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■ Middle Section: Silver Lake ■ Single Family Homes ■ North of Silver Lane is a neighborhood of single family homes that wrap the southern shore of Silver Lake. ■ Silver Lake ■ See lake quality report and watershed impact from WSB Engineering. ■ North Section: Salvation Army Fresh Air Camp ■ The north section of the study area is occupied entirely by the Salvation Army's Fresh Air Camp. Estab- lished over 75 years ago, the camp allowed children to escape the confines of the city and enjoy an ■ outdoor camping experience. The total site area above the Silver Lake water line, excluding two small ■ islands, is 69 acres, of which approximately 6.5 acres consists of open water wetland, while a significant proportion of the remaining site is wooded. The two small islands, one of which is connected to the ■ mainland by a pedestrian bridge, occupy 5.5 acres. Originally located outside the city, urban development has long since surrounded the site, thus diminishing its attractiveness as a camping area. The camp also ■ features a conference center facility which has recently been operating at a deficit. Therefore, the Salva- tion Army has decided to sell the camp and open a new facility in Backus, MN. Land Uses Surrounding the Study Area ■ The study area is surrounded by predominantly residential areas of a number of different types. North of ■ County Road E in New Brighton is an area of single family homes, both of a smaller scale 1950-60's" suburban model, and a newer, larger scale development. On the east side of the site across Silver Lake Road from the Salvation Army site is a townhouse development and two areas of apartment buildings near County Road E and Silver Lane.Across Silver Lake Road from the Apache Plaza portion of the study area ■ is a mix of townhouses, office and commercial properties, with a single family neighborhood behind and to the north of 3911 Ave.,and an area of apartments located on either side of the railroad tracks.South of the ■ study area across 37'h Ave. is a single family neighborhood leading to the heart of Saint Anthony. In Columbia Heights, on the west side across Silver Lake Road, are a series of apartment buildings and a ■ single family neighborhood further north, bordering the lake and the Salvation Army site. ■ Site Analysis ■ The Salvation Army property is comprised of seventy acres of largely wooded land to the north side of Silver ■ Lake. The site has a conference center, camp, maintenance buildings and parking developed on site. The property has three access points, two off County Rd. E (full access) and one off Silver Lake Rd. ■ (southbound access only).There is noticeable topography, particularly off County Rd. E in the center of the site and approximately five acres on the eastern edge. Silver Lake is a water body of approximately 80 ■ acres with development down to the water's edge along the south and west sides, and the Salvation Army property on the north and northeast sides. ■ The south section of the study area is dominated by the Apache Mall and associated parking,with the Cub ■ food store and Equinox apartment complex being the two largest other uses. In addition there are twenty ■ other buildings housing various businesses grouped along Silver Lake Rd. and Stinson Blvd. The area was developed through a series of incremental decisions that have made for an uncoordinated patchwork ■ quilt that lacks coherency of form and function. The area has a number of physical constraints. The study j °^ = area is traversed by a railroad line near the southern edge which restricts access to the site.Along most of the length of Silver Lane, a large berm exists on the south side that separates the single family homes o. fronting the lake from the apartment complex and commercial activity to the south. The apartment com- ■ Northwest Quadrant Redevelopment Plan St. Anthony' Village Page A.4 ■ ■