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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03.d HOLYOKE AVENUE IMPROVEMENT FEEDBACK, FEBRUARY 2016 Summary: Downtown Lakeville Property Owners and Business Owners were asked to share feedback regarding plans for the 2017 Holyoke Avenue Improvement Project. 20 of 30 parcel owners affected by this project responded to this survey (66%). They represent 69% of the front foot assessment. - Of those who responded, 79% are in favor of full sidewalk replacement, with 14% favoring patch replacement and 7% remaining undecided. - 86% of respondents are in favor of some combination of trees and landscaping. 14% are opposed. - 58% of respondents favor standard lights, 33% prefer an upgraded light, and 9% would choose no change. - 86% of respondents were in favor of increased signage while 14% were against or needed additional information regarding signage costs. - Favoring research of additional enhancements were 86%. The remaining 14% were against research or requested additional information. Detailed comments from the responding property owners are listed below. Additionally, six business owners offered further feedback. 1. Do you support complete sidewalk repair/replacement along Holyoke Avenue, or would you prefer “patch” maintenance? Comments from Property Owners: -Yes, complete sidewalk repair/replacement (Erickson Drug) -Hard to answer without knowing total project costs (Miller-Hartwig) -Patch Maintenance (Lakeville Bowl) -Patch Maintenance (Ace Hardware) -Replacement as needed. Too much patching has made areas look bad. Possible replacement of all to give it a clean, fresh look (Lakeville Tire & Auto) -Replacing the sidewalks really needs to be completed (Metro Equity) -Complete sidewalk replacement (Rod Borg) -Replacement is preferred (Joe Masiarchin, representing the LAAC) -Complete sidewalk repair would give downtown a more uniform look (Smith Properties) Comments from Business Owners: -Patch seems sufficient because sidewalks appear to be fine for the most part (Kohlnhofer) -Sidewalk replacement would be best (Heavy Metal Grill) -I don’t think patch maintenance has worked, looks tacky (SiebenCarey) -No, I just walked the street of Holyoke, both sides from Babe’s to Ace. I observe isolated areas where minimal cracks appear but nothing that is a pedestrian risk or aesthetic detriment. Repairing of curbs and street markings would be indicated. (Lesch Dental) -Complete sidewalk replacement. Patch work always looks like patch work and in the long run, needs to be done much sooner than if the project is reworked as new (State Farm/Joswiak). -I support complete repair. I feel like its now or never to get things right down here and patch work will not give Downtown the facelift it needs. If we are truly going to revitalize…finally…then I think we have to go for it (Pink Door Boutique). 2. Trees/landscaping are both aesthetically pleasing and costly. Do you support trees and landscaping in Downtown Lakeville? Comments from Property Owners: -Yes (Erickson Drug) -Yes (Miller-Hartwig) -No trees (Lakeville Family Bowl) -No trees. Additional landscaping would depend on the cost. (Ace Hardware) -Landscaping, Yes. Trees have caused broken concrete. Maybe a tree that doesn’t get so big to cause damage. (Lakeville Tire & Auto) -I support some trees and landscaping depending on cost and amount of trees, landscaping and locations of these trees. Although the cityscape already looks nice, the trees are blocking signage and storefronts which doesn’t help the businesses (Metro Equity) -Any efforts to create value for Downtown are supported (Rod Borg) -Yes, trees are definitely needed along mainstreet. Without trees the street loses its’ charm, plus the shade during summer is so important for walkers (LAAC) -Love the trees but understand they affect the concrete which is difficult. I would like to see some greenery in Downtown Lakeville (Smith Properties) Comments from Business Owners: -Yes, depending on cost (Kohlnhofer) -Trees need to go but I support planters (Heavy Metal) -Yes, I understand trees were causing problems but maybe hanging plant baskets like Red Wing (SiebenCarey) -Yes. Presence of trees provides “old town” attraction, especially spring/summer/fall. Repair of sidewalks or modification may be indicated to maintain the foliage (Lesch) -Trees are a wonderful asset especially given the hot summer days. There has to be a way to plant them and them fit without causing too much of an issue in the long run. When