City Council Meeting Date: August 3, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Title
Consider a motion of support for staff to amend the 2024 Archer Redevelopment TIF agreement to reflect the proposed and revised 2026 redevelopment project by Manawa, LLC.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to approve a motion of support for staff to amend the Archer Redevelopment TIF agreement to reflect the proposed and revised 2026 redevelopment project by Manawa, LLC.
Summary Report:
The Archer House, a historic hotel and multi-use building at 212 Division St S, was severely damaged by a fire in 2020. The building was demolished in 2021 and redevelopment designs were reviewed and approved throughout 2023 and 2024. The City Council approved a Development Agreement (Resolution 2024-114) and a Redevelopment TIF agreement (Resolution 2024-115) in November of 2024. However, in November 2025, the developer announced that the redevelopment plans were not financially viable at that time.
In April 2026, the developer brought a revised project forward. The project received a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the Heritage Preservation Commission in June 2026. Concurrently, the project also received approval from the Planning Commission related to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for onsite parking in the downtown and a building height variance. City Council approved the CUP on consent agenda in July 2026. Site plans have been submitted, reviewed, and approved by City staff.
Renderings of the revised project are included in the packet. The project is predominantly a boutique hotel with 57 hotel units and includes 19 stalls of enclosed parking accessed from the rear (riverside) of the building. It features 3 commercial spaces on the ground floor facing Division Street, including two restaurants and one event space. Public bathrooms will be available on the main/Division Street level and...
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