September 25th, 2004

NORTHFIELD — Purchase agreements have been signed for the Kump Lumber site and Glen Lubbers property, both located along Highway 3, according to John Mathern of Roseville-based Mendota Homes.

Mathern made the announcement during the Thursday morning Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting.

“I started looking at Northfield nine months ago and I met with Brian O’Connell (Northfield’s community development director) and Susan Hoyt (the city administrator) last summer concerning three or four locations in the city,” Mathern said.

Mathern signed a purchase agreement for the Kump site on Sept. 17 and a separate agreement for the Lubbers site in July. The two properties Mathern purchased play a significant role in the Riverfront Redevelopment project. The Riverfront has been designated as the area south of St. Olaf Avenue, north of Second Street and east of Highway 3. Geographically, the city and the EDA own over 50 percent of the site. With the announcement, Mathern is the largest land owner next to the city.

The site as been a priority item of the council and EDA for more than five years. It has been listed as a redevelopment site in the 1990 Northfield Downtown and Transportation Plan as one of its top 10 development sites. Additionally, it is zoned C-1, central business district, to encourage the extension of the downtown by allowing retail, service, office and entertainment facilities as well as public and semi-public uses.

In 1997, the city council adopted a resolution approving a development plan for the site. On Feb. 20, 2001, the City Council approved the EDA’s recommendation for the Jasnoch Construction and Jade Architects (Jay Jasnoch) as the developers for the Riverfront project. However, in the past two years, it was determined that the Jasnoch proposal would be challenging to develop and the process has started over. This summer, the council unanimously approved a process and subsequent action steps outlined for the project.

The council cited the importance of flexibility concerning the outlined timelines and agreed to remain open to future alterations.

The council’s action follows a May 10 meeting in which the City Council named the Riverfront as a top priority.

Following passage of process approval, the council unanimously passed a resolution declaring that all prior action on the Riverfront Redevelopment site is closed.

Northfield Economic Development Specialist Deanna Kuennen said the resolution is meant to eliminate past actions with the intent of starting over with a “clean slate.”

In addition, the property has been planned along with the Highway 3 improvements. MnDOT now controls an additional 30 to 35 feet of right-of-way on the western boundary of the property for the Highway 3 improvements.

Mathern said he is looking forward to working cooperatively with the city, EDA and all parties involved.

“There is no doubt people would like to see something happen at that site sooner rather than later,” he said. “But city staff will have to decide how to deal with that process. As time goes by, we’ll have to do some kind of envisioning that is shared by the City Council and various downtown organizations. But I think the principal piece for us is that there would be a residential building of some size that’s compatible with the buildings in downtown Northfield. There would also be a separate building for commercial space. We’re very interested in the development of the green space between the development and the river.”

Dixon Bond, Northfield City Councilman and liaison to the EDA, said he is delighted in the interest shown; but, remains cautious in how the entire project is assembled together.

“I’m excited that he’s showing interest,” Bond said. “I just hope we will be able to coordinate all that activity.”

EDA President Scott Davis said he is pleased that someone has stepped forward.

“He’s purchased two key properties in that area and he’s expressed interested in working with the community for the best solution,” he said. “He expressed his desire to develop the area into an attractive gateway to the downtown and Northfield.”

Northfield Community Development Director Brian O’Connell said the announcement shows Mathern has committed company resources and therefore believes there is potential for housing development.

“And that’s a good thing,” he said.

O’Connell said the city will continue to establish development objectives and standards.

“We’ll stay the course,” he said. “Whether we go out with an RFP (this spring) or partner with this group is something we have yet to determine,” O’Connell said.

Mathern has been a developer for 27 years and founded Mendota Homes in 1991. The company owns numerous developments in St. Paul. Mendota Homes was recently selected to develop a parcel south of the river in downtown Faribault.

– Carol Roecklein

Reprinted with permission from the Northfield News.