you visit other cities here in MN and around the country, the trees and landscaping are the areas that can define a space. Without them, the street would look very bleak. (State Farm/Joswiak). -I understand the issues the trees create for us. While I think they are beautiful and add to our street, I think putting our money into other things to help improve the aesthetics of town is probably best (Pink Door Boutique) 3. Do you favor consistency with street lights or would you like Downtown Lakeville to look different? The City budgeted for standard street lights; upgraded lights carry additional cost. Comments from Property Owners: -Standard Street Lights (Erickson Drug) -It would be a nice feature depending on costs (Miller-Hartwig) -Keep the lights we have (Lakeville Family Bowl) -Standard street lights should be fine. Our opinion is that customers come downtown for reasons other than expensive street lights (Ace Hardware) -Standard street lights (Lakeville Tire & Auto) -Standard lights should be okay but I would agree to the upgrade if the majority of the other owners would like the lights to be upgraded (Metro Equity) -I do like that downtown has lighting that makes it stand out. It’s a historic looking area and I don’t think it should blend the lighting in to match the rest of the city (LAAC) -I like the acorn lights we currently have in Downtown (Smith Properties) Comments from Business Owners: -Upgraded lights would be nice depending on cost (Kohlnhofer) -I don’t think the classic lights would match the new and improved downtown so I support upgraded lights (Heavy Metal) -Standard would be okay (SiebenCarey) -No need for upgraded lights (Lesch) -I think it’s in our interest to explore a different light. We want our Downtown to stand out. If the city has a certain budget for a light then I think we could afford the extra costs to upgrade them. Again we have to explore the option. If we are taking trees out etc. I think an attractive light could add some charm. (Pink Door Boutique) 4. Better signage was fully supported in the initial Holyoke Avenue Improvement survey. This will carry additional cost. Do you support increased signage? Comments from Property Owners: -Yes, At Cedar & Cty. 70, Cedar & County 50, County 50 and Holyoke Ave., County 70 & Holyoke, 35W and County 50, 35W and County 70) (Erickson Drug) -Yes (Miller-Hartwig) -What signage? (Lakeville Family Bowl) -What kind of signage? Costs? (Ace Hardware) -Yes, better signage would be great! (Lakeville Tire & Auto) -I really support additional and increased signage. Better signage is a must for the area (Metro Equity) -Signage and identity are critical. Downtown Lakeville has a chance to be a destination spot with all the new development and new businesses. I support monument signage and additional signage. Sidewalk repair and curb/gutter repair is not enough. I am adamant about signage. (Rod Borg) -Yes, additional signage is very important (LAAC) -Definitely support increased signage (Smith Properties) Comments from Business Owners: -Would be nice depending on cost (Kohlnhofer) -Yes and I also support signs around the City pointing to Historic Downtown (Heavy Metal) -Yes, definitely need better signage. (SiebenCarey) -No. Existing signage at intersections appears more than adequate to me (Lesch) -Additional signage is a plus but nothing over the top; monument signs aren’t worth it (State Farm/Joswiak) -This is without question on the top of my list. In all my years of growing up in Lakeville and being a business owner for 8 years, there has never been signage to our Downtown. We have a diamond in the rough, something most communities would love to have. Our citizens are unaware of this part of town. Signage and a facelift need to happen for citizens to believe in what Downtown offers (Pink Door Boutique) 5. Enhancements such as planters, artwork, benches, stamped concrete, and pavers carry additional cost. Do you support further research regarding enhancements of this kind? Comments from Property Owners: -Planters please. (Erickson Drug) -Yes (Miller-Hartwig) -No (Lakeville Family Bowl) -If the research is not cost prohibited (Ace Hardware) -Yes. Some enhancements are needed to give Downtown a distinguished look, especially if trees aren’t being used or are scarce. (Lakeville Tire & Auto) -I think downtown should have some of these types of things such as planters, artwork, benches, etc. These are items that give downtown its character and make it special. Without this type of improvement you don’t