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MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET
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Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.
The developers of the Pillsbury A Mill presented their plans for this National Historic Landmark. The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership convenes a quarterly forum in the Central Riverfront concerning issues shaping this area.
Central River Forum: A Mill Outstanding in Our Nation: Shaping the Future of the Pillsbury “A” Mill and Main Street Southeast
Why is this site’s story so important to Minneapolis – and the nation? How can you help shape the future of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District? What are the pressure points in the development process? What are two developers planning to propose for the area?
David Wiggins of the National Park Service highlighted the big stories this place tells, and previewed how and when you can most effectively inform public decision makers. Developers Dominium Apartments and Doran Companies shared their proposals for developing the area, including this National Historic Landmark.
From last week's Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting where they passed the resolution authorizing an agreement with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to study redevelopment options for the former site of Fuji Ya, now being called the "Waterworks site".
Last night the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board passed a resolution approving a "visioning & strategy" study to be funded by the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. This was expected, since the non-profit foundation will be funding the study.
The study is the first step in the redevelopment of the site which includes the old Fuji Ya restaurant building. The site also includes the location of a former plant which supplied water to Minneapolis, hence the renaming of the site as "the Waterworks site".
As part of the project, a Citizens Advisory Committe (CAC) will be formed to seek community input. This will be a non-appointed CAC, allowing all interested stakeholders to participate and vote on the resulting findings.
One new development was an amendment defining the study area as between Portland Avenue South and the 3rd Avenue Bridge, and between 1st Street South and the Mississippi River.
HR&A, TLS/KVA, and the MR|DI project team will jointly author the draft report, which is scheduled for release on September 20. In it, the authors will summarize the RiverFIRST vision for Upper Riverfront parks development, along with research, engagement and other steps taken to gather relevant information; detail recommendations for priority sites and projects, timing, and funding; and suggest steps and structure for maintaining project momentum.
On Tuesday, September 20, the Minneapolis Park Board invites the community to join Advisory and Technical committee members at a 6-8:00 p.m. briefing on the draft report at Park Board headquarters, 2117 West River Road in Minneapolis. HR&A, along with TLS/KVA and Project Manager Mary deLaittre, will present to the MR|DI Steering Committee on Wednesday, September 21, beginning at 7:30 a.m., also at Park Board headquarters.
Minneapolis Park Board Commissioners will hear the MR|DI team’s formal presentation during the regularly scheduled board meeting on September 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the board room at Park Board headquarters. At that meeting, Park Board planning staff anticipate asking Commissioners to authorize a 45-day comment period on the MR|DI draft report. For timely information regarding news and developments, community members are encouraged to sign up for the e-newsletter or subscribe to the blog.
“These two intensive days of briefings and presentations represent the apex of a six-month collaborative effort to transform a brilliant-but-conceptual design for city-building into a visionary blueprint that will guide the near- and long-term future of Upper Riverfront parks development,” says Mary deLaittre, Project Manager for the MR|DI, who notes that an exhaustive list of participating individuals and organizations will be recognized and thanked in the draft report. “But our preparation and presentation of the draft report is by no means the culmination of this project, which began long before the MR|DI and includes the work of so many. Following public comments on the draft report, Park Board planning department staff will set the pace when they present recommendations to Park Board Commissioners later this fall.”
About the Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative:
In April 2011, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board established the Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative as a special project to carry through the promise of connecting people from near and far with new multifunctional Upper Riverfront parks along “America’s fourth coast.” The MR|DI was charged with transforming the winning parks design of the renowned Minneapolis Riverfront Design Competition, called RiverFIRST, from a visionary concept to a workable plan for short- and long-term development. Beginning in April, TLS/KVA went through a three-month in-depth editing process led by the MR|DI project team and involving the public and Steering, Advisory and Technical committees. From June through August, the MR|DI implemented a multidimensional community engagement process that included a community input survey taken by more than 600 people, participation in more than 30 community events, three public meetings, more than 40 solo presentations and meetings by the MR|DI project manager, and the debut of “River Is,” a gathering of people’s thoughts about the Mississippi today and for the future. This fall, Park Board Commissioners will decide the scope and timing of the first RiverFIRST projects, to be enjoyed by the community within five years. Learn more and participate at MinneapolisRiverfrontDevelopmentInitiative.com.
Re: The Fuji Ya site near Mill Ruins Park on the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront.
Please attend the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting and hear firsthand details on a concept that has the potential to be the most important redevelopment project of the next 20 years on the West Bank of the Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront.
The first change has already been put in place - the Fuji Ya site is now being referred to as the "Waterworks" site. As part of this process a Non-Appointed Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will be formed, allowing every interested citizen to be involved with, and even vote on, the final proposal.
