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<br />
<br />TheWardrobe
<br />
<br />Quality Consignment Fashions for Men and Women
<br />Rice Creek Center. 2118 Sliver Lake Road
<br />New Brighton, Minnesota 55112
<br />
<br />October 20, 1982
<br />
<br />To a Members of the Planning Commission, New Brighton City Council
<br />
<br />Rea Granting of a special use permit, to allow the operation of an
<br />electronic-game amusement center in Rice Creek JwBll.
<br />
<br />ladieS/Gentlemen:
<br />
<br />First, thank you for listening 40 18tiently to the merchants of the Rice
<br />Creek center, and the residents near it, as we voiced our concexns about
<br />the establishment of an amusement center in Rice Creek MUl. As you heard,
<br />there are a number of tenants and residents who are against"baving such a
<br />center in that location, because of the adverse ef'fects that we feel it would
<br />produce. Since the question has been continued until the November 16th meeting,
<br />so that information can be gathered, I would like to reiterate our major concerns,
<br />and to add a ~ew that were not 'brought out at last night&s meeting. '
<br />
<br />Our major objection to having an amusement center in the mall is that it
<br />would not be compatible wiih the other businesses, which are either shopping
<br />facili ties or service businesses that cater prinarily to adults: a hairdressing
<br />salon, an optomi trist, a gif't shop, an insurance agency, a facili V for corporate
<br />.sP-l'llinArs and consumer research, two consignment clothing stores, and a pizza
<br />restaurant. None of these except the pizza place is a business which junior and
<br />senior-high-a.ge kids weuld be likely to ~requent, 1mless the;y were on a shopping
<br />trip with 'their parents. Mr. Aaron maintains that his proposed center would,
<br />in reali'tvr, be an asset to the mall, because it would keep -the kids busy, and
<br />keep 'them out of the mall area. However, what he fails to mention is that the;y
<br />would be unlikely to be in 'the area at all, unless drawn there by an amusement
<br />center. Such a center 'Was open at that location in September, at a time when we
<br />were prepu-ing to open our store, and during that time there was a lot of congregating
<br />in the mall and IBrking lot, littering in the mall, and g:raSfi ti-wri ting on the
<br />walls of the oo.throoms. Since that center has been closed, the kids are all
<br />hanging around the hall~ in front of the SoyclEr j s Drugstore (which has several
<br />game tables), and the littering and graffiti on our end of the center has ceased
<br />to be a problem. ,.
<br />
<br />Our second objection - a corolla.:ty, in fact, to the first - is that an
<br />amusement center, no matter how good the intentions of the owners, is a ,nusiance
<br />and a detriment to the area. J.h'. Aaron maintains that since his proposed center
<br />will be properly run, it would not be a problem to the center, or to tile neighborhood.
<br />Unfortunately, achieving a "properly run" center is more ea.siJ..y said than done.
<br />Ris proposal, 8.11 written, contains a number of broad, general statements, most or
<br />which are d.i.f:ficul t to even de:fine, and next to impossible to Enf'oroe. For example:
<br />
<br />1. "No loitering at all" What is loitering, anyway? 11' kids are standing
<br />around, waiting to play a,popula.r ~"t;ge they loitermg, or just
<br />wai ting? D' they are waiting, wha. t is there for them 1;0 do, to keep ihem
<br />out 01' trvuble while they wait?
<br />2. "No verl:e.l misuse will be tolerated.." What is "verbal misuse"? SWearing?
<br />Obscenities? Picking un littler kids? Who decides i.iow much is TOO much,
<br />
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