2020.02.18 EDA Meeting PacketAGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF CRYSTAL
• REGULAR MEETING •
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CRYSTAL CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. Call to order *
2. Roll call *
3. Consider approval of minutes from the January 7, 2020 meeting, January 9, 2020
work session and February 4, 2020 work session
4. Consider approval of the 2020 Work Program
5. Closed session to determine a price for the sale of 5565 Vera Cruz Ave. N.
6. Closed session to determine whether to make a purchase offer for 4749 Welcome
Ave. N.
7. Other business *
8. Adjournment *
*Items for which no materials are included in the packet
Minutes of the
Economic Development Authority of the City of Crystal
Annual Organizational Meeting
Council Chambers
January 7, 2020
1. Call to Order
President LaRoche called the work session of the Economic Development Authority of
the City of Crystal (EDA) to order at 7:40 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Upon call of the roll, the following members were present: Jim Adams, Brendan Banks,
John Budziszewski, Julie Deshler, Therese Kiser, Nancy LaRoche and Olga Parsons.
The following staff were present: Executive Director Anne Norris, Deputy Executive
Director John Sutter and City Attorney Troy Gilchrist.
3. Election of Officers
The Mayor recommended the following slate of EDA officers for 2020:
President: LaRoche
Vice President: Parsons
Secretary: Deshler
Treasurer: Banks
Moved by Commissioner Parsons (Adams) to approve the Mayor’s recommended slate of
EDA officers for 2020. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Deshler (Banks) to approve the minutes from the December 17,
2019 meeting. Motion carried.
5. Other Business
There was no other business.
6. Adjournment
Moved by Commissioner Budziszewski (Adams) to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Minutes of the
Economic Development Authority of the City of Crystal
Work Session
Council Chambers
January 9, 2020
1. Call to Order
President LaRoche called the work session of the Economic Development Authority of
the City of Crystal (EDA) to order at 6:35 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Upon call of the roll, the following members were present: Jim Adams,
John Budziszewski, Julie Deshler, Therese Kiser, Nancy LaRoche and Olga Parsons.
The following staff were present: Executive Director Anne Norris, Deputy Executive
Director John Sutter, and City Planner Dan Olson.
3. Tabletop exercise to discuss potential redevelopment sites in Crystal’s Town Center
zoning districts (Bass Lake Road/West Broadway area).
EDA members and staff moved around the room to view and discuss several aerial
photos of the Town Center area, market trend information and branding ideas.
4. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
Minutes of the
Economic Development Authority of the City of Crystal
Work Session
Conference Room A
February 4, 2020
1. Call to Order
Secretary Deshler called the work session of the Economic Development Authority of the
City of Crystal (EDA) to order at 7:40 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Upon call of the roll, the following members were present: Jim Adams, Brendan Banks,
John Budziszewski, Julie Deshler, and Therese Kiser.
The following staff were present: Executive Director Anne Norris and Deputy Executive
Director John Sutter.
3. 2019 Annual Report
Staff presented the 2019 Annual Report to the EDA.
4. Draft 2020 Work Program.
Staff presented the draft 2020 Work Program for review and discussion.
5. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
Approved by EDA
February 18, 2020
Staff Contact:
John Sutter
Community Development Director
(763) 531-1130
john.sutter@crystalmn.gov
www.crystalmn.gov
Branding and Beautification
Façade Enhancement Incentive
•EDA share would be 50% of qualifying costs paid to property owner upon
completion
•EDA share secured by a no-interest deferred loan to be forgiven after 5 years
•We will seek Henn Co funding (again)
•If Henn Co doesn’t provide funding, there will be no program
Murals
•Identify preferred locations (location, visibility, etc.)
