5.1. SR 02-05-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Creative Solutions for Land Planning and Design Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. 1 February 1996 Mr. Steve Ach City of Elk River Orono Parkway 13065 P.O. Box 490 Elk River, Minnesota 55330 RE: Downtown Elk River Dear Steve, The attached information is an assortment of work we have been involved with over the past few years that deals with creating or maintaining vitality in downtowns. Solutions for Downtown Elk River will not be found in this information, but it provides an overview of how we have helped other communities in their downtown planning efforts. Only portions of some of the work is included, and I would be happy to review any of the work in detail if you would like. In these projects, we have found that downtown planning is a team process -- that the answers are not found in a good streetscape design, in market research or through a feasibility study. Solutions lie at the intersection of these areas and the connections to other critical community concerns. It also includes a great deal of consideration by the community itself. These factors underlie all of the material that I am sending to you. We have found that every community is different, and these differences lead to a downtown's vitality. What the projects have in common is a foundation in the idea of community, which stems from the process of local participation. We would encourage, in planning for Downtown Elk River, some level of community participation (at a minimum, local businesses, chamber, HRA, City Council and selected citizens). This results in a healthier process, and one the can move beyond a public heating process to real input and problem solving. In the end, the process should help us to answer two basic questions: What should Downtown Elk River be? What can it be? 7300 Metro Boulevard, Suite 525, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439 (612) 835-9960 Fax (612) 835-3160