and south sides <br />of downtown should be redeveloped separately. <br />3) The river is much more crucial to the success of downtown than originally <br />anticipated. <br />4) There is a need to recognize that it is difficult to fill retail space and some <br />turnover is expected. <br />5) There is a larger market for senior housing than originally anticipated. <br />6) Some members didn’t understand why the redevelopment focus area was so large <br />but now they understand why and that one reason is to rehab the single family <br />neighborhoods that support the downtown. <br />7) Hwy 10 will always be a barrier regardless of what MnDOT does with it. <br /> <br />Group 3 <br />1) Specialty uses for downtown like medical (not just “mom and pop” shops) should <br />be explored. <br />2) It was interesting to learn about lease terms for retail and how difficult it is to <br />break even financially on those projects. It would be interesting to figure out the <br />“normal” amount of retail turnover. <br /> <br /> <br />