Minutes - 08/24/2010 WSPage 1
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
• Raspberry Room
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Mayor Maxwell called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Present were Mayor Maxwell and
Council members Kristi Halverson, Rick Brausen, Cheryl Youakim, Bruce Rowan, Hopkins City
Manager Rick Getschow, and Director of Planning & Economic Development Kersten
Elverum, Community Development Coordinator Tara Beard, and Representatives of the
Cornerstone Group, Klodt Inc. and the Dominium Group.
Cornerstone Group's Proposal:
The Cornerstone Group's proposal includes all of the properties listed in the RFP. Their
proposal emphasizes place -making and creating an identity for the project area. They
propose acquiring the Johnson building and re -purposing it with renovations that would
support an active retail "market" facing 8t" Ave South and office or other commercial
space throughout organized around a new internal atrium. This concept includes outdoor
use of the parking area and 2nd Street South to bring activity to Excelsior Blvd. The proposal's
concept for the area north of 1 st Street South calls for three buildings of residential, with
some commercial provided on the first floor of the most northern building. Residential uses
on the first floor facing 8t" Avenue South would have entrances facing the street. The
• Cornerstone proposal minimizes building footprints to maximize open space, including the
creation of a 5,000 sq. ft. market plaza between the northern and southern buildings.
Cornerstone Group stated that they assembled teams in the following areas:
• Biking - Lanes and storage of bikes and repair operations so that people can live,
work hang out in Hopkins.
• Art - Cornerstone Group would like to incorporate new space for artists to live, work
and perform and display their crafts.
• Food - Create edible gardens and work with Farmers Market, food vendors urban
farming for healthy living.
• Nature - Create greenway connections with parks, trails and recreational areas.
• Sustainability - Create a high performance building economically, ecologically,
socially and culturally.
• Collaboration/Innovation - Create a cast of characters that are experts in transit,
renewable energy, sustainable design, urban agriculture, arts, local food and biking.
The Cornerstone Group believes in shared parking for commercial daytime use and 24 hour
permit parking for residents.
0
Page 2
• Klodt Inc. Proposal:
Klodt has proposed redevelopment only on the parcels north of 1 It Street South. Their
proposal is for a phased development of three separate buildings over an underground
parking garage spanning the entire site. They have indicated a desire to add the old
Lutheran Digest site to their proposal in order to allow more creative site design and
additional residential units. The Klodt proposal does not include any affordable housing,
which is a requirement of the funding awarded to the project. Depending on the rents
proposed some units may qualify as affordable without requiring subsidy and some or all of
the funding could still be used, but this would require a commitment from Klodt to
affordable rental rates. Another option would be to decline the funding with affordability
requirements and seek other ways to fund acquisition.
•
Klodt Inc. stated that some of the past projects that they have done are Double Tree,
Lagoon Theatre and a 4300 Apartment Building, Hiawatha Flats - which is 90%occupied
and. They stated that their priorities would be TOD, link to SWLRT, retail, walkways and
parking (would be 1 to 1 underground parking).
Klodt stated that they build their own buildings acting as their own general contractor.
Klodt Inc. stated that Hopkins is a great location and they feel that they have a realistic plan
and they are a long term investor.
Dominium's Proposal:
Dominium's proposal includes properties north of 1,t Street South. Their proposal is for two
buildings of senior residential with no commercial. They have located common spaced on
the first floor and have expressed a willingness to add a small amount of retail to the corner
of 111 Street South and 8t" Ave South.
Dominium stated that they have been in business for 40 years. They have worked in 17
states predominantly with rental housing. They stated that they would not work with putting
in retail but rather put community rooms and activities to the street level. They feel that
there is a strong need for senior housing that are for people 55 years or older. They stated
that that parking would be 1 to 1.
Dominium stated they pay special attention to sound from apartment to apartment so
people will stay.
Council appreciated all the presentations that were given. This is a process that will take
some time and will need the cooperation of the proposed developers and all the affected
property owners.
• The Council indicated a desire to tour other developments by these companies. City staff
will set that up for an upcoming work session.
Page 3
Other:
• City Manager Getschow stated that the lift station project has been pushed back a
week.
• City Manager Getschow stated that there is no meeting next week.
• City Manager Getschow stated that there will be a Nine Mile Creek Public meeting will
be at City Hall next week regarding the creek project.
• City Manager Getschow stated that the proposed rental license fee increases are to
be placed on the September 7th agenda. Council asked that staff meet with the
HAMA before the Council meeting when the fees would be on the agenda.
On a motion by Brausen, and second by Youakim, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 pm.
• Debbie Sperling, Secretary
ATTEST:
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
W]
CITY COUNCIL