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INFORMI~TION
<br />ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS WWW.TWINCITIES.COM
<br />.--
<br />HASTINGS
<br />+River~ront ro '
<br />ert is to is of debat
<br />p p y p e
<br />Is housing best use Hastings hopes to develop riverfront "There isn't anything in
<br />of high-profile site? The Hastings City Council will vote next week on whether to approve downtown Hastings that is eom-
<br />the first phase of atwo-building condominium development along parable to this," Abdo said "In
<br />Second Street. The project would encompass "Block 2" of three front of this building is going to
<br />BY FREDERICK MELO riverfront blocks that have piqued the interest of developers. be a levee park, where the city lS
<br />Pioneer Press in the process of developing
<br />a~fississrppt ~ plans to have an esplanade. So
<br />To developers, the land along ^ Lower level parking the residents in our project will
<br />the Mississippi River in down- ^ Four floors residential have ,
<br />Park great views of the river and
<br />town Hastings waits like an ^ Two floors ^ 2nd level roof garden mess to all the amenities that
<br />untapped cash cow To residents, residential ~' the city provides."
<br />the land represents an opportu- ^ Main floor retail ~ st St. I The second phase of the
<br />pity to infuse more commercial ~ development would be a three-
<br />bustle into the sleepy waterfront, Future site ~ r , ~T ; Future story building on the south side
<br />which has changed little the past development ~ , ' '"~~ i • ~ ' residential of the block. The building would
<br />100 years. ~ Garaen ~. Y .development include 26 to 30, condo units on
<br />"The river is a huge resource ~ . ~ ~'
<br />charade tn': ~. the second and third floors, with
<br />for the city," said Dan Greil, - . •-- the first floor dedicated to office
<br />chairman of the city's planning
<br />' ~ future - I and retail space. The site is the
<br />commission. "Combined with home of the former Eddy Phar-
<br />the historic nature of downtown, Existing ~ F ~ ~ ~ V: ~ dP ~eln uent macy, a graphic des' business,
<br />(that) makes rt a challenge to ~-J -~~ ~rT' ~
<br />the Spiral Foods co-op and a
<br />find the right development that zed st. vacant storefront.
<br />can leverage the historic chaaac- 's r - No timetable has been set for
<br />ter, but still make good use of the ~ constructi n
<br />q ~_ ~ o of the second butld-
<br />river. ~,~~ ~~~ , 6, `, ing, but Abdo has opened a
<br />Disagreements among city o, ,cr ~ uAicora " ~ model showroom at 311 Second
<br />officials over how to draw visi- 4 c o u rt T r
<br />r ` ~' Cp. St. and on the Web at
<br />tors and foot traffic haven't ° - ~' - - Hastings wwwThreeRiversPlace.com,
<br />stopped private developers from and he is already accepting
<br />pushing their own ideas. The down a
<br />Detail p yments on units.
<br />City Council is scheduled to vote ~ Abdo said he has bou
<br />Monda on the first hase of HAS 7 ~ N G 5 above ~ ~t
<br />y P .2nd st. more than half the block over
<br />Three Rivers Place - a proposal
<br />~, ~ t,~ nntte the past two years, though a
<br />to redevelop a downtown river- ~ ~ 3rd st. '-~"'"'~ large vacant lot on the north
<br />front block into two condomini- ~ o ~ side is owned by the city's Hous-
<br />um complexes, with a smattering ~ ~ 4~, ~t• Lake ~sabene ing and Redevelopment Authori-
<br />o~ retail ~' ty, and the graphic des' store
<br />The project is one of a hand- source: Three Rivers riace PiorveER Press remains in the hands o~ Hast-
<br />- ful of plans in recent years that ings couple who appear open to
<br />.would alter the commercial cen- City Council faces public pres- vote for it? If the neighborhood relocating.
<br />•t~r of one of the state's oldest sure for new businesses -such property owners are for it, then Meanwhile, developers are
<br />,, sties. as a hotel, museum or farmers' sure," said City Council Member also eyeing adjacent blocks. Just
<br />The development proposed market - to enliven the area. Anthony Alongi, whose ward east of the site, Sherman and
<br />by architects Tanek and Associ- Meanwhile, the city's Heart of snakes along the Mississippi. "It Associates hopes to build hous-
<br />-; ates, Minneapolis real estate Hastings master plan views the is something I campaigned on, ing, a large restaurant and ban-
<br />; :attorney Robert Abdo and Nast- downtown core as primarily a improving downtown." quet hall along land currently
<br />ixa<gs real estate appraiser Al retailing district; and zoning The first phase of Three owned by the city. Hastings real
<br />.,: Most would consist of about 76 codes -which would have to be Rivers Place would be a 49-unit, estate executive Rick Ahern had
<br />-.upscale lofts and condominiums amended for the proposal - four-floor residential building on tried previously to persuade city
<br />on `Block 2," the acre-size area require development along Sec- the block's largely vacant north leaders to allow him to build a
<br />north of Second Street and and Street to be commercial on side, bordering the river, with 83 water park and 100-room Holi-
<br />;bounded by Ramsey Street, the first floor. underground parking spots and day Inn on the land, but the plan
<br />..Tyler Street and the river. But officials are also reluc- 11 outside. The site is currently fell apart because of financial
<br />Along with concerns about tant to let amultimillion-dollar home to a house, a barn and concerns.
<br />parking and the project's height, investment in downtown rede- vacant brewery building. If the
<br />some city officials have ques- velopment pass by. City Council grants approval Frederick Melo can be reached at
<br />boned the wisdom of dedicating "There are a couple of things next week, Abdo hopes to begin finelo@pioneerpress.com or
<br />most of the block to housing. The I don't like about it, but will I still construction by June. s51-22s-2172.
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