| Back to the future |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
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Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009 11:53 pm
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A view of the proposed, $8 million office complex that local developer Jerry Anderson is planning for the heart of downtown Northfield. To the left is Bridge Square, to the right is First National Bank of Northfield. Submitted image
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Jerry Anderson fondly remembers the brick architecture, the three-faced clock and the historic storefront that distinguished the old Northfield National Bank building.
But that was before the historic building, located at 25 Bridge Square, was replaced in 1965 with the squat, two-story cement building that currently houses Community Resource Bank.
Now, Anderson hopes to replicate the past — by demolishing the current Community Resource Bank building, the parking lot just to the north of the building and the adjacent 1893 Aldsworth building, and replacing them with a four-level, 49,000 square foot office building.
The proposed $8 million reconstruction plan, which could be completed as soon as 2011, would be one of the largest construction projects to occur in downtown Northfield.
The new building would house eight to nine businesses, which would purchase condominium-like units in the space. The architecture, mimicking that of the old, three-story National Bank, would restore a sense of history to a crucial portion of the downtown district, Anderson said.
The four-level building includes a lower level, a rooftop patio overlooking the river and two street-level lobbies — one on the riverside, and one on Division Street. The exterior of the building would be broken into several different storefronts in order to capture a more historical feel, Anderson said, but the interior of each floor will be one contiguous space.
The complex, Anderson added, would be dedicated to office space only — no retail stores, restaurants or residential condos are included in the plans.
Last week, First National Bank of Northfield CEO Dave Shumway confirmed that Anderson has entered into a purchase agreement with First National to buy the property, owned by Mendota Homes before the site went into foreclosure in 2008.
Under an agreement made with Mendota Homes, Community Resource Bank, the building’s current occupant, was paying utilities but no rent.
Neither Anderson nor Community Resource Bank President Don Kuehnast would comment on whether the bank will become a tenant in the new, proposed building.
Anderson, one of the developers on the project, is working with fellow developer David Salene, Northfield Construction owner Ray Cox and Northfield architects Professional Design Group, who designed the office complex.
Anderson and Cox declined to comment specifically on which businesses would occupy the condominium units in the building. However, both did confirm that all potential occupants are Northfield businesses looking to move from their current locations. At this point, Cox added, the negotiations are looking “favorable.”
According to City Administrator Joel Walinski, at least three of the possible occupants are downtown firms.
Nonetheless, the project could mean big things for the vitality and potential of Division Street, and meets several of the infill and redevelopment goals enumerated in the city’s comprehensive plan, Walinski said.
Both he and Mayor Mary Rossing, herself a downtown business owner, believe the proposed 25 Bridge Square project would draw more traffic downtown, having a ripple effect on nearby restaurants and retailers.
“It’s always good for critical mass to have more people living and working downtown, because that does support the restaurants and shops,” Rossing said.
Although Cox and Anderson are optimistic about the project, they cautioned that it is “by no means a sure thing.”
The future of the project hinges on approval by the Northfield Heritage Preservation Committee and the city.
The project’s finances — and Anderson’s purchase agreement with First National — also depend on finding and locking down enough occupants for the building. The $8 million project, Anderson said, would be financed through a construction loan, with the pledges of the future occupants backing the loan up as collateral.
But the risk and the uncertainty, Anderson and Cox said, is worth the potential impact the project would have on Northfield.
“I think, if this pulls off, I think it could be the biggest building project of the century for the city,” Cox said. “It would show that there is a true, solid desire to invest in downtown Northfield.”
“We certainly think that, based upon the work that has already been done, they appear to be very genuine about the work they want to do,” Northfield Economic Development Director Jody Gunderson said.
— David Henke covers city, business and youth issues. He can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100.
An array of images of the proposed project can be viewed in the News' photos galleries.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR 25 BRIDGE SQUARE?
Before Jerry Anderson’s proposed construction project at 25 Bridge Square can become a reality, he’ll have to get the building design approved by the Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission, which meets to discuss the project on Nov. 19. A site plan application for the construction site also has to be approved by city staff, according to City Planner Dan Olson. Both of which could be done as soon as December, Olson estimates.
If the project receives approval from the HPC and the city staff, Anderson will also have to apply for a building permit before he begins construction.
REVITALIZING THE RIVERFRONT
Not only would the project be a “shot in the arm” for businesses downtown, Jerry Anderson also believes the construction would help revitalize a portion of the Cannon River waterfront in downtown. As part of his designs for the building, Anderson is including a large atrium on the northwest corner of the complex, facing the river, and expanded sidewalk access to the river between this project and adjacent store Oo La La.
If the reconstruction goes through, Anderson hopes the space between the northwest corner of the new building and the river — currently a parking lot — could eventually become a Bridge Square-like park.
WHAT ABOUT THE ALDSWORTH BUILDING?
