HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEDRA Minutes - 2024.03.14 - WorkshopHEDRA
HASTINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
and REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority of the City of
Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop meeting on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at
6:22pm in the Volunteer Room at Hastings City Hall.
HEDRA Commissioners Present: Johnson, Anderson, Carter, Fox, Goblirsch, Horsch, and Pemble.
HEDRA Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: Community Development Director John Hinzman
Economic Development Coordinator Alex Menke
I. Quorum
A quorum was established and the workshop was called to order by President
Johnson at 6:22 PM with seven members present.
II. 2024-2025 HEDRA Strategic Plan Workshop
Hinzman provided a recap of the current Strategic Plan. The Commission discuss current
and past priorities including:
- Implications of Red Rock – Should Block 16 Parking lot be reconfigured elsewhere.
o Use Parking lot of branch line church for transit?
o Will be meeting with Red Rock
o Should commuter lot be elsewhere in town (not downtown)
- Need more parking downtown; more events are happening. Do we look at paid
parking?
- Lots of development sites in downtown area (Block 1, 16, WWTP Site, Siewert) –
Look at conducting Downtown area plan in 2025
- Does there need to be a ramp on the east side of downtown (Block 16, City Hall
parking lot, etc)
- Downtown may creep across the RR tracks to Cowtown (WWTP and Branch Line
Church). There may be push back from Cowtown. Can be look at ped bridge over
tracks?
- Downtown Parking study to be conducted by staff this summer; look at surveying
business owners on staff parking.
- Block 28 – Redevelopment should continue to be prioritized. Use Westview sale
proceeds to purchase EDS.
- Block 15 (Siewert and 213 Ramsey) – Siewert approvals expire on 8/1/24. If project
does not go examine acquisition of property to gain the south half of the block for
redevelopment.
- Housing – should we look at downpayment or other assistance to entice young
families to move into and fix up affordable single family housing in Hastings.
- Redevelopment Incentive Grant has been helpful – will look to transition for TH 61
construction assistance beginning in 26
o Need to determine impacts and needs of businesses during construction to
determine assistance from HEDRA or grants we could apply for.
- 213 Ramsey – No longer seeking as a business incubator – Looking at having a
“Pitch Event” to provide space for an entrepreneur.
- Hastings Creamery Site should be added to our list – Not sure what role this would
be.
- Desire development to commence on Ebert Construction holdings near Walgreens
and DQ
III. Adjourn – Meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm
Respectfully submitted.
John Hinzman, Community Development Director.