HRSR INFORMATION #2 05-02-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~~ '~~ ROSEMOUNT INFORMATION City chooses .downtown developer. r..~ 0 p3 d eo m x~ c .°~' '~ ~ m 'd ~ aS ~' • ~ ed vi ~ O a ~ 'Cf ~ ~. ~,.~ ~ ~ yy a GAF ~ ~ ~ ~F ~~ d-~ ~~oc~ c~~~ d'~~co°~~w $b a. ~~ °r~ ar3 wo I on•o ~c ~ a ~ ~ y c .~, U' ~~w~A ~~~~a _J~ 0~~3 a~i ~~~ ~ ~~~p~ ~~~~~ ~. y ~: 6j p 0.7'F ~ ~ ~ ~ ^-~ ~ nn ~o' 0 ~, ra ~ ~ •~, ° ~ , - °' a~ w ' ~: y ~ .~~ ` ~~ ~~, c c= ~ to~°~ ~ ~ .~ - .~ ~ ~ a.~ ~ -- a~ ~,c aqi.~~~ ,,,d;~ ~~,~~ ~~~ $+ ~ a ~ ~ a{{~~~ ~~~~~ d' ed .~ Trust key in hiring Roseville-based firm BY NANCY NGO Pioneer Press The Rosemount Port Authority stayed with some- thing familiar on Tuesday night when it chose Contractor Property Developer Compagy, or CPDC, over two other final- ists to head the city's massive 52-acre downtown redevelop- ment The decision wasn't easy, and the Port Authority had to vote twice to come up with a majority. 2 think we had a good group to choose from," said Mike Baxter, Port Authority chairman. "It was about the strengths that were most important to the city." Familiarity and comfort influenced the deasion among the three finalists - CPDC, Hansen Properties and Her- itage. While Hansen Properties could offer a large team with plenty of resources and Her- itage promised a close working relationship with the aty in building its vision of down- town, the Port Authority went with Roseville-based CPDC. Although the company worked mainly with new development and had no expe- rience in redevelopment, Port Authority members felt trust was key. Members said they were pleased with the develop- er's track record on past proj- ects in the city. "I see the quality there," said Bill Droste, Rosemount mayor and Port Authority member. `Tm feeling my most comfortable with CPDC." "My concern is their ability to do a redevelopment," said Port Authority member Jay Tentinger. `But we need to put their feet to the fire, and we're going to make them perform" ' The city's downtown rede- velopment project involves transforming the retail and scattered single-family homes into mixed commercal and con- dominiums and town houses. CPDC's other projects in the aty include Evermoore, a 1;145-unit town-home develop- ment, senior housing and sin- gle-family home development north of Connemara Trail and west of Minnesota 3. The com- pany also is working on the Harmony development on the former Brockway Glass site that includes 630 villas, fawn homes, senior condominiums and apartments. ' President Homer Tompkins said that while redevelopment was not his firm's forte, they were willing to work hard and be creative to make:the project a success. Tfie companyy is also partnering with Central Com- munity Housing Trust in Min- neapolis, which has experience with downtown .redevelop- . went and affordablehousing: ; While CPDC's track record may have helped them 'land the project, Heritage's develop- went history with the city might have put them out of the IR Portg Authority Member Mary Riley was unhappy with the company's handling of the Chili Court town-house devel- opment She questioned Her- itage's ability to follow through after the compa~ turned over. the town-house project to a builder instead of finishing it. In addition to construction delays at the site, the city has been working to resolve prob- lems with landscaping, erosion and debris, according to Rose- mount communications coor- dinator Alan Cox. Last week, the aty ordered a temporary stop to construction -until a building permit is paid. `In the real-estate field, Heritage does have a good name. However, it puts up a red flag to me that Heritage forfeited a simple town-house development," she said. However, Port Authority members Mark DeBettignies and Bruce DiNella preferred Heritage over the other devel- opers, emphasizing the compa- ny had a strong commercial background and a good overall vision for the project. Jay Tentinger was the lone member to favor Hansen Prop- erties, which had a large team of partners behind the project. CPDC is currently working out a development with the city. and is expected to meet with downtown business own- ers next month. Nancy Ngo can be reached at nngo@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5172.