CR2012-039 Hennepin County Challenge Fund\\\ \ \ %
City of ffopkuis
May 1, 2012 Council Report 2012-039
HENNEPIN COUNTY CHALLENGE FUND
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Approve Resolution 2012-025, affirming
and ratifying city staff submittal of an application to Hennepin County for Challenge Grant
Funds for 19th Avenue North.
Overview
The Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund consists of $800,000 in Hennepin County general
obligation bond funds from the Transit -Oriented Development (TOD) Program. The Challenge
Fund reflects a new Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA)-directed
activity that supports strategic investments in Central, Southwest and Bottineau Corridors that
align with coordinated planning efforts now underway.
The purpose of the grants is to support projects that:
• Encourage added transit ridership and use of alternative transportation modes.
• Improve the ability of people to get to a station and other destinations within a community.
• Realize or catalyze high- or medium -density development with a mix of uses, including affordable
and mixed -income housing.
• Promote job growth and/or entrepreneurship, including small business opportunities for local, low-
income residents.
• Remove barriers to future redevelopment.
• Leverage private development investment.
The maximum grant request is $400,000, and funds must be matched 1:1. Recently awarded
Livable Communities funds for this project would meet the matching requirement.
Primary Issues to Consider
• What does the application consist of?
• Why should Hopkins apply for a Challenge Fund grant?
• How will the construction of the proposed parking ramp be paid for?
Supporting Information
• Resolution 2012-025
• 2012 Challenge Fu application
JAI
ra eard
Community Development Coordinator
Financial Impact: $ 0—Budgeted: Y/N Source: _PIR fund (501)
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Notes:
Council Report 2012-039
Page 2
Analysis of Issues
What does the application consist of?
The application consists of a proposal to acquire 15 9th Avenue North (the vacant Snyder Drug
building) in Downtown Hopkins with the goal of combining the parcel with the adjacent city
parking lots and constructing a shared parking ramp for the east end of Downtown Hopkins.
This is one of the projects within the Downtown Hopkins station area that recently received
funding from the Metropolitan Council, and it furthers the plans and goals for the 8th Avenue
corridor to connect the future station at 8th Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard with Mainstreet
and the rest of Downtown Hopkins.
A shared parking ramp in this location would promote the goals for the 8th Avenue corridor in
the following ways:
1. Relieve existing parking pressure in Downtown Hopkins, providing an incentive to lease
vacant properties downtown and retail space currently under construction.
2. Relieve anticipated parking pressure in Downtown Hopkins as 8th Avenue South is
redeveloped at higher transit -supporting densities.
3. Replace surface parking at Lot 200 at 8th Avenue South and Mainstreet, allowing that
site to be redeveloped at a later date without the burden of replacing those spaces.
4. Potentially provide Park and Ride spaces for the station.
The recently awarded LCA funds from the Metropolitan Council allowed for $600,000 in site
acquisition for the project. These funds will serve as the required match for the $400,000
requested from the Challenge Grant.
Why should Hopkins apply for LCA for TOD funding?
The vision for the Downtown Hopkins station area is ambitious yet must be to fully realize the
benefits of LRT to our Mainstreet. Challenge Funds are needed to implement that vision and
leverage the city's own investments in the area.
How will the construction of the proposed parking ramp be paid for?
The request for funds to acquire the vacant Snyder Drug site is a way to gauge the
Metropolitan Council's and Hennepin County's support for this type of project as a component
of an overall vision for TOD in a station area. It is understood that if funds to acquire the site
are awarded and the property is successfully purchased by the city, additional funds would
need to be sought for demolition, design and construction of a ramp. If acquisition is
supported, it is a good indicator that future requests for funding would be looked upon
favorably, and a good time to explore what, if any, funds the city could contribute to the project.
Council Report 2012-039
Page 3
Alternatives
The Council has the following alternatives:
Approve resolution 2012-025
Deny resolution 2012-025 and rescind our application for a Challenge Fund grant.
