Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

In a recent Star Tribune Opinion Exchange Article (“Hours May Vary, 2/29/06), Minneapolis Public Library Director Kit Hadley and DaVinci Institute Futurist Thomas Frey discussed the future of libraries. Part of their discussion was of particular interest to me.

When Hadley suggested that libraries needed to deliver information learning services both in the library and remotely, Frey reminded us that “libraries are a place, and that is an important resource”. He went on to say:

“With a growing number of business executives working from a home office, they are looking for “another place” to stimulate their thinking, alter patterns, meet people, and congregate. While libraries can build electronic tentacles into our homes, there is great value in being a “place” – a place to go, different spaces for different moods, points to ponder, human sounding boards, room for introspection as well as extrospection.”

Getting beyond Frey’s rather unpleasant image of tentacles reaching into my home, I really appreciated his characterization of a library as a place. In fact, he was really describing libraries as “Third Places” as described by Ray Oldenburg in his book “The Great Good Place”. In this book, Oldenburg outlines why these public gathering places are so important for building community . He argues that bars, churches, coffee shops, hardware stores, libraries and post offices, as well as other “third places” (in contrast to the first and second places of home and work), are essential for community and democracy.

In his comments, Frey touches upon another subject that is near and dear to my heart: economic development. When discussing the people working from home offices, he is describing the creative class that will, hopefully, build our next economy. It is precisely to attract and nurture this creative class that the NDDC has been working so long and so hard, first on the Historic Middle School and more recently on the Building for Creative Professionals, to build additional innovative workspace in downtown.

Downtown Northfield is a powerful stimulant to economic development. Dozens, if not hundreds, of businesses have started in our downtown. The inspiring spaces, with high ceilings, large windows and historic structures, the variety of third places, such as coffeehouses, restaurants, and bars, and the sources of critical supplies, like hardware, clothing, food and gifts, work together to make downtown an attractive place to start a business.

The public library is an important part of the attractiveness of downtown. The library serves as a source for information learning services, as a beloved community gathering place and, according to Frey, as place where creative professionals can experience intellectual breakthroughs.

The library is not only an important conceptual element to downtown, it is an important physical element. The library building, organized in 1898 and constructed in 1910, in many ways represents Northfield’s arrival as a civilized and successful community.

It is no secret that the NDDC believes that the Northfield Public Library should continue to thrive in its present location, the very heart of our community. Please support our efforts to achieve this goal.

In a recent blog entry about College City Beverage, I suggested that there are other community assets besides land that can stimulate economic development. Tracy Davis, Griff Wigley, Milda Hedblom and I discuss this topic of alternative assets for economic development on the most recent edition of Locally Grown.

Just check out my smile in this picture. I wasn’t the only one who was happy, however. Over 250 people showed up at the Grand to hear this American master do his stuff. Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a great success.


It’s only the beginning. Check out Brendon Etter’s Very Short Play Festival next month. It’ll be Thursday, March 16th, once again at the Grand…

…in Downtown Northfield.

Saturday’s Northfield News has a front page story about it. In an interview with City Staff, the reason given for the company’s decision was Northfield’s lack of land. Wednesday’s Northfield News had an editorial about it. The publisher’s opinion was that from a regional jobs perspective, maybe it wasn’t a loss. Perhaps the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce might agree.

In conversation with elected officials and people close to the Sawyer family, I heard a different story. I found out that several possible sites had been identified, that the Company was willing to settle for land that was less than perfect in order to stay in Northfield, that one site had been selected, that plans had been drawn up to develop that site and that a business deal between company owners and city officials had been reached.

A number of people also pointed out that although local people wouldn’t lose their jobs because of the move, the City would certainly lose tax base. One business person told me that for every $1 of residential income the city receives, there is a $1.25 of costs to the city and for every $1 of industrial income that the city recieves, there is only $0.25 in costs. This loss of tax base is not insignificant.

I encourage you to talk to other people about this situation and hear a variety of viewpoints. Land is certainly a challenge in our community but it can be surmounted with creativity and vigor. Furthermore, land is not the only asset a community has when retaining or recruiting a business. The reality is that you have to get the most leverage out of your existing assets.

Our businesses are members of our community and the loss of any business is felt by the whole community. Anyone who knows the Sawyer family knows how much they love Northfield and how much they have given back to the community over the past few decades. There was more than the mere cost of land that led to their decision.

It’s not just about the information available, it’s about how that information is communicated.

The contributions of businesses to our community are critical to the overall health of our community. College City Beverage has been and should continue to be an essential part of our community.

A reminder: we are bringing legendary guitarist and singer Spider John Koerner to The Grand this Thursday at 8 pm. Tickets are $6, $4 for students. (Click the poster image for a large PDF.)