Date: 9/7/2011
Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: MPRB Administrative Offices, Board Room Suite 255
Address: 2117 West River Road
The MPRB will hear a presentation and vote on a proposal from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation regarding redeveloping the former Fuji Ya site on the Minneapolis Riverfront.
4.3 That the Board adopt resolution 2011-174 captioned as follows:
Resolution 2011-174 Resolution Approving a Partner Agreement with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and Establishment of a Non-appointed Citizen’s Advisory Committee Process for Preliminary Visioning and Implementation Study of the Waterworks Site in Downtown Minneapolis.
The Full Resolution, The Staff Report, The Contract
Background Info from the June 15, 2011 Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Meeting
Paul Reyelts of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation presented a vision for the former Fuji Ya site on the Dowtown Minneapolis Riverfront at Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board meeting on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.
Presentation by Paul Reyelts, Minneapolis Parks Foundation Board Treasurer and Board Member at the June 15, 2011
Meeting Notes
Working on this idea for the past year
- Believe it has “broad interest and support for the development of a public reuse plan” for the site.
- Plan to attract private resources to support development of the site
- Intention is that the site would be dedicated to public use, not for private use
- Site is not addressed in the Minneapolis Riverfront Development Initiative (MRDI)
- Proposal would be complimentary to the MRDI
Four major reason to give focus and priority to the Fuji Ya site:
1. The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) owns the land
2. Site is very close to Downtown Minneapolis
3. If properly developed, the site could be the major Downtown gateway to the river and to the Stone Arch Bridge
4. The Stone arch Loop already has an estimated 3/4 of a million visitors annually passing near the site
The proposal would enhance the experience for visitors and at the same time develop revenue generating opportunities that support the financial sustainability of the sites amenities.
The Proposal:
Minneapolis Park Foundation will engage a team of professionals that has agreed to develop a Phase 1 Fuji Ya site master plan and program.
Paul Reyelts will fund these services through the Minneapolis Parks Foundation (MPF).
The MPF Executive Committee will oversee the development of the plan.
Only Public use of the site is envisioned.
Paul Reyelts does not live near or own property in the vicinity of the Fuji Ya site. Nor does he have any personal or financial interest in this proposal.
The MPF will coordinate with the MPRB on getting Citizen input the MPRB Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) process.
The goal of Phase 1 is the creation of a visual presentation summarizing the findings of the MPF and a recommended vision for the site development, along with next steps in the development process.
Assuming that the site master plan has the support of the MPRB, the MPF, and the community, Paul Reyelts is prepared to provide “material financial support” for the development project, and with the MPF he will champion private sector fundraising efforts.
Motivation:
Like the Founders of the Minneapolis Park System, the MPF and supporters want to leave a legacy for future generations. This premise is the reason behind Paul Reyelts commitment.
Timing:
Hope that CAC will start within the next month.
Phase 1 process completed in a 3 month timeframe.
MPRB Commissioners Reactions:
Commissioner Anita Tabb – “This has a lot of very exciting potential.” “I’m delighted to see people have a real interest in Downtown Minneapolis.” “I think projects like this will continue to make our city a great place to be, and hopefully attract more people to Downtown.”
Commissioner Scott Vreeland – “What we have there is this great treasure with 7 different archeological ruins that can be accessed.”
Board President Erwin – “This is not only a wonderful gift you’re giving the Park Board, but this is a great kick-off for the Foundation to help the Foundation a key project that they focus on that I think will be successful…it’s a broader area than just the Fuji Ya site itself…the site extends all the way to the 3rd Ave Bridge…
Fuji Ya Site Background
1968: Fuji Ya moved to 420 S. 1st St. in Minneapolis, a chic riverfront structure of glass, oak and rough cedar, designed by architect Newton Griffin, based upon a plan by Shinichi Okada. It was constructed over the ruins of the 1878 Standard Mill. Owner Reiko Weston bought the land, 2.7 acres, for $20,000 in 1961.
1990: Fuji Ya closes. After extensive litigation, the Minneapolis Park Board buys out the Weston family for $3.5 million in an out-of-court settlement.
Background on Mr. Reyelts
Paul Reyelts served as the Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of The Valspar Corporation, a global leader in the coatings industry, from April 1982 until February 2008. He remained an Executive Vice President of Valspar Corporation until his retirement in May 2009. In addition, Mr. Reyelts serves on the Board of Trustees of Minnesota Public Radio, the Advisory Board of the University of Minnesota College of Design and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation Board.
Background on the Fuji Ya aka "Waterworks" Site from MSR
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 11:04AM