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 2012-025
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AFFIRMING AND RATIFYING CITY STAFF
SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION TO HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR CHALLENGE
GRANT FUNDS FOR 15 9"' AVENUE NORTH
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins (the "City") is a city located within Hennepin County
and is therefore eligible to access the Challenge Grant; and
WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure
adequate project administration; and
WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
as stated in the contract agreements; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council affirms and ratifies the
submittal of the application in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 383B.77, Subd. 3.,
supports the Challenge Grant application submitted to Hennepin County Housing and
Redevelopment Authority on behalf of the City of Hopkins and authorizes the Mayor and
City Manager to execute such agreements as are necessary to implement the project on
behalf of the applicant.
Adopted this 1st day of May 2012.
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
Attest:
Kristine Luedke, City Clerk.
Hennepin County
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
-' 701 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55415
www.hennepin.us
Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
The Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund consists of s800,000 in Hennepin County general obligation bond
funds from the Transit -Oriented Development (TOD) Program. The Challenge Fund reflects a new Hennepin
County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA)-directed activity that supports strategic investments in
Central, Southwest and Bottineau Corridors that align with coordinated planning efforts now underway. Grant
funds are available on an open pipeline basis to Hennepin municipalities along Central, Southwest, and Bottineau
Corridors.
Background
"Corridors of Opportunity" refers to a multijurisdictional initiative
to promote sustainable, vibrant, and healthy communities in the
Twin Cities region, using the region's emerging transitway
system as a development focus.
The multijurisdictional Corridors of Opportunity Initiative
involves projects in 7 corridors within the regional system of
existing and planned transitways, including the Hennepin
Corridors that are the focus of this fund: Central Corridor,
Southwest LRT, and Bottineau'Transitway. The Initiative focuses
attention on the importance of integrating land use and
development perspectives into early phases of transit; planning.
Overview
Through the Corridors of Opportunity Initiative, ongoing planning for the Central, Southwest, and Bottineau
Corridors continues to identify areas where new or upgraded infrastructure is needed to enable communities
along these transitways to fully capitalize on the transit investment. These infrastructure needs include projects
that improve station area access, safety, and development potential. Additionally, during this phase of transit
planning, opportunities may arise for municipalities to acquire, clear, and ready sites for redevelopment or public
purposes that will support and attract private investment in the future. These municipal investments may be
necessary to preserve key sites for future development.
These types of strategic infrastructure and redevelopment investments that are needed before transit service is
operational are the focus of the Challenge Fund. As a targeted source of funding available on a pipeline basis,
the Challenge Fund will help development along Hennepin's major transit corridors move beyond planning and
into implementation.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
Proposed infrastructure and redevelopment projects must demonstrate substantial leverage (at least =), either
through existing funding commitments, or as opportunities to employ HCHRA funds as "challenge grants"
conditioned on the ability to leverage additional funding.
Grant Purpose
Proposals must address one or more of the following six core priorities:
• Encourage added transit ridership and use of alternative transportation modes.
• Improve the ability of people to get to a station and other destinations within a community.
• Realize or catalyze high- or medium -density development with a mix of uses, including affordable and
mixed -income housing.
• Promote job growth and/or entrepreneurship, including small business opportunities for local, low-income
residents.
• Remove barriers to future redevelopment.
• Leverage private development investment.
Funding Available
Beginning January 2012, a total of $800,000 in grant funding is available on an open application, first-come,
first -serve basis.
The maximum grant request is $400,000.''
No more than $600,000 will be granted to any one corridor.
Eligible Applicants and Locations
• Hennepin municipalities along Central, Southwest, and Bottineau corridors are eligible to apply.
• Projects must be located within a municipally designated Redevelopment Project Area or Housing District
(see Minnesota Statute 469.002).
• Projects must be located within a lo -minute walking distance (approximately 1h mile depending on the
existing built environment) from a planned Central, Southwest, or Bottineau transit station.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for grant requests must be investments that implement or support Central, Southwest or
Bottineau Corridor plans in -process or completed to -date, including the following types of projects:
• Infrastructure that supports and catalyzes future development or helps preserve and stabilize existing areas
with transit -supportive patterns of development (examples: multimodal connections, street improvements,
sidewalks, pedestrian enhancements, utility upgrades/expansions, stormwater management strategies).
