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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-19634W Record of Official Proceedings of the -Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., March 25, 1963 FY•00292 Minutes of an adjourned regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, held in the Council Chambers in the City Hall, in said City, on March 25, 1963. President Tingley called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P. M., the following members being present: President Tingley, Aldermen Bergstedt, DeVries, Leonard, Thomas, Wilson. Absent: Alderman Morris. President Tingley stated this as being the time and place set for a hearing to consider whether substandard, slum or blighted areas exist in the City of Rochester, Minnesota, which cannot be redeveloped without government assistance; whether adequate housing accommodations are available to veterans and servicemen and their families; whether there is a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations to persons of low income and their families at rentals they can afford; and whether there is a need for a housing and redevelopment authority . to function in the City of Rochester in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 462 of the Minnesota Statutes; at such public hearing opportunity to be heard shall be granted to all residents of the City of Rochester and its environs and to all other interested persons. President Tingley then called on any one wishing to be heard.. Mr. Leonard Ekstrand,.President of the Central Area Improvement Association, stated that they were the original ones that had requested the Council to form such a development authority. He said some 18 months ago when they had the parkigg ramp pretty much under control their group began looking at the image of downtown Rochester and wondered what could or should be done to ¢improve our downtown area physicall; he said everyone was acquainted with the one block that we have been working with and they are hoping that this might become a reality by proceeds of private enterprise. The problem is far greater than the one block (we have on the east side of Broadway from Center to 4th Street and also along the river-) so they began thinking about what other things could happen and how it could be redeveloped. He said they had secured the services of Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. to help them with this, during the past ten days they have had some of the men from this firm here to outline the plan. He then introduced Mr. Ro$aey E. Engelen, Engineering and Planning Consultant for Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc. Mr. Engelen presented copies of "Renewal and Development Potentials" an initial review prepared by their firm. Mr. Engelen stated there were two basic ways to meet the needs and opportunities of Central Rochester (1) towork out solutions to each problem and opporutnity separately, without reference to others and (2) develop an over-all plan and over-all strategy for meeting them and then proceed project by project to the achievement of the agreed upon goal. He recommended that the second way would be the most feasible because if the Redevelopment Authority were established, they would have power to condemn to acquire building sites and then could demolish the structure and then sell or lease them to private developers. The area recommended by Mr. Engelen was bounded by First Avenue 'Southwest on the west, the Chicago North Western Railway on the north, the Zumbro River on the east and 4th Street Southwest and Southeast on the south. He cited some of the major problems as being (1) Relief -of -Broadway - Broadway is 1 • 1 1 • 1 E Record of Official Proceedings of the- Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., March 25, 1963 407 ' 1 CJ n u 1 called on to perform too many jobs; among other things, it must.carry'°heavy through graffic, provide.major access to the central area, handle major vehicle turning movements, provide curb parking, accommodate major pedestrian movements and provide a pleasant shopping environment; (2) it is obvious that-severalof these functions are in conflict with each other;.for example, heavy pedestrian movements make the movement of through traffic difficult and heavy vehicle turning and through movements tend to destroy shopping amenities; there is a very real need to relieve Broadway of some of its functions so that it can -serve the Central Area well; (2) Provision -of Building -Sites - One of the primary needs of Central Rochester is space for modern new commercial construction; commercial enterprise is no longer satisfied with the old, standard 25 and 50 foot lots; new central area construction demands half -blocks, blocks and even groups of blocks for successful operation; because of the pattern of present land ownership and building in central areas, large well -located building -sites are difficult, if not impossible, to acquire; in ROCHESTE this general problem is aggravated by the fact that the central business area, centered on Broadway, is tightly bounded on the west, by solid and valuable institutional development and, on the east, by obsolete railroad facilities; thus the normal opportunity for the creation of business sites in nearby wholesale, industrial or housing districts is lacking; this lack of suitable opportunities for new construction in the Central Area can, and has, led to a loss and scattering of business that for maximum attraction and service, should be located together in the Central Area; it has also made it difficult to provide adquate parking in sites where it is most needed and it has greatly held back the creation,of new supporting development in theform of apartments, motels, restaurants, etc. (3) Overcome Obsole-scene-and-Deterioration - like most central areas, downtown Rochester is old and like most old areas, it was laid out and many of its buildings and public facilities were built to meet far different needs than they must serve today; moreover, many buildings and areas have deteriorated to a point where they not only fail to perfon today's functions but they detract from the attractiveness and value of the area as a whole; If downtown Rochester is to thrive and to provide a good environment