September 24th, 2005

NORTHFIELD — Northfield’s Historical Preservation Commission (HPC) got a glimpse Thursday of a building destined to change the city’s downtown.

The building that currently houses the old Community National Bank building may be razed this winter to make way for a four-story mixed-use development in the heart of downtown.

Staffers from Collaborative Design Group and from Mendota Homes presented information about the development Thursday at the HPC’s meeting.

Mendota Homes purchased the property from Community National Bank, which still maintains a presence at the Bridge Square location, but has a new headquarters at 1605 Heritage Drive.

Aside from a few questions about some of the details of the preliminary plans, members of the HPC were enthusiastic about the project.

On Friday, John Mathern, owner of Mendota Homes explained some of the philosophy behind the building.

“It’s really a show piece at that corner, but we knew it had to be — it only had one direction to go,” he said.

The first floor of the four-story building will be for retail use, including Community National Bank’s downtown location, Mathern said.

The second floor will be office space. The third and fourth floors will be residential space.

“It’s truly a mixed-use building,” Mathern said.

The development company needs to complete an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) for the site. Mathern said he expects to have approval for the EAW in November or December.

Construction may begin in February, he said.

– Michelle Kubitz

Reprinted with permission from the Northfield News.