• Place -making (examples: streetscaping, public plazas, wayfinding strategies).
• Property acquisition forfuture transit -oriented development.
• Demolition, site clearance for future redevelopment.
Ineligible Activities
• Contamination cleanup
• Development gap financing
• Planning
• Preliminary design and engineering (design and engineering costs may be requested as part of a capital
project, but should not exceed 25 percent of the total project cost)
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
Grant Terms
Grant terms will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The term will be based on the timeframe needed to
complete the grant eligible activities, but is anticipated to be no longer than two years. In the case of grants
awarded as challenge grants, longer terms maybe considered in order to meet the timeframe established by the
targeted source of funds.
Application Process
Applicants must submit an application for proposals to be considered for funding. Eligible municipalities are
encouraged to submit projects for funding when the opportunity arises to make the investment in the most
timely and cost-effective manner.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to review projects with HCHRA staff prior to submittal of an
application. HCHRA staff will provide informal guidance to applicants that may help in completing the
application process. Applications must be submitted in an electronic format on disk or USB drive. Proposals will
be evaluated on the extent to which they address the Challenge Fund's core priorities listed above and criteria
stated below. Readiness, timeliness, and financial considerations will also be evaluated. Evaluations will be
made by a selection committee including HCHRA staff and additional contributors as needed. Proposals
recommended for funding will be forwarded to the HCHRA Board for final decision. The timeframe between
application and notice of funding decision is anticipated to be no more than 6o days. City council resolutions
authorizing application submittal and subsequent agreements must accompany applications orfollow within 30
days.
HCHRA reserves the right to request additional information as determined necessary to review any application.
All information submitted through this solicitation becomes the property of HCHRA. This request for proposals
does not commit Hennepin County or the HCHRA to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal for
this application. Hennepin County and the HCHRA reserve the right to accept or reject any or all applications
received, to accept or reject any late applications, to rescind the request for proposals, to request additional
information as deemed necessary to review any application, to negotiate with all qualified proposers, to use any
or all proposer ideas and/or approaches presented, or to cancel in part or in its entirety this request for proposals,
if it is in the best interest of Hennepin County and the HCHRA to do so. Hennepin County and the HCHRA may
require the entities selected to participate in negotiations to submit any fiscal, technical, or other revisions of
their proposals that may result from negotiations.
Questions
For questions, please contact Patricia Fitzgerald at 612-543-0864 or patricia.1.fitzgerald(a)co.hennepin.mn.us.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
Criteria
• Substantial leverage with a minimum leverage of 1:i in total project cost. Preference will be given to projects
with municipal funding committed. Municipalities may apply for a commitment of "challenge" funds to be
awarded contingent on obtaining a separate targeted source of funds.
• Extent to which projects implement and support corridor planning efforts to -date.
• Extent to which the municipality demonstrates broader strategies to implement transit -oriented
development principles, including TOD-supportive zoning, design guidelines, or other steps to achieve TOD
and support transit use.
• Extent to which projects are likely to realize or catalyze transit -oriented development by the time the transit
service is operational and/orthe extent to which projects remove barriers to future redevelopment.
• Extent to which projects will create, retain, and/or provide access tojobs, small business and
entrepreneurship opportunities, and affordable housing for underrepresented communities.
• Extent to which projects promote transit ridership, make physical connections to a transit station, and
contribute to a walkable, bikeable, community (Active Living).
Applications must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
Site eligibility: Projects must be located within a io-minute walking distance (approximately 1h mile
depending on the existing built environment) from a planned Central, Southwest, or Bottineau transit station.
Eligible activities funded by this grant must also be within a municipally -designated Redevelopment Project
Area or Housing District. Site must have unimpeded access to the transit station, or applicant must
demonstrate how proposed project removes impediments. Sites must not pose any potential conflicts with a
transitway project or regulations governing transit planning as determined by the HCHRA in its sole discretion.
Minimum 1:i match and need for Challenge Funds: Demonstrate commitment of all other funding needed to
complete the project OR provide detailed information of targeted source of funding, including application and
award timelines, eligibility, etc. Preference will be given to projects with municipal funding commitments.
