PL MINUTES 02191980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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' -4- j Mr. Weber told those present the Plan addresses the underutilization of land on which the mobile home park is located. The Plan assumes i that site could better- be developed for finer housing. Next he pointed out the deficiencies of the St. Anthony Shopping Center as viewed in the Plan as compared to more recent shopping center develop- ment- and gave the four alternatives for action for the City regarding the area: 1) do nothing, "let the private market govern any improve- ments; 2) cooperate in a cosmetic uplifting program; 3) redevelop L. the western section of the commercial area through tax increment '. financing; and finally 4) redevelopment of the whole commercial area to a more productive mix of commercial and residential. -� i , Several times during the discussion, the merchants were reassured the plan and its conclusions represent only suggestions of what can or should be done if the City should accept the conclusions of the planner. The reaction to the plan was reflected by the concerns .of the store proprietors on the western (or Saliterman-owned) portion of the center and their questions as to how they would fare under the tax increment financing proposal; whether they would realize fair com- pensation for their move; and whether the City could do more to force the owner of their stores to make the necessary improvements to make the area more economically feasible. Wayne Comfort, of St. Anthony Schwinn, wondered if "Apache wouldn't have them over a barrel in regard to rentals if they should move there" . Roy k Johnson, of Kingsrud Meats, saw the input from the merchants as •. vital. He favored going with alternative- "C" , the redevelopment of the western half of the shopping center and relocation of the existing businesses -through tax increment financing. r:r PZary Cotroneo, of Vincenzo ' s Restaurant, agreed the parking, driving, and physical -conditions of the Saliterman center were very poor, but said she had never seen an accident there. She and James Haugen, of the J. Design beauty shop, told how they have invested everything in their businesses -and built up successful operations in spite of the adverse conditions and relocation would be a very hard thing for them. However, they both agreed their 'landlord is impossible to deal with, refuses to make even rudimentary repairs to his build- ings, and doesn't even permit signs to advertise their stores. They were in agreement that the center is an eyesore because of the in- attention of Mr. Saliterman, and that they were interested in uniting . with other merchants to get the entire center improved. Mrs. Cotroneo wondered why "the City doesn't build all new buildings and let us move into them" . Marie Schander-Scott and Roy A. Scott, of Real Life Interiro-Scott Olson Business Services,, 2548 Harding Street N.E. , were in agreement with the Manager that the first step to be taken by the merchants is to understand the problems within the center and get together to try to solve them. Mr. Scott saw the Manager' s criticism of lack of interest by the business community as a very valid one. He sug- gested a portion of the excess parking in the western half might be i i �i