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THugo New housing, retail may happen next year Downtown area Redevelopment • Residents must drive to redevelop the iconic restau- fans on the table White Bear Lake or Forest rant several years ago, but on U.S. 61 is ready p Lake for some basic goods the plans fell through and the Hugo officials are optimistic and services, such as restau- building burned to the ground 'for development that redevelopment plans for rants and a full-service drug in 2010. downtown could move forward store. "The city would like to The property is now another next year.Talks of revitalizing guide some of that (type of) vacant lot in the str'ng of land By Elizabeth Mohr the area have been going on for development to the downtown waiting to be developed. emohr@pioneerpress.com more than a decade. area,"Bear said But downtown isn't entirely •Downtown Hugo once was without life. The redevelopment of down- Areas being considered a vibrant city center but now Hugo Feed Mill,a local favor- town Hugo has for years been for redevelopment has little to draw residents in ite and downtown business a lot of talk without much to — and they've been asking landmark since 1925, stands show. tgU GQ for change."Downtown is sort tall and remains busy_ But some recent developers' jh of a concept u1 the city,"Bear Anew City Hall'was built proposals indicate retail and px�u said_ "At one time,it was the about 10 years ago just north residential construction could g * only focus of activity. Now, oithe feed m , - J W� begin as early as next year. many of those old businesses A-and modern small�;offljce"The pieces are starting tothat characterized downtown buildings pepper the afall into place," city adminis- � x are gone ... and the commu- well as a few`old bonesfrom . trator Bryan Bear said. � �;: 51 nity is still striving for that the on downtown. ' "There's some optimism.The downtown feeling." a Sion or ugo's economy is on a slow climb While plans are gaining renewed city center would up, and there are some pro- steam for the west side of the echo classic American Main posals on the table." PIONEER PRESS downtown stretch of U.S. 61, Street: small shops, pedestri- Two landowners with large the eastern front sits idle. an-filled sidewalks, street parcels on the west side of Over the past couple of parking in front of businesses, U.S. 61 between Frenchman ings were demolished. Plans years, the city has bought a trees and seating areas. Road and 147th Street have and infrastructure were laid string of properties — about Bear said everything is in pitched plans to build multi- out for future connecting 3.5 acres total — between place, and it's now up to the unit housing, senior housing roads_ 145th and 147th streets on the landowners and developers to and a walkable downtown But the recession slowed east side of U.S.61. come forward with solid con- shopping area new development to a crawl Shuttered and blighted struction and financing plans As part of one proposal, The push for redeveloping buildings were demolished, for city approval. Lions Park would be redevel- ,d��tow is three]other and the now-vacant lots sport `'City officials are excited oped and could grow by more • Hugo has retaser- "for sale"signs. but guarded,"Bear said."The than 2 acres. vice-oriented busi , but Much of the land overlooks reality is, it's all talk right And the housing element is very few of them the Egg Lake, and city officials now There's a sense of`let's a crucial one for the revital- downtown corridd all think the space could be per- wait and see.'" ization effort,Bear said. current commercice is feet for a restaurant. In anticipation of proposals full. "It's nice nohave Abutting the south end of Elizabeth Mohr can be reached at such as these, preparations vacant commerciace or the city's land is the site of 651-226'-5162.Follow her at have been made over the pasts tenant space,but oother the once-venerable Carper twitter.com2izlohr. several years. U.S. 61 was hand,space isn't ale for ter's Steak House — a Hugo upgraded and traffic lights businessesthat wmove institution for more than 100 were installed.Blighted build- to the city,"Bear syears. There were plans to /✓�� s�f/�-/yIf✓1�S !'I� �. / il�S L �� VBG �