Describe why Challenge Funds are needed to supplement other available sources.
Readiness & timeliness: Be ready for implementation. Demonstrate timeliness of the investment and need to
complete the project at this stage of transit planning. Demonstrate ability to complete the project within 22-24
months. For applications for funding on a challenge grant basis, proposals must demonstrate the need and
timeliness of a funding commitment for a specific source or sources of funding.
Implements or supports corridor planning efforts to -date: Eligible activities for which grant funds are
requested must be part of a larger investment strategy that implements corridor and TOD planning efforts to -
date. Relevant plans may include: station area plans, transitional station area plans, corridor investment
frameworks, Transit Improvement Area (TIA) plans, etc.
Municipal commitment to TOD: Municipal participation in corridor planning efforts, track record of
investments in TOD planning, prior implementation of transit -supportive projects, transit -supportive zoning
within the area where grant funds will be used, adopted design guidelines or overlay districts that embody TOD
principles, etc. Municipal investment in the proposed project. Demonstrated alignment with regional
transitway planning efforts.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
Applications will be further evaluated based on the extent to which they:
Increase ridership, walking and biking and/or improve access to station & community destinations.
Demonstrate how this project will improve multimodal connections between the transit station and
community destinations. How will this project directly impact walking, biking, and transit ridership?
Catalyze medium to high-density development and mix of land uses: Lead to additional affordable or
mixed -income housing and/or economic development investments that exemplify TOD principles (see
Resources section below) and fulfill corridor and station area plans.
Promote job growth: Support the development of projects that will result in qualityjobs retained or created
and/or made more accessible to low-income and underserved populations including opportunities for
entrepreneurship.
Remove barriers to future development and/or leverage private investment: Leverage funding from private
or public sources. Demonstrate how this project will leverage private investment or at minimum, will remove
barriers to future investment.
Resources
Transit -Oriented Development
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sustainable Communities,
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program offices/sustainable housing communities
Metropolitan Council: Guide for Transit -Oriented Development,
www.metrocouncil.org/planning/TOD/tod.htm
Urban Land Institute (ULI): Ten Principles for Successful Development Around Transit,
www.uIi.orci/ResearchAndPublications/Reports/-/media/Documents/ResearchAndPublications/Reports/Ten
Principles/TP_DevTransit.ashx
Reconnecting America, Center for Transit -Oriented Development,
www.reconnectingamerica.org/public/"reports
"What Does Density Look Like?" http://www.minneapolismn.gov/cped/planning/cped planning -zoning
Saint Paul Transit -Oriented Development Guidebook for the Central Corridor,
http://www.stpaul.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=i8571
Transit Corridors
Regional Transportation, http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/transportation.htm
Central Light Rail Corridor, www.centralcorridor.org
Southwest Transitway Light Rail Corridor, www.southwesttransitway.orci
Bottineau Transit Corridor, www. bottransit.oro ,
www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/NWCorridorinwcorridor.htm
Active Living and Complete Streets
Active Living Hennepin Communities (ALHC), www.hennepin.us/activeliving
Active Design Guidelines, www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/design/active design.shtml
Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition, www.mncompletestreets.org/
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund Guidelines
Hennepin County
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
701 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55415
www.hennepin.us
Corridors of Opportunity
Challenge Fund
Application
2.
Project name
81Avenue Corridor Project
Applicant
City of Hopkins
Application contact
Tara Beard
Title
Community Development Coordinator
Phone
952-548-6343
Email
tbeard@hopkinsmn.com
3.
Project location Corridor
Southwest LRT
Station
(Downtown) Hopkins
Name of
Redevelopment Project #z
Redevelopment Area /
Housing District
(attach resolution &
map)
Designated Transit
N Yes
Improvement Area
(TIA)?
❑ No
Main Address /
i5 9th Ave North
Intersection
4.
Proposed use of grant funds (eligible activity
Acquisition of real property
or activities) (25 words or less)
5.
Grant amount requested
$400,000
6.
Attach an aerial of the project area, with the location where the eligible activities will occur clearly
marked. Show project site boundaries, nearby transitway, and transit station.