While Jerry Anderson’s goal is to recreate the historic appearance of a portion of downtown, the 1893 Aldsworth Building isn’t compatible with the developer’s plans for the office complex. The building, Anderson said, is inextricably connected to the Community Resource Bank building, making it difficult to demolish one and not the other. Also, the Aldsworth Building rests on a different elevation than the bank, would be challenging to modernize and is of “questionable” integrity, Anderson said.
It’s sad to see the building go, Anderson said, but compared to the overall benefit the project would have to downtown, Anderson believes its an acceptable cost.
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Member Opinions:
By: fedupwithnorthfield on 11/10/09
Isn't the 1893 Aldsworth building connected to the building on the other side ? Why can one side be unconnected but not the other?
By: jsf on 11/10/09
The Aldsworth building up until a few years ago was part of Community Resource Bank when the branch served as the main location. When the new bank was built on the south side of town, sheetrock was put up between the CRB and Aldsworth buildings to separate the offices. The street level wall between the buildings are panels of sheetrock, which will not support the weight of the east side of the Aldsworth building. The two buildings are connected; structurally they have to come down together.
By: fairandbalanced on 11/10/09
We have the technology to pick up a several million pound brick theater and truck it across MPLS, but we can't rebuild a load bearing brick wall. Please!!! Clearly the people who want it ripped down want us to believe that we can't rebuild a wall, and the people who want the historic building preserved find that hard to believe.
By: fairandbalanced on 11/10/09
By the way, if Jerry Anderson builds this building, will Lee Lansing be selling X-mas trees and plants there???? If it turns out that there's any funny business going on at Tires Plus, I hope the city puts the brakes on this one.
By: johndeerr on 11/11/09
What about movie theater?? Nice to have one in town!!
By: Patrick_Enders on 11/11/09
As fairandbalanced has suggested, I have to believe that we can rebuild that wall. We have the technology. Mr. Anderson finds the Aldsworth Building inconvenient. That's all well and good. However, the city should not do anything to facilitate the destruction of an original building on our historic town square.
By: Uberstadt on 11/12/09
It took less than one week since this project was announced for the developer to state his intent to ask for public money to make this project work in the form of tax increment financing, waiver of inspection fees, demands to construct more public parking (read acquire land elsewhere and fund the construction), etc. Please, mayor and city council, smoke this developer out by requiring him to clearly state in a manner readable to the general public, why this project will not work without public assistance. Expect the developer to ask for a 25 year TIF. Are you willing to fund this project allowing the developer to take this property off the tax roles for a quarter of the life of the building to help line his pockets? The only public involvement that could be justified is to assist in any necessary public utility upgrade. The extent of public involvement should be to ensure that the utilities can handle the construction, that’s it. If this project can’t carry its own weight, its not worth it.
By: Patrick_Enders on 11/12/09
I'm shocked, shocked, to discover that Jerry is asking the city to finance the destruction of its own heritage. I hope that the Council and appropriate government officials have better sense than to write him a blank check on this. And to add to Uberstadt's point: 25 years is NOT likely to be a quarter of the new building's life. It is much more likely to be half to two-thirds of its life. Take the 35-year-old Bank building as an example. I agree with Uberstadt: if Jerry can pull this off on his own, that's one thing. But don't let the City be duped into becoming an accomplice in this.
By: fairandbalanced on 11/12/09
I noticed Locally Grown has finally jumped on this band wagon. Good of Griff to let us know that Ray Cox is a client of his (full disclosure) and is also the potential developer for this project. Really full disclosure....Ross Courier and Ray Cox are brothers in law. Maybe that explains why the NDDC seems to be lying low on this issue. So Ray Cox is a client of Griff Wigley who along with Ross Courier are two thirds of the locally grown triumverate. When Ray Cox was on the safety center task force, he got mad at the newspaper for mentioning that he suggested one of his own properties as a potential site for a new safety center. A few weeks ago, Griff tries to draw some insidious connection between the newspaper and city hall because 4 newspapers get delivered there. Griff is a constant and strong critic of the newspaper. Hmmmmmm? The downtown good ole boy connection seems to be alive and well. Which reminds me, who really does own the tires plus building, does Lee Lansing have their permission to be there, does he have a permit, has the building been inspected and deemed safe for people?
By: deacond on 11/13/09
A few years ago, Northfield Developer and Business Owner, was quoted saying that 20-30 years ago we should have bull-dozed all the buildings along Division Street and built new historically correct buildings with proper foundations, access for handicapped and with fire sprinkler systems installed. Then we would have had a town center that worked and was competitive instead of the complex cost structure all downtown buildings are faced with. We could still do it.
By: Patrick_Enders on 11/14/09
"A few years ago, Northfield Developer and Business Owner, was quoted saying that 20-30 years ago we should have bull-dozed all the buildings along Division Street and built new historically correct buildings with proper foundations... We could still do it." It could be great - we could call it Northfieldland!
By: fairandbalanced on 11/14/09
I think it's a great idea. The developers would make a fortune! That's what it's all about right? Maybe Griff could even finally make some money from locally grown by having developers pay him to lobby for them on his website!
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