EDA Meeting Date: June 29, 2026
To: Members of the Economic Development Authority
From: Scott Wopata, Community Development Director
Emery John, Program Associate
Title
Establish (Re)Development Committee to provide analysis, review, and recommendations on development and redevelopment projects
Body
Action Requested:
Staff recommends a motion to approve "[name three EDA members"] and the chair to be ["name one EDA member of the three"] to serve on the (Re)Development Committee to provide analysis, review, and recommendations on development and redevelopment projects.
Summary Report:
The EDA is establishing a new workplan in 2026 that identifies progress related to significant development projects as a shared priority. The City owns multiple sites that are prime for development near and around downtown. There have been various efforts over recent years to explore development of some of these sites, particularly 5th & Washington Street as a lead project candidate due to site readiness and alignment with developer interest.
We've also had tremendous success as well with Loon Liquors retention and expansion to the downtown where the City proactively acquired then sold the former Northfield News site and successfully met numerous community goals (retention and expansion of local business, filling a large underutilized building in the downtown, growing tourist/destination business to the downtown, returning full city cost investment, etc.).
The 5th and Washington site, and to a much lesser degree others in early conceptual phase haven't materialized for a host of reasons related to economic market conditions, rising costs of construction materials and labor, developer/owner equity contribution, private debt financing conditions, staff capacity, staff expertise, and/or, investor cash capital among others. Fortunately, the "out of pocket" investments have been relatively minor while exploring these options. Currently, discussions regarding potential develo...
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