7.
Provide a line item breakdown of the specific eligible activities for which Challenge Funds are sought.
Provide a line item breakdown of the total project cost. (Example: a proposal may request funds for
demolition [eligible activity] as part of a project to acquire and clear a site [total project].)
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund i Application
8. Amount and source of matching funds
(must at least equal grant amount ❑ City funding source:
requested) ❑ Other committed public funding source(s):
Date funds were committed:
❑ Other committed private funding source(s):
Date funds were committed:
® Other targeted funding source: LCA for TOD (Met
Council)
Date of application: February 2022
Date of award announcement: April 2022
g. Describe why Challenge Funds are needed to supplement other available sources. (75 words or less)
The City of Hopkins has extremely limited funds for pre -development activities. Our ability to bring in
financial assistance is at implementation through traditional tools such as assessments or tax
increment financing. The Hopkins HRA's tax levy is modest, and is dedicated to staffing. The City
does not have any other sources of funds to be used as match for design work, so the Challenge grant
is critical for leveraging LCA for TOD.
20 What is the timeframe for completion of the Challenge grant -funded activities? Describe the project's
readiness and ability to meet the proposed timeframe. Include any relevant milestones achieved to -
date. (too words or less)
LCA for TOD and Challenge Grant awards should be known in spring of 2o22. We anticipate
approximately 3 months to negotiate a purchase agreement and complete environmental
investigation if funding is awarded. The goal is to close on the property in Fall of 2022. The property is
currently on the market and the funds sought (s2 Million total) exceed the assessed value of the
Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 2 Application
Coo
LCA for
Challeng
Coo
City funds
TOD
a Grant
LIC
committe
Uses
Description
request
request
request
d
TOTAL
Land
Acquisition of vacant
acquisition
Snyder building at 15
$600,000
$400,000
$1,000,00
9th Ave N
0
Architectural/
Design of 8th Ave
$125,000
$26,900
Engineering
Streetscape
Public summit on
$151,900
Public Input
$50,000
8th Ave vision
$50,000
Clean up of Park
Cleanup
Nicollet Site &
$316,000
costs
Investigation of
Parking Ramp site
$316,000
TOTAL
$1,041,000
$400,000
$50,000
$26,900
$1,517,90
0
8. Amount and source of matching funds
(must at least equal grant amount ❑ City funding source:
requested) ❑ Other committed public funding source(s):
Date funds were committed:
❑ Other committed private funding source(s):
Date funds were committed:
® Other targeted funding source: LCA for TOD (Met
Council)
Date of application: February 2022
Date of award announcement: April 2022
g. Describe why Challenge Funds are needed to supplement other available sources. (75 words or less)
The City of Hopkins has extremely limited funds for pre -development activities. Our ability to bring in
financial assistance is at implementation through traditional tools such as assessments or tax
increment financing. The Hopkins HRA's tax levy is modest, and is dedicated to staffing. The City
does not have any other sources of funds to be used as match for design work, so the Challenge grant
is critical for leveraging LCA for TOD.
20 What is the timeframe for completion of the Challenge grant -funded activities? Describe the project's
readiness and ability to meet the proposed timeframe. Include any relevant milestones achieved to -
date. (too words or less)
LCA for TOD and Challenge Grant awards should be known in spring of 2o22. We anticipate
approximately 3 months to negotiate a purchase agreement and complete environmental
investigation if funding is awarded. The goal is to close on the property in Fall of 2022. The property is
currently on the market and the funds sought (s2 Million total) exceed the assessed value of the
Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 2 Application
property ($730,000), giving us confidence in meeting those timelines if funding is awarded.
ii. Describe the timeliness of this investment. Why is this project critical within this timeframe?
Specifically address why this investment is needed at this stage of transitway development. (75 words
or less)
Current, imminent, and future redevelopment around the Hopkins Station requires a shared parking
solution for two main reasons: i) Existing and under -construction vacant commercial space will be
more leasable as current parking conditions are stretched. A thriving downtown is a must to capture
transit rider visits to Mainstreet; and 2) Despite transit availability and excellent walk- and bike -
ability, vehicular traffic and parking needs will continue to be necessary for a successful downtown.
