HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEDRA Special Meeting Minutes 08-06-09HASTINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
n1INUTES OF SPECI_AL n1EETING
AUGUST 6, 21109, 1 P.M. CITY HALL
Quorum: Commissioners Holzem, Alongi, Toppin, M:n-todam, Hollenbeck and Schultz
present. Staff: Osberg, Hinzman, Rausch and Grossman. President Holzem called the
meeting to order at 1 p.m.
A. Grossman summarized current conditions on Hudson 1\Ianufacturing, PAL Midtown,
the Linn property at 15~~' and the pending Dental Arts building in the htdush ial Park.
B. Hinzman summarized the backround material for the workshop.
• Broad responsibilities inherited from HRA, IP and EDC
• EDA/HRA powers
• Nearby citys' economic development programs and m:nketing examples
• Existing programs and fiords
C. Osberg introduced and facilitated discussion of the workshop topics:
Commercial area revitalization.
• The smaller and older properties south of the Vermillion River :u e an opportunity.
• A connection from Vermillion to Veterans Park and on toward new residential to
the east via 21'~ and/or 23"~ would meet several needs. It has been planned but
lacks funding.
• A haffic signal in the 21st - 23rd :uea will need more development/traffic to
meet 1\InDOT requirements.
• Current vacant commercial space (100,000 sf) drives rental rates down and defers
maintenance and improvements.
• Focus on Vermillion Street. Parts of it need attention, it has a master plan and is a
designated redevelopment area.
• Three major activities are planned for downtown: a ne~a~ bridge, commuter
center/station, Levee Park. EDR-1 and the City' role in and funding assistance
important for each. All will contribute to ongoing vitality.
• The Post Office and Hudson Manufacturing could change and may need attention.
2. Business Park strategy, ne~a~ and existing.
• Existing park has location issues. Anew park should be on the west side of the
City, closer to the airport and access to the western metro :u ea.
• Sale of some existing industrial land could fund acquisition or development of a
ne~a~ park.
• Need to get started on location right away. New business park could be anywhere
on west side.
• Public look at several options for the new location
• Consider whether the Cilu needs to own it or can work with an o~nmer
• Anew park must have ttp-to-date and dependable communications and power.
• Clusters and niches are usually supported by nearby workforce training and
education. There are four schools within 45 minutes of Hastings. Need to know
what their specialties are.
• 1\larketing needs to be electronic as well.
3. Business assistance.
• SBA is doing all it can to help business financing at this time. A loan program
may not be needed at this time.
• A program has to be carefully crafted to avoid unnecessary duplication and drain
on resources. Criteria need to be specific and objective. Budgeting needs to be
economical.
• Commercial lending should not be emphasized, but special cases where other
resources are not available will be considered.
4. Senior and affordable family housing.
• .Assess condition of housing through the 1960s and 1970s in addition to historic.
• Identify ways to support renewal of different ages of housing.
• 1\lake a concerted effort in the oldest neighborhoods on the East side.
• .Address foreclosures by providing some assistance to buyers who reside in and
improve distressed, vacant properties.
• Foreclosure assistance could take a form that proeides the same amount of aid to
many properties, such as an allo~a~ance or investment match as a deterred loan.
5. Transit.
• The EDRA role is to support transit services by provided real estate for a
downtown station or commuter center so that parking will not be an issue.
• EDRA also can facilitate transit oriented development in the downtown project
area and neighborhood.
• TIF dishict No. 4 includes the HRA rivertront property and the station block.
Project increment can be used for acquisition, site preparation and public
improvements.
• Station area developments could also address housing priorities.
6. Communications. Rausch presented the CityImage marketing proposal for discussion.
• CilyImages proposal is a good approach. The feedback study will be useful.
• General Hastings promotion: what to market and to whom?
• Avoid duplicating Convention & Visitors (Chantber of Commerce) marketing.
• lAl:u'keting is switching to electronic media. Print advertising maybe in'elevant.
Attending conventions and associations may also be helpful.
• Paying for marketing is an EDA role. Some former IP funds are available.
D_ Summary and direction
Poll on priorities, 1 is high, 5 low.
Business park development, focus on new location: 1.1
Commercial dishict revitalization, focus on Vermillion: 2.0
Communications: 2.3
Housing maintenance programs: 3.6
Business loan progratn: 4.8
Transit continue existing role and support
2. Next steps to be discussed.
E. Meeting adjourned by acclamation.