8.1. HRSR 06-24-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item 8 . 1 . • EIkk -�-� River MEMORANDUM TO: Housing & Redevelopment Authority FROM: Heidi Hall, Economic Development Assistant 0 DATE: June 24, 2002 SUBJECT: Consider Acceptance of Historic Contexts Study Requested Action At the May 28,2002 HRA meeting, Carole Zellie of Landscape Research presented the HRA and City Council with the completed Historic Contexts Study of downtown Elk River. Staff recommends that the HRA consider acceptance of the Historic Contexts Study. Final copies . will be provided to the HRA at its July 22°d meeting. Follow Up Activities to the Historic Contexts Study Ms. Zellie made the following recommendations based on the results of the study: • Consider restoration and adaptive re-use of significant structures • Sustain the traditional character of downtown Elk River which includes pedestrian— oriented size and scale of Main&Jackson street buildings,the integrity of the original street grid and its relationship to the Mississippi River,and the arrangement of buildings around Jackson Square The planning department is in the process of drafting design guidelines for new construction in the Central Business District (CBD). The design guidelines will be of traditional character complimentary to significant structures in downtown Elk River. The EDA offers a redevelopment financing program available to businesses and property owners in the CBD. Financing up to $50,000 at a two points below prime interest rate is available for the rehabilitation and restoration of buildings. Staff recommends that businesses and property owners within the "Brick Block" (Jackson Ave. from Main St. to Hwy 10) be encouraged to consider restoration of buildings. To the extent that a developer proposes to redevelop a building of questionable significance, • the developer will be asked to provide an alternative proposal indicating the feasibility of incorporating the building into the development.