•Seek private grants (typically require funds to pass through the city)
•Requires buy-in from property owners
“Town Center” Branding
•Develop logo (in progress)
•Use first in development marketing materials
•Then roll out to property owners and businesses in the area
•Expect a gradual uptake by the community over time -in much the same manner
as the neighborhood names which were first coined 20 years ago
Branding and Beautification
Planter Boxes
•8 will be placed on Bass Lake Road as in 2019
•12 more to be placed as follows:
-6 on Douglas Dr south of 36th
-6 on 42nd Ave from Adair Ave to Douglas Dr
•$3,700 estimated expenditure to purchase 12 planter boxes plus $2,000 estimated
expenditure for soil and flowers for 20 planters
•$5,000 budgeted in Beautification line item (other line items will be below budget)
Litter Clean-Up by Sentenced to Service program (STS)
•There’s no way to fully control litter, but this makes a noticeable difference
•Cost is roughly $385 each time (we get a crew for a day)
•Once every three weeks from mid-April -mid-November
•$4,300 estimated expenditure
•$5,000 budgeted in Rubbish Removal line item
Promotion
Residential Marketing Package
•Focus on quality of life, neighborhoods, city responsiveness & financial practices
•Dry run: Presenting to District 281 Realtors’ Forum on April 2
Commercial Marketing Package
•Focus on city responsiveness & financial practices, access, workforce
•Will include business testimonials
Developer Marketing Package
•Specific marketing package for the Town Center area
•Primarily aimed at developers
•Part of Bottineau corridor “Northwest Crossing” marketing efforts
Continue membership in Open to Business
•Technical assistance at no cost to small business start-ups or expansions
•EDA cost is $3,750 per year and matched by Hennepin County
•Enhanced outreach and promotion in 2020 concurrent with other efforts
Disposition of EDA Property
4824 56th
•Could be split into two 52.5’-wide lots for single
family homes
•Monitoring well will be there at least another year
•Hold until early 2021, then reevaluate
5565 Vera Cruz
•Attempt to sell to adjacent commercial property owner
(flower shop)
•If that doesn’t happen, then attempt to rearrange lot
lines to create a buildable lot to sell for single family
home construction
4741 Welcome
•Guided medium density residential -allows up to 7
units on the property
•If combined with adjacent property at 4749 Welcome,
site could have up to 12 units
•Wait to see what happens with 4749 Welcome
(currently for sale by auction), then reevaluate
Disposition of EDA Property
3443 Douglas Dr and 3443 Edgewood
•Vacant lots south and west of Hampton Companies site
at 3501 Douglas Dr
•Extension of Edgewood north of 34th would be required
for development of these and several other lots owned
by other parties - may not be feasible
•Hold until early 2021, then reevaluate after Hampton
Companies assisted living facility is complete
3401-3415 Douglas Dr
•Currently in talks with developer interested in the site
•Guided medium density residential -allows up to 17
units (presumably townhomes)
3354 Douglas Dr and 6213 34th
•Guided medium density residential -allows up to 12
units (presumably townhomes)
•Property to south (3342 Douglas Dr) has a single family
home on two oversized lots; if combined with current
EDA site, could have up to 30 units
•Hold until adjacent owner ready to sell for development
Disposition of EDA Property
3240 Hampshire
•Remnant left over after selling 3244
Hampshire lot for new home in 2000
•South portion not buildable due to soils and
wetland issues
•North portion (behind 3244) may be buildable
but would require driveway, water and sewer
from Georgia Avenue -may not be feasible
•Hold until early 2021, then reevaluate
3556 Major
•Currently for sale for $25,000 for new home
construction
3409 June
•One of 15 contiguous vacant lots with
limited development potential due to steep
slope, lack of access and fragmented
ownership (there are ten other owners)
•Four lots are owned by homeowners on
Kyle across the unimproved alley
•Attempt to sell to homeowner across alley
at 3408 Kyle
•If that doesn’t happen, then offer to any
owner of other lots in the strip
•And if that too doesn’t happen, then
continue to hold
Major Development Opportunities
Staff met with 17
developers (so far) to
promote the new Town
Center zoning districts
(West Broadway / Bass
Lake Road area)
Several developers have
expressed interest in
building new multi-family
residential in this area
due to market demand
Later in 2020, we expect
to receive one or two
development proposals
for EDA, Planning
Commission and City
Council consideration
___________________________________________________________________________
FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director
___________________________________________________________________________
DATE: February 13, 2020
TO: Anne Norris, City Manager (for February 18 EDA meeting)
SUBJECT: Closed session to determine a price for the sale of 5565 Vera Cruz Ave. N.
