City will ask for $15M for Blazing Star, $1.35M for stables area

The Albert Lea City Council expressed unanimous support Monday night for securing state bonding for the Blazing Star Landing and Stables Area sewer and water infrastructure.

“This is an opportunity for us,” Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. said.

A few residents spoke during the public forum before the vote. Concern was expressed over the city’s priorities, with one resident saying the council needed to focus more on job creation.

The city is requesting $3.5 million for moving Front Street north to make way for lakefront development and preliminary preparation work north of the railroad, included in the first phase of the project. Other funding is expected to come from new taxes created and captured from private lakeshore development and land sales. No local tax increases are proposed for the relocation of Front Street.

The city is requesting $11.5 million for the second phase of the project that includes the construction of an approximately 115,000-square-foot community center plus additional work north of the railroad.

The two phases are expected to cost approximately $44.6 million, City Manager Chad Adams said Monday night. The first phase is expected to cost approximately $10.1 million, the second phase is projected to cost $34.5 million.

“The Blazing Star Landing project is a real asset to attract retirees to the community,” said Annette Petersen, executive director at Senior Resources.

Senior Resources is one entity in a partnership with the city for planning and development of the property. Others are the Albert Lea Family Y and Albert Lea Area Schools.

The Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee will hear presentations from the city Thursday.

Relocation of a portion of the Blazing Star Trail is planned as part of phase one, but the city is planning for the trail to remain as a connection from Frank Hall Park to Myre-Big Island State Park.

The project will not begin until private development is secured for the site, Adams said.

The development includes construction of a new city hall, ice arena and a community center that would include space for senior services and programs, meeting and activity rooms, a four-lane walking and running track, a fitness room with free weights and cardio, studio spaces, an aquatics area, an indoor play park, game room, four-court gymnasium, racquetball courts and childcare, among other amenities.

Funding for the community center is projected to come from new taxes created and captured from private development, $3.5 million in local fundraising, land sales and a likely tax levy increase.

The estimated tax increase on a $100,000 home is projected to be between $50 and $60 for 30 years. Other funding options are being explored, according to the city.

The intent of the Blazing Star Landing master plan is to create a place that is an extension of downtown and an enhancement of the lakefront of Albert Lea Lake

Additional public forums and comments are advised before March when the bonding bill is being considered before the state Legislature and governor’s office.

The city is requesting $1.35 million to extend sanitary sewer and water to the Stables Area north of the city. The remaining funding for the $2.7 million project is projected to come through resident special assessments and newly captured tax base. The area would be annexed into the city, Adams said.

The resolution states the extension of services is for the improvement and replacement of failing septic systems for residents living there.

The city advises anyone with comments to contact City Hall at 507-377-4330.

In other news, the council voted to remove hazardous houses at 1326 S. Broadway, 914 Newton Ave and 123 Lake Ave.