create why a downtown is unique from any other shopping or business area. I would prefer enhancements in the downtown over more trees (Metro Equity) -I support research and enhancements (Rod Borg) -Yes, additional design features are also very important. The mixture of planters, artwork, benches are all needed to help attract residents to this area for shopping and events (LAAC). -Absolutely. We need to do more research on enhancements (Smith Properties) Comments from Business Owners: -Would be nice, depending on cost (Kohlnhofer) -Absolutely! (Heavy Metal) -Yes, need planters, benches, things to look historic and make downtown special (SiebenCarey) -Yes for planters: add great appeal. No for artwork/benches: Utilization would be little to none. Already have ample benches in Pioneer Plaza. “Artwork” would make sense if downtown had a length of 10+ blocks. Holyoke is too short to be cluttered-expensive to maintain (Lesch). -I support within reason; one person’s art is another person’s trash. Benches over art/stamped concrete (State Farm/Joswiak) -Yes, I agree we should look into the cost of some of the enhancements mentioned. How can we not consider all the above proposals if we want to revitalize Downtown Lakeville? We cannot sit in our own walls without fighting for change to attract our citizens. I’m proud of the business I’ve created and I want to be proud of the street on which it sits. If we don’t make changes now while we have the opportunity, then I fear Downtown will continue to be a service district and we can forget it becoming a destination for people to eat, drink, shop, explore the arts etc. (Pink Door Boutique). Additional Comments: Ace Hardware: It was our understanding that the city was going to have options/scenarios for the DLBA, retailers, and owners to look at and comment on. Where are they? Also, why is a grant needed to hire a outside coordinator? For that matter, why is an outside coordinator needed at all? Rod Borg: Other than road repair and parking lot improvements, I feel the City could invest in Downtown Lakeville much more. The property owners and tenants invest in Downtown (DLBA assessments and other assessments). While I will support enhancements to Downtown Lakeville and understand the assessments, the City should embrace this opportunity to expand on Downtown and step up. HMWHC LLC: Per your request, the owners of Holly's Dance Studio Building discussed the pending Holyoke Ave improvement plan and looked over the questions posed by the Downtown Lakeville Business Association. We appreciate the work DLBA does and the value it adds to the local business community. We also understand that, regardless of how the property owners feel, the City is committed to moving forward with a plan to improve Holyoke from roughly JFK to CR 50 sometime in 2017. And we understand that each property owner will be assessed a proportionate amount of that cost based on how front footage it has along Holyoke Ave. After reviewing the plans, such as they are to date and the limited information the City has currently provided, our ownership group takes the position that any improvement above that already committed to by the City would be an unwanted burden on property owners. State Farm Insurance/Robert Joswiak: I don’t have the burden of footing some of the bill on this project but would suffer the downtime or the inconvenience of the project. I would vote to take our medicine once versus having to revisit this in 5-10 years because we took a conservative/minimalist (patch work) approach on the project. I feel we need to continue to set downtown Lakeville apart from other areas of town or at the very least, bring it to the current standards of the new locations being built and developed. The storefront on Toppers is outstanding but really shows the warts of the rest of that building. Pink Door Boutique: I am very passionate about the Downtown. I was sold on the "revitalization" 8 years ago when I signed my lease. I have not seen many of those promises come to light. Now for the first time I have a feeling we are being heard and being supported in our efforts. I want nothing more than to see Downtown bustling with all walks of people and the businesses thriving. I have always wanted that and held out hope for that. I am hoping to see changes in the near future and I hope other business owners are as passionate about I am. If we all invest a little more into our businesses and Downtown I think we can all come together and make it a successful place to be!!