As part of its 2020 Work Program, the EDA has directed staff to attempt to sell the vacant
property at 5565 Vera Cruz Avenue North. This 10,458 sq. ft. property is comprised of two
parcels in Registered Land Survey #733, Tract A (PID 04-118-21-34-0088) and Tract D (PID
04-118-21-34-0090). It is guided and zoned Commercial.
The property had been a neighborhood code enforcement problem going back to the early
1990s. This was the main reason the EDA acquired it from the State of Minnesota in 2011
after the property went through tax forfeiture. The EDA then demolished the dilapidated
commercial building and parking lot.
Staff estimates the cumulative EDA expenditures on this property are approximately $103,000
to date, comprised of the following:
63,000 Acquisition
12,000 Demolition
5,000 Mowing
23,000 2016 street reconstruction assessment
It would be unrealistic to expect anything close to full cost recovery, as this property was only
purchased to remove a blighted building and protect the neighborhood. As to what the
property is worth, there have been no comparable commercial property sales in Crystal in
recent years. Also, Tract D (the southwesterly portion of the property) is encumbered by a
driveway easement running in favor of the adjacent flower shop. Staff opinion is that a land
price of $4-6 per sq. ft. would be reasonable based on a handful of somewhat similar sites
along Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center.
Staff recommends making an offer to sell the property to the adjacent business property owner
(Rose-Bo Floral and Gift). To that end, staff requests that the EDA move into closed session
as allowed by law to determine an acceptable sale price for the property, and then enter into
negotiations with the owner of the adjacent business property. If those negotiations are
successful, a public hearing and EDA action to consider approving the sale would be placed
on a subsequent EDA meeting agenda.
EDA STAFF REPORT
5565 Vera Cruz
Determine Sale Price (Closed Session)
2002 Aerial Photo
2018 Aerial Photo
Property Survey
___________________________________________________________________________
FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director
___________________________________________________________________________
DATE: February 13, 2020
TO: Anne Norris, City Manager (for February 18 EDA meeting)
SUBJECT: Closed session to determine whether to make a purchase offer for 4749
Welcome Ave. N.
As part of its 2020 Work Program, the EDA has directed staff to explore the possibility of
purchasing a vacant, foreclosed house at 4749 Welcome Avenue North. This property is
directly north of a vacant lot at 4741 Welcome already owned by the EDA. Both properties are
guided and zoned Medium Density Residential which would allow up to 5 units at 4749, 7 units
at 4741, and 12 units if both parcels were combined.
The house at 4749 has been vacant for more than a year. The Sheriff’s sale occurred on July
1, 2019 and the bank took title upon redemption expiry on January 2, 2020. The bank has put
the property up for online auction. One auction has been completed but the bank refused to
accept the highest bid of $137,500 and has scheduled another auction for February 16-18. If
that auction also fails, the bank will possibly schedule a third auction. If the EDA would like
staff to make an offer at that time, staff would need to the EDA to determine how much to
offer, and suggests that be done in closed session as allowed by law.
Facts and observations about 4749 Welcome:
• The house is a 912 sq. ft. rambler with no basement.
• The property also has a 816 sq. ft. 3-car detached garage and driveway off the alley.
• The house has a living room, kitchen, laundry room, two bedrooms and one bathroom.
• Staff viewed the house and our opinion is that it will need significant investment, including
mostly cosmetic repairs but also a new furnace and possibly some structural rehabilitation.
However, in today’s market, the house is not an obvious candidate for demolition. This is
probably why the bank refused to accept the high bid of $137,500.
• The Hennepin County Assessor’s estimated market value is $166,000 as of January 2020.
If the EDA desires to make an offer on the property, the EDA could close the meeting to
discuss how much to offer. Any actual purchase of the property would require EDA action at a
subsequent meeting.
If the EDA does not desire to make an offer, then no action is required.
EDA STAFF REPORT
4749 Welcome
Determine Offer Price (Closed Session)
2018 Aerial Photo
House Front House Rear