Title
Approval of the December 26, 2012 HRA meeting minutes.
Body
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Bostrom, Brendmoen, Carter, Lantry, Thune, Tolbert
Excused: Commissioner Stark
CONSENT
1. Approval of the December 12, 2012 HRA meeting minutes.
Commissioner Carter moved approval.
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
2. Approval and Authorization to Acquire 940 Selby and Budget Amendment, District 8, Ward 1
Commissioner Stark moved approval. Approved as set forth in resolution RES 12-2355
VOTE: Yeas - 6 Nays - 0
PUBLIC HEARING
3. Authorization to Convey a Part of Land and Building located at 680 Minnehaha Avenue East to Urban Organics, LLC, Dayton’s Bluff, District 4, Ward 7
Ms. Cecile Bedor, Executive Director for the HRA, stated that the Hamm’s Brewery was purchased by the HRA in August of 2003. Since then, an environmental survey has been completed, tanks have been removed from the building, and the neighborhood has completed planning for the reuse of the site; that planning called for housing at the site. Unfortunately, interest in developing housing was not realized. In addition, the neighborhood pursued developing a community center; the Asian Pacific Cultural Center received a planning grant from the legislature, but funding to complete the center was vetoed twice by the Governor in office at the time funding was approved by the legislature.
Ms. Bedor explained that the neighborhood continued to discuss plans for the site, and the idea of industrial use surfaced. Today, staff is seeking approval of Urban Organics, LLC’s purchase of one of the buildings to launch a fish farm on the site. The hope is that this action will spur interest by other potential buyers. It already has; we have an agreement with a brewer, and we have strong interest from two other parties.
Ms. Bedor noted that Mr. David Haider and Mr. Chris Ames from Urban Organics LLC, as well as PED Project Manager Mr. Dave Gontarek were all present at the meeting.
Chair Thune ann...
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