The City of Northfield has announced long-term plans that would radically redesign the riverfront area. The plans as announced have been 
somewhat vague and have led to some rumors and speculation about what exactly the city might want to do.
Last week, consultant Bruce Jacobson, who with his associate Bob Close, is spearheading the project for the city, addressed some of those rumors and discussed what the project will do, and what it will not do.
Jacobson said the idea has always been for private development to be deeply involved in the process. They have had extensive conversations with Rebound Partners about the redevelopment of the Archer House site and of the Byzantine site at the Southeast corner of Highway 3 and 2nd Street, about the stretch of the Riverwalk in that area, as well as opportunities that may develop on the “Q” block directly on the other side of Highway 3. The Lander Group has been selected as the private developer for the 5th & Water Street Projects, and Jacobson said Michael Lander’s approach fits very well with the city’s vision for the area.
“A lot of times the public piece of projects is the last thing that happens. It’s the remnant after the building is placed and you end up having these little remnant pieces. For [Lander] it’s the other way around. It’s the public framework. The public setting is every bit as important, if not more important, than the building itself.”
Another question is about the future of the Ames Mill dam. The city has recently concluded a flood study of the area and is now looking at the effects of removing the dam, either fully or leaving a section of it. Jacobson said nothing has been decided about the dam, and the city right now is only looking at different scenarios. He did say, however, that the dam is in poor shape, and in need of attention, so the city will weigh all options.
“There’s history. That’s really critical. There’s river health, so river ecology and there’s river recreation. And I’m not suggesting we’re going to find balance of those three. We’re going to make some hard choices. I don’t want to over speak this because we haven’t met with enough [people] to make it really a true poll, but it’s running 2-1 in favor of paying much more attention to river ecology.”
Finally, the biggest question for many is parking. The design of the Bridge Square renovation and some initial sketches of the 5th & Water Street area calls for the removal of the section of water street between 4th and 5th streets, and with that section goes a substantial amount of downtown parking. Jacobson said as more designs are made and revealed, each parking space that is removed will be replaced somewhere else.
“We committed, first and forever, that we would not touch a single parking space without the city committing to a downtown district parking strategy and implementing that strategy. And they’re right in the middle of it. We should get that draft plan soon. It should be delivered in February.”
Jacobson said the city is committed to communicating with the public throughout the process, and three open houses discussing the plans will be held in February, with dates to be announced soon.
Pursell supports Clean Energy Bill for ag community
On Thursday the Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation that establishes new clean energy goals for the state and puts 
Minnesota on a path to producing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.
In 2007, legislation was passed that required the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 2005 levels by 2050. According to a recent report by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, however, the state is not on track to meet those goals.
Representative Kristi Pursell said she voted in favor of the bill, because conditions are becoming increasingly difficult for the agricultural community, and the State of Minnesota has to address these issues immediately.
“High winds, incredible droughts, hail more frequently over and over and over, and that has been brutal for our ag community. Folks who have been farming a lot longer than we were, have seen the increase of extreme weather, and we owe it to my children, your children, the next generations to do something about it now.”
Pursell said an identical bill is moving through the Senate, and has passed out of the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee. Governor Walz included the same policy in his budget proposal and has included the policy in past budget proposals.
A statement issued by the DFL said, according to the University of Minnesota, Minnesota is one of the fastest-warming states in the nation.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Kristi Pursell can be heard here
More resources available to learn about Aging in Place
Age Friendly Northfield has been conducting a series of seminars over the past months for those concerned about being able to stay in their
homes as they get older.
Aging In Place is an idea that has gained more attention and more momentum in the last few years, partially because the technology of Universal Design, meaning a home designed to work for everyone who lives there, no matter their age, has evolved. Paul Reiland of Reiland homes said the more we know, the more a universally designed home can be affordable.
“It used to be, we would habitually build houses high out of the ground because we didn’t know what was going to happen when a heavy rain came. But now we have a lot better technology, and we can build a house with a zero grade and still have it drain well and not have [flooding] problems.”
Buildng a home at zero grade means fewer stairs to climb, and fewer obstacles for older adults to have to manage.
Bob Thacker of Age Friendly Northfield said there can be cost savings in other areas, as well. Should a person suddenly find themselves debilitated, aftercare can be an extremely expensive thing. However, making some changes to an existing home can potentially reduce the time a person would have to spend in a nursing home or a long-term care facility, and people are being encouraged to look at their homes and make the changes.
Thacker said the benefits can not only be monetary, but they can keep people happier and healthier as well.
“People want to stay in their homes. They feel comfort there and they feel a history there. And people who are able to stay in their own homes, on average, live seven years longer. So, it’s not only a sentimental thing, but also a practical thing.”
Thacker said the American Association of Retired Persons has done extensive research on the idea and has made those findings available through its website. Age Friendly Northfeld, meanwhile, will continue to offer the Aging in Place seminars. An event in April will go through the idea of downsizing one’s home, and later this year, the organization will offer a tour of homes that have been modified to accommodate older people.
