Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

At a recent City Council meeting, in the context of considering sites for a new liquor store, the members asked, “Where is Downtown?”. Apparently the City Administrator suggested that they ask the Economic Development Authority.

Passing up the opportunity to comment on the somewhat humorous irony in this situation, I will instead offer the definition that the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation has been consistently using for the last five years…the C1 and C2 Zoning Districts.

Although some might argue to specify the downtown more based on architectural features, focusing more on multi-story buildings with near zero setbacks, perhaps defining it more along the lines of the historic district, the NDDC has thought of it as the Central Business District. In addition to being the heart of our community, downtown is the center of our commercial activity.

Of course, as far as the liquor store location is concerned, we believe that it is a key component of downtown’s commercial vitality. We’re advocating to keep it that way.

The Rare Pair is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is inviting the whole town to the party.

Opened in 1977 by Deb Bohnhoff and Ellen Cox, the store was operated until 1991 by Deb and Jim Bohnhoff, when it was purchased by current owners Krin and Dale Finger.

Krin has directed operations during a period of steady growth and business expansion. She is widely respected throughout the downtown business community for her competence and creativity. One her most recent accomplishments was choreographing and training the Shop Local dance line.

Jill Enestvedt (Queen Mum of ArtSwirl) was hired as manager in 1994 and recently shifted her responsibilities to Downtown Dynamo Ally Beyer to free up more time and energy for her art.

The community is invited to Rare Pair’s celebration from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, this Saturday, August 25th, for ice cream, music and prizes.

The Block Heads witnessed a sudden increase in momentum on the Real Estate Tax issue this morning. New supporters joined the effort, with State Senator Tom Neuville, State Representative David Bly, City Councilor Scott Davis, City Administrator Al Roder, and League of Minnesota Cities General Counsel Tom Grundhoefer offering their ideas and insights to the assembled building owners.

The group of building owners, elected officials, government and non-profit staff members met this morning at the NDDC-convened Block Head Gathering to discuss the adverse economic impacts of dramatically increasing real estate taxes in downtown Northfield. They raised and vetted ideas to address the challenges.

The NDDC’s E. R. Team had assembled seven ideas to address specific challenges, including being taxed on building investments, the high cost of maintaining historic buildings, valuations based on comparables from unlike zoning districts, and purchase prices and valuations that do not reflect operating realities and cash flow. The team of experts evaluated the ideas for political challenges and opportunities.

The group has now focused on three initiatives, each providing leverage for one to three of the proposed ideas, and divided up the work for the next necessary steps. We plan to make significant progress in the next thirty days.

Downtown Northfield has been named as One of the Five Best Neighborhoods in North America and the Best Small Town Neighborhood by the Project for Public Spaces.

The citation recognizes that:

Northfield’s downtown is full of energy and charm, from historic buildings to the graceful lamp posts to the store owners who bring their merchandise out onto the sidewalks. It is truly the heart of town, serving the adjacent neighborhoods and college campuses as well as the entire county.

The downtown layout is not just a straight strip of street lined with buildings. Roads curve off here and there, with more business tucked around the corners. There are many nooks and crannies in the downtown area, and one could spend an entire day checking it out. The Cannon River jogs through downtown and is surrounded by walking paths, bridges and parks along its waterfront. In the summer, local performing arts groups put on shows on a regular basis and draw many people. The downtown area really makes you feel as though life doesn’t have to be run at high speed every moment.

The piece goes on to identify what makes Downtown Northfield work. It cites Access and Linkages, Comfort and Image, Uses and Activities, and Sociability. It summarizes the reason Downtown Northfield is number one:

With parks, water, sidewalks, historic buildings, local businesses, art and more, this place has all the hallmarks of greatness that PPS discusses.

Of course, we at the NDDC knew this all along…

…but we sure do appreciate the PPS helping us to let the rest of the world know about it.

ArtSwirl 2007 is nearing the Grand Finale. It’s a big weekend of Celebrating Art in Northfield.

Friday night there’s Theater in the Park, with “Burial at Thebes” in Central Park at 7 pm. It’s Hot Dogs and Intrigue with an Open-Mic Night at Tiny’s Dogs All Day (321 Division Street South) at 7 pm.

Saturday, there’s the Minnesota Dolce Recorder Quartet in the Northfield Arts Guild Gallery, 304 Division Street, at 3 pm, the annual Artist Studio Tour of area artists from 12 to 5 pm, the ArtSwirl Artists Market from 12 to 5 pm at the Northfield Arts Guild, and “Burial at Thebes” in Central Park at 7 pm.

Sunday, the Artist Studio Tour continues from 12 to 5 pm, as does the ArtSwirl Artists Market from 12 to 5 pm, then there’s Storytelling: Real Lives Aloud at 2 pm in the Northfield Arts Guild Theater at 411 West Third Street, and finally the Bridge Chamber Music Festival: Concert III, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, in the United Methodist Church, 1401 South Maple Street, at 7:30 pm.