On Tuesday night during the Northfield Economic Development Authority meeting, the City of Northfield presented what City Administrator Ben Martig called a reboot of the 5th & Washington Street project. The City is once again talking about building a structure on the Washington Street Parking lot that would house a new Northfield Municipal Liquor Store, three levels of parking that would more than double the number of spots on the land right now, four additional 1500 square foot retail spaces, possibly up to 54 apartments, green areas and public spaces, including public restrooms, as well as what the presenters referred to as a “Grasvedt Lane enhancement.”
The first version of the project was proposed early in 2023 but went dormant when the developer connected to the project, Michael Lander, pulled out. Since then, aside from an assurance from Martig that the city is intent on continuing to find a solution to the Municipal Liquor Store, which has been considered cramped and in a subpar location for decades, there has been almost no comment from the city on what would come next.
The presentation before the EDA was not a final design, but some specifics were discussed. The six-story building would have three levels of parking, one below ground. Two levels would include 80 stalls each for public parking. The third floor could potentially be residential parking for the people who would live in the new residences.
Martig, in his comments, discussed the role of the Municipal Liquor Store in Northfield, and talked about a “misinformation campaign” that has been circulated by critics of the project. He, Director of Community Development Jake Reilly, and Municipal Liquor Store Manager Brian Whitt all addressed the concept that the Muni, as some say, “doesn’t make money and never will.” Indeed, the presentation said, the liquor store runs as an independent business owned by the city that returns money to the general fund every year, despite the fact that it operates out of a site that is limiting. Martig said he has worked in two other cities that built new liquor stores when he was there, and both times the projects came in under budget and delivered more than had been promised.
The project will now be taken to the public, and input will be gathered. It will be presented to the City Council in September and could possibly seek initial approvals as early as November.
Crazy Days expands throughout Northfield and into Dundas
Crazy Days, Northfield’s annual outdoor summer shopping event sponsored by the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce is this Thursday. Local shop owners and merchants will shut down Division Street from 2nd Street to 6th Street, in order to offer bargains, food and family-oriented activities.
Sales and events will be happening throughout Downtown Northfield. Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jane Bartho said many businesses not located downtown will have booths on Division Street as well. Other businesses, she said, will celebrate with sales at their locations.
Bartho said that while there will be non-Division Street businesses set up in booths on Division Street, this year Crazy Days is expanding to include other businesses throughout town and even into Dundas. There will be many family-friendly events to give the day a more festive feel. The US Army will set up a rock-climbing wall near 5th Street. Post Consumer Brands will sell cereal on Bridge Square. The Northfield School District will have a booth giving people the opportunity to write a note to an educator, thanking them for all they do for the area students. Bartho also said political candidates will be invited to set up tables in one section of Downtown Northfield so they can interact directly with voters during this important election season.
Northfield Emergency Vehicles including fire engines and ambulances will be on display near 5th Street, and a Benjamin Bus supplied school bus will be on hand as well. The Sundowners Car Club will hold their annual classic car and jeep show outside the VFW around 5:00pm.
The Chamber of Commerce will also have a booth at Bridge Square where they will have Chamber Bucks for sale which can be used at businesses during Crazy Daze.
Crazy Days will run Thursday on Division Street. Stores will open at 7am.
MPCA offers advice on salting policies
Members of the City of Northfield staff and some elected officials will attend a free two-hour virtual workshop next week presented by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency entitled Smart Salting for Community Leaders, and the general public is invited to take part as well.
This interactive workshop will help participants understand the impacts of chloride on infrastructure and water resources and will provide specific action steps to make policy changes in their communities in order to reduce salt pollution.
The workshop is open to the general public, but it is geared toward elected officials, board members of watershed districts or housing associations, and other community decision-makers who are not directly involved in road salt application or water softener use but could benefit from learning about the advantages of smart salting.
Chloride pollution from road salt, water softeners, and fertilizer affects the quality of lakes, rivers, and streams, and leads to damaged infrastructure and properties. There’s no feasible way to remove chloride once it gets into the water, and salty water harms freshwater fish and other aquatic wildlife. Smart salting strategies can help reduce chloride pollution while saving money and maintaining safe conditions for winter transit.
This workshop is co-hosted by the Northfield Public Library, City of Northfield, Clean River Partners, and the MPCA Chloride Reduction Program. Funding comes from the Clean Water Fund.
It will run Tuesday, July 30th from 11am – 1pm. To register for the workshop, click here.
KYMN Daily News 7/23/24
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