for the many institutional and civic activities located there, steps must.be taken to eliminate deteriorated buildings and areas and to overcome obsolescence as fast as, or before, it occurs; (4) Improved -Downtown Environment - There is also a general need in Central Rochester that can best -be expressed by saying that, more and more, the area needs to conform to recognized principles for central area development; meeting of the three needs discussed above would do much to improve the area and to bring it closer to desirable planning standards and and objectives; but there are still many other prin- ciples to be observed, such as: a major parking facility should be located within 600 (and. preferably 400) feet of every major destination, improved,.weather-protected pedestrian routes should be connect all major facilities, such routes should. -be free of interuption of heavy traff each major parking facility should be connected as directly as possible Vo principal access routes; vehicles approaching the Central Area from any direction should be able to move to their destinations smoothly, quickly and with a minimum of conflcit with Central Area activities. Mr. Engelen then outlined the opportunities in Central Rochester, in terms of physical development, 0 ' 408 Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., March 25, 1963 • FY-B�Zg2 .the major opportunities are (1) The Creation of.New Commercial Development (2) The Construction of New Housing (3) The Improvement of Streets and Circulation (4) Improvement of the City "image" and (5) The Creation of a Better Life for Rochester Citizens. He then recommended that the approach to the improvement of Central Rochester should start with the preparation of two things: one, a plan that specifies the desired location and development standards of all principal land uses, streets, public facilities and major parking and pedestrian facilities in the area, this might be called the,Development or Renawal PLAN; two, a listing of specific actions that are needed to meet the needs and opportunities of the area, with a time table and budget for --their accomplish- ment, this might be called the Development or Renewal.Program. The Development Plan would provide • a basis for zoning, street improvement, street vacations, parking facility development, street lighting, etc. and in addition it would provide a stimulus and guide to private development, giving assurance of public intentions and helping to coordinate related private actions. The Development Program would indicate the general time and nature of public actions to be taken in such areas as street improvement, parking improvement, public building construction and redevelopment of obsolete and blighted vacant land and buildings. He stated that because of the related needs of overcoming obsolescence and deteriroation and of providing new building sites they recommended that Rochester make use of the powers and financial resources available in the Minnesota _ Municipal Housing and Redevelopment Act and in the Federal Housing Act and through the application of these powers and resources the City may obtain funds with which to prepare the Development Plan and Program and obtain funds to help with planning of specific renewal projects; the City would be enabled to use the power of eminent domain for the,acquisition and clearance of obsolescent deteriorated or otherwsie blighted properties and for the assembly and sale of land and the City could obtain assistance in bearing the costs of acquisition, clearance, assembly and sale of land in the creation of new building sites, rights of ways, etc. and in the construction of certain site improvements. Mr. Engelen then recommended that the following steps be taken: (1) Establish h - a Housink and Redevelopment Authority and arrange for financing of its activities to accordance with the Minnesota Municipal Housing and Redevelopment Act. (2) Request that a representative of the - Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency visit Rochester to explain Urban Renewal Programs and • Procedures and to view Rochester's renewal needs and opportunities. (3) Prepare and submit (to the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency) an application for certification of the City's workable Program for Community Improvement. (4) Prepare and submit (to the Federal Urban Renewal Administration) an application for funds with which to prepare a Development Plan and a Development Program. Mr. Engelen then.stated that he would answer any questions. The methods of financing were also discussed; these include participation in the Federal Urban Renewal Program and acombination of city funds and private capital, Mr. Engelen said there is no,reason why private capital cannot be used in such a program but he said if'the City does decide to participate in the federal program there are definite advantages to going into the program early; he said Federal financing could include grants for planning and engineering and financing of about 75% of the community's -net loss for building acquisition and clearing; he said without the aid of Federal Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of- Rochester, Minn., March 25, 1963 Program it might,co¢t the City perhaps four to six million dollers. -Mr. Harry Meyer of 1030 7th Avenue Southeast inquired what the cost would be to the taxpayer and stated that he felt that the downtown area needed,more parking facilities. Mr. Leonard Ekstrand commented,tha� during his 36 years in Rochester the Zumbro River from Broadway to the now Silver Lake area was a beautiful and attractive asset to the City but through deterioration, blight, construction into the river and the accumulation of debris the river has become unattractive and a hazard from both flooding and health stand- points* Mr.