Continuing development in Moorhead highlighted Monday night’s city council meeting with a resolution OK’d to guide developers for the southeast corner of the intersection at 8th Street and Main Avenue and other construction projects.
The corner has been a service station and commercial building. Moorhead invested about $1.4 million buying and clearing the property to accommodate traffic. Moorhead retains ownership of the 27,405 square feet of land.
Site goals are for a high-quality design with architectural character. The lot’s immediate neighbor is St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, on the National Register of Historic Places and designed by Cass Gilbert in 1898. On the north side of the intersection is the Moorhead Dairy Queen, “Serving Up Smiles” since 1949, opening March 1.
Cindy Graffeo, Moorhead Economic Development Authority executive director, said interest is high for the site. “It is the second busiest intersection in Moorhead with high visibility and high volume,” she said. “It is the welcome mat to the downtown corridor.” Council members agreed the area establishes the downtown image.
The intersection is a linchpin for downtown development. Designs are to have visual interest and be harmonious with the area, optimize landscaping, be inviting and have the safety connection necessary between moving vehicles and pedestrians.
Council member Steve Gehrtz removed himself from discussion and voting to assure no conflict of interest.
Another development project will provide four buildings at 2501 and 2503 12th Ave. S. for small commercial businesses such as builders, plumbers, electricians and people who have outgrown their home garages. The two-phase project by Luxsun Investments LLC applied for property tax exemption.
The city assessor has estimated that the new assessed building value for Phase 1 to be approximately $621,600 and Phase 2 to be $739,200. Luxsun plans to eventually sell the total of 23 units and anticipates forming a CIC condo. Existing land value of $214,500 remains taxable during the duration of property tax exemption. Only the new assessed building value receives the exemption.
In other action, Police Chief David Ebinger explained a new joint cooperative agreement for law enforcement with Clay County. Due to police department staff shortages, the county will help with coverage. Ebinger made clear the city has complete coverage. City and county law enforcement officers “have each other’s backs. I have to thank the staff,” he added.
Council member Heidi Durand said this is a “great example of collaboration in a time of great need.”
Durand also said the new jail, a cooperative between the city and Clay County, wants to increase the mental and behavioral health opportunities for inmates.
· Final action on all bus route changes should be complete in a few months.
· The city calendar has two errors. City Council meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of each month and committee of the whole meetings are scheduled the fourth Monday. February and August have errors.
· The process for art on the city’s water towers continues. Moorhead Public Service has final authority.
· In Mayor Del Rae Williams state of the city address she noted that in 2016, construction of buildings, both residential and commercial, set an all-time record. Infill will continue to be a priority in part because Moorhead is already at some border edges. The city has and will continue to develop more bike paths, public art, the Heritage Garden and Amphitheater will have its first year of park programming this year. The new county jail and law enforcement center will break ground this spring and two new elementary schools will open this fall. She said she wanted to thank outgoing and present council members, and especially the city staff. “I am proud of the professional way that they handle what aren’t always easy tasks. Going through most of 2016 with a fulltime city manager emphasized how fortunate we are to have a good team in place. 2017 is going to be a great year.”
