In with the new, out with the old?

The Walker Building, near Central Community Center, was built in 1892.

The Elmwood. Parkway 25. Arlington Row. The Shoreham. PLACE.

Redevelopment is in full swing in St. Louis Park. More than a dozen new building projects are currently in progress or expected to start in the next few months. A look at our 2017 Report to the Community shows we’ll add nearly 1,000 new apartment units and 270 hotel rooms in 2017, along with more than 580,000 square feet of new office/commercial space. Full build-out at Central Park West, in The West End, will eventually add two more apartment buildings, two office buildings, a hotel, and a 2,534-stall parking ramp.
 
From a revenue standpoint, we’re doing well; redevelopment brings in millions of dollars in taxes that enable us to maintain or expand our already great city services.
 
Redevelopment can have negative impacts, too:  more cars and congestion; less open space; fewer affordable housing units; fewer low-rent spaces for small businesses; and, potentially, a loss of the original charm and character of the community. With the introduction of Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) in the next few years, including three new stations in St. Louis Park, redevelopment is sure to change how our community looks and feels.  
 
In Ward 1, here are three areas to watch:

• Beltline Boulevard: The city recently issued a request for proposals for the new SWLRT station, calling for mixed-use development (housing, retail, office space) and a park-and-ride ramp that will accomodate 268 cars.
• Historic Walker-Lake District: Our original downtown, near Central Community Center, includes the building pictured above, built by T.B. Walker, founder of the Walker Art Center. Council members are currently considering options for this area.
• Minnetonka Boulevard & Hwy 100 (the former Holiday gas station). This land is currently owned by MN DOT but will be turned over to the city within the next few years, with future development TBD.

I think the time is now to get a handle on redevelopment and its long-term impacts on the community we value so highly. I'm hearing residents say, and I agree: let’s not be tempted by short-term gain (property and sales tax revenue alone) at the expense of long-term pain (for example, an out-of-whack ratio of renters to homeowners that impacts the health of our school district).
 
As your council member, I’ll advocate for an approach to redevelopment that:

• recognizes the need to maintain an appropriate balance of renters to homeowners 
• honors our unique history, strengthens our sense of place, and adds to the social vitality of our city
• promotes adaptive reuse of existing infrastructure over construction of new infrastructure (think Honey & Rye, a former dry cleaning shop built in 1956)
• promotes green building practices and zero-net energy buildings 
• builds public/private partnerships to help us meet our targets
• turns away developers who are unable or unwilling to meet our redevelopment targets. 

Change is inevitable, and change is coming to St. Louis Park. How we respond to the challenges and opportunities this change presents will greatly impact our shared future. 
 
What will our community look and feel like in ten years? Let’s decide now, and put preservation, design, and other guidelines in place that align with what we envision. Then let's thoughtfully, and slowly if needed, build our way into the future we want.
 
What do you think? I welcome your ideas on redevelopment here.