Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

NDDC board members and staff traveled to St. Paul to give testimony on the commercial property tax issue in downtown Northfield yesterday. The opportunity was created by Representative David Bly.

The message was clear: since 2000, commercial property taxes have increased by double-digit percentages every year. Most building owners have seen their taxes increase by over 200 percent in the past seven years.

During this same period of time, rental rates have remained flat or, in many cases, have even declined. As a result, each year there are fewer dollars available for basic maintenance, much less money for building improvements.

Representative Bly introduced H. F. No. 2129 at the Property and Local Sales Tax Committee yesterday. It was successfully and unanimously moved to the Tax Division for further consideration.

Senator Kevin Dahle will be introducing the senate version of the bill, S. F. 1912 on Wednesday. The NDDC will be at the legislature again, supporting this effort.

We thank Representative Bly and Senator Dahle for moving forward on this important issue for downtown Northfield.

The second Historic Northfield Sign has been erected on Highway 35. This one is just south of exit 69 and on the east side of the road. It greets all those folks driving up from Iowa…and, I suppose, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The sign was installed by Fredrickson Outdoor Advertising. The company is based in Northfield and the same competent and courteous organization that erected the previous Historic Northfield Sign. The sign is part of a State of Minnesota program, administered by the (truly) helpful folks from MNDoT down in Rochester.

In addition to Fredrickson Outdoor Advertising and MNDoT Rochester, the NDDC would like to thank the Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Northfield Economic Development Authority for their support of this exciting project.

Two major statewide events in historic preservation are taking place in Northfield this weekend. The Minnesota Historical Society’s Historic Preservation Office is holding its annual conference and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is hosting its annual awards ceremony.

The SHPO’s conference is the largest gathering of Minnesota’s preservation community each year and attracts historians, architects, planners, public officials, property owners, preservation commission members and citizen advocates from around state. The PAM’s awards are given to 15 special projects from across the state representing excellence in a wide variety of preservation disciplines.

The conference acknowledges the qualities of Northfield’s historic heart: its authentic and vital downtown. Several of the conference seminars explore the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program, an approach followed by the NDDC since its conception in 1999.

The attendees will occasionally step out of the classroom for some real-life exploration, including a “Downtown Northfield Field Session”. So be sure to welcome them to our authentic, historic, vital, and determined downtown.

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.