Concentrating parking in a structure, outside of the main pathways between transit and downtown in
an efficient, shared manner will relieve the burden of more key TOD sites to provide the kind of
parking that will be needed. There will be no better time to acquire a for -sale property that is
adjacent to enough city -owned land to house a structured parking ramp north of Mainstreet, allowing
8th Avenue south of Mainstreet to be pedestrian seductive and home to TOD with reduced parking
needs.
12 How will the Challenge grant -funded activities implement and support corridor planning efforts to -
date? (75 words or less)
Acquiring the vacant building at 15 gth Avenue North will allow the city to combine the property with a
municipal parking lot so that a shared, structured parking ramp can be designed and constructed. This
implements a shared parking strategy out of the line of key TOD sites that are needed to create the
pedestrian seductive environment envisioned on 8th Avenue South. More directly, it allows a
municipal surface parking lot on 8th Avenue South to be redeveloped to support transit (as has been
envisioned and planned) without losing the minimal yet necessary parking to sustain downtown
Hopkins.
13. Describe strategies the municipality has implemented to promote transit -oriented development
and/or TOD principles in general, and in the project area in particular, including TOD-supportive
zoning, design guidelines, or other steps the municipality has taken to achieve TOD and support
transit use. (too words or less)
Hopkins has guided key parts of each station area mixed-use, a new designation that supports TOD.
Mixed use zoning districts have been defined to support TOD, utilizing such guidelines as parking
maximums, increased density requirements (through FAR minimums) and pedestrian and bicycle site
and design elements. The city has sought grant funds in the past to acquire key TOD properties
including the Park Nicollet site that is a part of the 8th Avenue Corridor project.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 3 Application
14. Describe how the activities funded by this grant will increase ridership, walking & biking. More
specifically, describe how the activities funded by this grant will improve access to the planned transit
station and provide connections to community destinations. Describe pedestrian, biking and transit
connections to areas of interest such as commercial areas, employment centers, open space and
other amenities. (loo words or less)
8th Avenue South is a two -block stretch between the future Hopkins Station and Mainstreet, the spine
of Hopkins' historic downtown. The current pedestrian and bicycling environment in this link is
mediocre at best, and requires the crossing of a major road, Excelsior Blvd. It is imperative that this
stretch of 8th Avenue South become a pedestrian seductive, bike -friendly route for trail users and
transit riders to connect the station with our central business district. Our vision for the station is that
of a destination for the many amenities within walking distance: a movie theater, arts center, parks,
jobs, housing, and myriad shops and restaurants. Relocating some of the parking needs (which
remain despite transit) to 8th Avenue north of Mainstreet must happen to realize the walkable, bikable
8th Avenue South that is envisioned.
15. a. How will the Challenge grant -funded activities support or catalyze future transit -oriented
development envisioned for this location in the near- and long-term? (ioo words or less)
Since embarking upon the implementation of our vision for 8`h Avenue South, the single greatest
barrier to TOD has been the need for parking. Despite current and future transit availability, there is
still a need for some parking, and the costs and construction limitations on providing even minimal
parking inhibits the density and walkability of key redevelopment sites and the streetscape in
general. A small but imperative surface parking lot on 8th Avenue South is currently the only parking
for multiple Mainstreet businesses that have no other parking available. To redevelop this property
as required to create the 8th Avenue South experience we envision, this parking must be relocated.
To redevelop other properties on 8`h Avenue South in a transit -oriented way, providing some parking
nearby but off-site allows increased opportunities for density and retail.
b.
Will the future transit -oriented development envisioned for this
Inthe
Overthe
location lead to:
near-term
long-term
(o-5 yrs)?
