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1 I 1 Council Meeting Minutes July 10, 1990 Page 3 Council Business, continued Kevi n Locke, Communi ty Development Oi rector, noted the Economi c Deve 1 opment Commi ss ion (EDC) recommends that Counc i 1 adopt the Laukka Development Team's proposed plan with some modifications. Mr. Laukka briefly outlined New Brighton's demographics, housing and commercial/retail market. The study area involved: Site A - the area across from City Hall which includes neighborhood businesses; Site B - City Hall, Joe's Service, Veteran's Park, and an open parcel; and Site C - vacant and controlled by bankruptcy committee. The Team feels the downtown area should serve as the place for the community center. A community center woul d become a hub of acti vity for all age groups and induce people to live and visit downtown. Focus was on Site A as a hous; ng commun ity because of its size, configuration, and location. The housing community entails 250-300 moderately priced, attached, "for salell units. The community center's close proximity on Site B would serve as an amenity to these residents. One consideration should be the use of existing tax increment surpluses to acquire the existing property on Site A. The Team recommends locating the community center on Site B, and proposed the fa 11 owi ng parki ng arrangements: reconfi guri ng Veterans Park to provide for parking; structured parking in conjunction with City Hall; or on-grade parking in Site C. The Team feels locating the community center on Site C is a possibility, but the City would lose the potential for future commercial development along the freeway. The Team feels the City's best interest is to hold on to Site C until an opportunity, such as an extended stay hotel, light commercial or single tenant offices, becomes available. Jarvis verified that the property north of I-694 was not included in the study area and was not analyzed. He noted the area suffers from access problems and involves industrial uses which do not relate to the study areas. Williams and Benke feel an extended stay hotel may be a viable option in the area north of Site C. Benke noted that Site B is inadequate to house the type of community center the Task Force has envisioned. He feels the most viable 1 ocati on for the community center is on Site C, and recommended investigation of Site CiS building capabilities. Benke suggested possible Site B uses may involve a 5,000 square foot commercial/retail area with some housing. Laukka feels the City should concentrate its housing option in one area, and feels mixing commercial/retail and housing on Site B would not be feasible. Counci 1 Business Redevelopment Plan for the Downtown Area Report 90-149