City Council Meeting Date: April 9, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Jake Reilly, Community Development Director
Title
Update and Discussion of Downtown Redevelopment Projects.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council will receive an update on ongoing downtown redevelopment projects.
Summary Report:
Staff will provide a brief update to the City Council on the ongoing downtown redevelopment projects listed below.
Northfield News Building:
Loon Liquors approached staff regarding the potential sale of the Northfield News Building. The City Council deliberated on potential sales terms and conditions at a prior closed meeting. See attached Press Release dated 4/5/2024 related to this issue. More information will be presented next week at the worksession.
5th and Water:
Staff are looking for feedback from Council related to the 5th and Water Street potential projects listed below and to consider delegating tasks to the Economic Development Authority board to allow more thorough time on advisory review and focus on economic vitality efforts of the downtown. We will discuss more of how that may be beneficial while also retaining ability for check-ins with council and approvals on any actions.
Post Office
City staff engaged a qualified historic building reuse consulting firm, New History, to research pathways to possible acquisition of the National Register of Historic Places-designated Post Office on Bridge Square. The result of that work consists of a Road Map (Attachment 1), Executive Summary (Attachment 2), and supporting presentation material (Attachment 3).
Based on the provided information, staff seeks guidance from Council regarding what, if any, next steps should be taken in exploration of the acquisition of the Post Office. More details will be presented at the meeting as background for discussion.
Ameriprise building:
Members of the public have expressed interest regarding temporary lease of the 411 Water Street Building (formerly known as the Ameriprise building). The first-floor commercial space is useable. However, minor repairs, notably minor asbestos abatement and patching of holes due to environmental testing, are needed in order to use the first-floor commercial space. Cost for abatement would be roughly $600.00 plus approximately one week of two facilities staff time to patch the holes and prepare the space for use.
The apartments above the commercial space are not inhabitable and would not be a component of any temporary use.
More details of potential use and considerations related to redevelopment planning will be discussed at the meeting.
5th and Washington:
Staff will provide an update to the Council on the 5th and Washington redevelopment plans. Staff has a planned work session with architects and consultants to determine next steps.
Staff is looking for feedback from Council related to a renewed approach to the 5th and Washington site. More details will be coming to facilitate discussion at the meeting.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
Financial impacts will be discussed as the projects proceed.
Tentative Timelines:
Timelines will be discussed as the projects proceed.