City View by Chad Adams

As an opportunity to further revitalize the community’s downtown and South Broadway corridor, the city of Albert Lea recently purchased the building at 314 S. Broadway. The corridor was included in a redevelopment zone that was amended to our Comprehensive Plan last year. The parcel was recommended to be a priority redevelopment area by the Planning Commission.

The city has also seen great success by reconstructing and implementing a streetscape on North Broadway. Ten new businesses opened in the downtown in the past few years, with at least a few more expecting to open in the next year.  There has been over a half million dollars in private investment in building structures alone in this same time period. This does not include the amount of private investment in job creation, fixings and furniture and other private costs to open a business. I am writing to provide an update about the city’s continued interest in galvanizing economic development downtown and wanted to address a few locations specifically.

When listening to residents in group discussions or one-on-one, one of the primary questions I am asked is “What is happening with the 300 block on Broadway?” This question is often preceded by “What is the status of the Freeborn Bank building?” and, “What are the plans for the Blazing Star Landing (former Farmland) site?” Due to limitations of space within this column, I will save a response on the Blazing Star Landing for a future column.

Regarding the Freeborn Bank building, we should be learning of the status of the application that Cohen-Esrey has made for housing tax credits for the project in October. If those housing tax credits are awarded, it is expected that renovations would begin in early 2016, with completion in fall 2016.

Considering many of the buildings are having some structural issues, my traditional response to the 300 block of South Broadway was a future desire to redevelop the block.  A few years ago, following a fire and further structural damage, the 310 S. Broadway building was donated to the city. Additional interest for redeveloping the block increased through the Comprehensive Plan Amendment approved by the Planning Commission and City Council.

The city acquired 314 S. Broadway as an investment to assist a future developer to redevelop the block in some capacity that will create jobs, tax base and a location for higher-density housing near the downtown. We would leave the discretion up to a future developer to decide the fate of existing buildings on the block through partnership with the city and the remaining building owners on the block.  There are no plans to move City Hall to the 300 block per the recently created Facilities Master Plan, which assessed the city’s immediate and long-term facility needs. A copy of the Facilities Master Plan is available to review at the city library and on our website, www.cityofalbertlea.org. The city has made a number of necessary functional upgrades to City Hall that will last a number of years. Many city officials and I acknowledge that the current location of City Hall is not the “highest and best use” of lakeshore property. I enjoy our current location as a workplace, but also due to its proximity to the downtown and accessibility to residents. Using the current property as a possible site for creating a higher tax base may be the best long-term option. Even though there has been some comment made to consider City Hall at the 300 block as a future option, there are no plans in the next 10 years or more to consider relocating City Hall.

The recent partnership of the city, downtown business owners, tenants and many others has resulted in a more revitalized downtown. Indeed, these private-public partnerships demonstrate the need for continued redevelopment in other areas of the community, such as the South Broadway corridor. There are many methods for the city and other agencies in the community to provide partnerships for private development that can result in job creation, community growth and additional tax base. Acquiring a property or more in a particular block or district is just one of the many tools to attract redevelopment and revitalize a corridor.

It is not uncommon for government to seize opportunities to create a better community, state or country. One of the reasons Albert Lea is here today is because the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803, as I was recently reminded by a narrator on a Pelican Breeze tour. At a more local and recent level, the city of Rochester has been providing financial commitments to attract the Destination Medical Center that will benefit the entire region. The city of Austin also continues to be active financially in partnerships for commercial and residential development. All of these examples illustrate examples of courage and vision of leaders to advance the economic opportunities of their communities.

Over the next few months, the city will continue considering options for the 300 block of South Broadway and the adjacent corridor. The city does not plan to invest a couple million dollars into the block as was previously done for the Freeborn Bank building as a “build it and they will come” philosophy.  Instead, we plan to ensure a development partner is secured before proceeding with any redevelopment of the 300 block. The city is also reviewing a program to assist property and business owners along the South Broadway corridor to create jobs and increase our tax base, in addition to our recent investment in the South Broadway three-lane and streetscape elements.

We appreciate the community dialogue on the 300 block of South Broadway and look forward to your ideas and suggestions for revitalizing the block.

 

Chad Adams is the Albert Lea city manager.