Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

In about 48 hours, or Thursday, June 19th, at 5 pm, the Third Annual Taste of Northfield will be underway.

It’s about Food, Fun and Friends. In my last post, I focused on the Food. This time, let’s talk Fun.

The Northfield Community Band plays at 6 pm.

The James-Younger Gang does their Re-enactment at 7:15 pm.

The Live Auction is at 7:30 pm (Silent Auction from 5 to 8 pm).

The Street Dance with The Over and Back Band is from 8:30 to 10:30 pm.

Of course, there’s Food from 5 to 9 pm, Beer on the Bridge from 5 to 11 pm, and your Friends…

…for hours, in Downtown Northfield.

Thanks to NDDC Board Member Anastasia Balfany for the Taste-y Banner in Ames Park!

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 7th, is the First “Construction Coffee“.

In an effort to keep the communication lines between downtown stakeholders and City of Northfield staff, the City will be holding regular tours of the Fifth and Water Streets Enhancements and Reconstruction Project.

So, meet at the corner of 5th Street and Division Street at 8 am, with your favorite cup of coffee, and get a progress report on this major downtown project.

Smile Joe, Smile.

Okay, so I caught NDDC Vice President Joe Grundhoefer on his way to work at about 7:30 am the other morning and he said,

“You’re not going to take a picture of me, are you Ross?”

However, he did admit that seeing the curb repair, in front of his business and up and down Division Street, made him very happy.

It’s another big thank-you to Joel Walinski and his crew at the City of Northfield.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the 5th & Water Project has begun.

Work started on the 27th, and it will include both Reconstruction and Enhancements. The work is being phased to minimize disruption to businesses. The first phase will be the Water Street Parking area between 5th and Bridge Square and is scheduled to be completed by July 4th. The second phase will be the intersection of 5th and Water Streets and cannot begin before June 16th and should take 3 to 4 weeks. The third phase will be 5th Street from Water Street to Washington Street and will begin when phase two is complete and be substantially finished by September 3rd.

The City will be holding a series of sidewalk tours called “Construction Coffee” during which an update on the project process will be given. The first tour is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 8 AM. Those interested should meet at the corner of Division Street and 5th Street with their favorite cup of coffee.

Any questions or concerns about the project can be directed to Joel Walinski, Public Services Director, or Katy Gehler-Hess, City Engineer, at 507-645-3020.

More than a few people have suggested to me that maybe I should get a life. The energy and enthusiasm I devote to things like bike racks and way-finding signage strikes them as a bit over the edge. They’ll be recommending that I seek professional help after reading this latest post.

It’s about freshly painted crosswalks and parking spaces. A few years ago, the NDDC’s E R Team made a request to the then City Engineer, Heidi Hamilton, that the annual “spring cleaning”, including repainting the crosswalks and parking spaces, be performed at the beginning of our season of visitors. She turned to newly-hired staff person (and now Director of Public Services) Joel Walinski and he said, without hesitation, “We can do that”.

Well, Joel did it. And he continues, with his team, to get it done, every year, before the visitors arrive. Pictured is the corner of Washington and 4th, about 7 am this morning, May 21st, with a fresh coat of paint. St. Olaf’s Celebration Weekend is May 23rd through 25th, Northfield High School’s Graduation is May 31st, and Carleton’s Commencement Weekend is June 14th.

So, here’s a Big Downtown Northfield Thanks to Joel Walinski and his team at the City of Northfield. Working together we’ll sustain our vibrant and vital downtown.