•Ekstrand further pointed out to the Common Council that at the present,time there, • are approximately 15 vacant buildings on Broadway within a 4 block area, that in every instance,these buildings. are 50 or more years old and in a state of extensive deterioration each and decay and that because of the ,isolation of these buildings/from the other, the narrow frontage and in some cases the multiple ownership, it is impracticable and perhaps impossible for private enterprise to qcquire these buildings and accomplish reconstruction on any comprehensive or economical basis. He informed the Council that the block of buildings on Broadway between 2nd Street and 3rd Street Southeast, which is at or near the heart of the downtown business district is especially blighted and below modern retail standards to sucha degree that prospective retail businesses will not consider this block as acceptable locations without reconstruction. Mr. Ekstrand also advised the Council that there is a serious blight and substandard areas between Broadway and the Zumbro River from the point where the Zumbro River crosses underneath South Broadway northward to the Chicago North Western Railway tracks. That the tax revenue derived by the City of Rochester from this area will substantially diminish in the future and in order to protect these revenues and probably increase these tax revenues it is necessary to replan and reconstruct this district on a comprehensive and integrated planning basis. Captain Harold Hatfield,,Loca1 Commander of the Salvation Army, stated that they had worked with several families across the river and East of the Railroad tracks and north of Center Street. He said they had visited many of these homes and have found the • conditions of the homes unsatisfactory and.they know the tragedy (referring to the recent fire - in this area which cost two lives) it cost us because the housing situation was not adequate to meet the needs and he was hoping that something could,be done for the families that do not have the income to afford the convenient type of home. Captain Hatfield further stated that loom his experience in wokring with the low income group in Rochester he felt there was a shortage of low income housing which should be remedied on the community wide basis, Mr. Garnet Spring, Building Inspector, spoke to the Council and advised that many of the buildings on Broadway, especially on the east side of Broadway, and,many of the homes between the Zumbro River and 3rd Street and Avenue Southeast and north of Center Street between the Zumbro River and 2nd Avenue Northeast were seriously deteriorated and some of the buildings close to being condemned. The Council received in evidence a group of five pictures showing blighted and • 410 Record of Official Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., _March 25, 1963 • FY•60Y5P substandard areas on Broadway. The Council also received data from the U..S. Census Bureau concerning housing conditions in Rochester. A letter from Helen Jorgensen of 426 - 2nd Street S. W. favoring urban renewal was also presented. A letter from the A.F.L.-C.I.O. Central Labor Union stated that at the regular March meeting of the Rochester Dentral Body delegate's it was discussed, voted on and passed that the said body go on record as being favor of aiding all efforts for Urban Renewal and will do whatever is in their power to help in this problem which faces all citizens of Rochester, was also presented. Upon motion by Leonard, second by DeVries, the above letters and data -were -made a part of these minutes. President.Tingley declared the hearing officially closed at 9:40.P. M. • The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the request of Curtis L. Taylor, Recreation Director and Roger E. Stasek, Assistant Director, for permission to attend the spring conference of the Minnesota Recreation Association to be held April 25 and 26 in Owatonna, be approved was read and upon motion by Wilson, second by Bergstedt, and all voting in favor thereof, the recommendation was approved and they were authorized to -attend the said conference at city expense. The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the request of Frank Everett, Fire Chief, requesting permission for tow captains and himself to attend the 12th annual meeting of the State Fire School to be held at the University of Minnesota on April 22 through 25, be approved was read and upon motion by Leonard, second by Bergstedt, and all voting in favor thereof, the recommendation was approved and they were authorized to attend the said meeting at -city expense. The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the request of Miss Mary Campion for permission to attend the annual meeting of the Minnesota Tuberculosis and Health Association in Minneapolis on March 29, 1963, be approved was read and upon motion by Wilson, second by Bergstedt, and all voting in favor thereof, the recommendation was approved and Miss Campion was authorized to attend the -said meeting at city expense. The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the request of the City Planning Director for permission to attend the American Society of Planning Officials Conference to be held on May 5-9, 1963 in Seattle Washington be approved,was read and upon motion by Bergstedt, second • by Leonard, and all voting in favor thereof, the recommendation was approved and Mr. Moore was authorized to attend at city expense. The recommendation of the Finance Committee that the request of the Planning and Zoning Commission to have the salary of Mr. Wm. Kroll, Associate Planner, raised to 1007. of the base rate of $6,493 40 per year, effective April 1, 1963 be granted, was read. Upon motion by Bergstedt, second by Leonard, and all voting in favor thereof, the recommendation was approved. Resolution accepting the plat to be known and designated as Peck's Hills First Subdivision. Upon motion by Wilson, second by Bergstedt, resolution adopted. Resolution accepting the plat to be known and designated as Bel Air First Sudbidivison. Upon motion by Wilson, second by Thomas, resolution adopted. Record of Official Proceedings of the - Common -Council of the City of Rochester, Minn., March 25, 1963 FY•60252 Resolution accepting the plat to be known and designated as Sehl's First Subdivision. sUpon motion by Wilson, second by Thomas, resolution adopted. Upon motion by Leonard, second by DeVries, a short recess was declared at 9:50 P. M. Alderman Wilson was excused at 9:50 P. M. President Tingley called the meeting to order again at 10:40 P.-M. There was no C further business. Upon motion by Leonard, second by DeVries, and all present voting in favor thereof, the meeting was adjourned. Cit.- Clerk