(5+ yrs)?
medium to high density development including a mix of land uses
the development of mixed -income or affordable housing
jobs being retained or created
Check all options that apply and describe the future transit -oriented development envisioned for this
location. Specify planned mix of land uses, mixed -income and affordable housing (include
number of units and level of affordability), employment opportunities, open space, and
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 4 Application
pedestrian and bicycle connections. (loo words or less)
The TOD envisioned for 8th Avenue South will be catalyzed by shared public parking strategically
located at the north end of the station area. Currently szo units of housing, including 2o%
affordable at 8o% of the AMI are being designed for 2013 construction. Active first floor uses in
the same building may take the form of retail or live/work units. Additional sites on the 8th
Avenue corridor are also envisioned for future TOD, including the Johnson building at 8oi:L" St
South and the aforementioned municipal parking lotjust south of Mainstreet. While exact uses
are flexible, new mixed use zoning will require that redevelopment of these sites will be transit
supportive. The streetscape design of 8th Avenue is also key, and providing parking north of
Mainstreet allows the focus south of Mainstreet to be for the pedestrian and bicyclist.
c. What is the current residential density (housing units/acre) in the project area? What is the
expected future residential density in the project area?
Currently the residential density along the 81h Ave corridor between Excelsior Boulevard and
Mainstreet is approximately 13 units/acre. Expected future residential density on the corridor is
expected to exceed 23 units/acre.
d. How will the municipality ensure that future development in and around the project area will
exemplify TOD principles (see Resources section above)? (5o words or less)
Our comprehensive plan has guided the project area mixed use and identified TOD principles as the
goals for mixed use. We have also sought ownership of key properties when appropriate to
proactively seek TOD in the project area.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 5 Application
26. a. How will the Challenge grant -funded activities promote job growth? How will this investment
support the development of projects that will result in qualityjobs retained or created, including
opportunities for entrepreneurship? How will this investment result in jobs being made more
accessible to low-income and underserved populations? (too words or less)
Downtown Hopkins is a fabulous opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses as it offers a
wide variety of retail, restaurant, office, and commercial spaces at an equally wide variety of rents.
Many of our successful Mainstreet businesses are start-ups and independently owned. One of the
louder concerns we hear from the business community in the area of Mainstreet and 8th Avenue is a
need for parking. The developer of a 52 unit apartment development with 6,000 sf of retail currently
under construction at 7th Avenue and Mainstreet has indicated that a lack of parking has impacted his
ability to lease the retail space. A vacant fast -casual restaurant on the corner of 8th Avenue and
Mainstreet has remained vacant for over a year, despite the great success of two other restaurants at
the same intersection. Despite vacancies, our current businesses fully utilize the parking available in
the project area, and relieving this burden will promote job growth. Jobs retained or created in the
project area will then be available to low-income and underserved populations who both live in or will
be able to access via transit the project area.
b. Please estimate the new and retained jobs planned for the project area (include information from
pending or proposed development projects, and/or projections from station area plans, or other
relevant plans completed to -date):
Permanent Jobs
FTE
Full Time
Part Time
Projected Total New Jobs
2747
Projected Total Retained Jobs
unknown
What types of business are expected? Retail, on-site property management, restaurant.
How were the job estimates calculated? Job estimates were calculated using i worker per 350
square feet applied to the estimated additional square feet of office and commercial space in the
Station Area Planning done by Hay Dobbs in 2020. While we do not have a current estimate of
the number of existing jobs in the project or station area, it is anticipated that all existingjobs
would be either retained or replaced with new development.
27. Describe how the activities funded by this grant will leverage private investment or at minimum, will
remove barriers to future investment. (75 words or less)
The cost of parking construction is often a barrier to redevelopment budgets; relieving any amount of
parking need on site will remove a great financial barrier to future investment.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 6 Application
Suggested Attachments
❑ Detailed cost estimates or bids of activities for which grant funds are requested
® Transit Improvement Area (TIA) Plan and Map showing project location
❑ City resolution authorizing the Challenge Fund Application and execution of subsequent implementing
agreements and contracts
❑ Photos of current conditions within project area and relevant context around project area
❑ Maps and plans in PDF format that include the following information:
• Existing and proposed land use maps in the project area and proposed phases of development, if
applicable.
• Existing and proposed connections: bus stops and routes, trail routes, streets, connections to open
and/or public spaces or other community destinations.
H Corridors of Opportunity Challenge Fund 7 Application