HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09City of Lakeville
Administration Department
Memorandum
To: Mayor Anderson and City Council
From: Allyn Kuennen, Assistant City Administrator
Brenda Visnovec, Liquor Operations Director
Copy: Justin Miller, City Administrator
Date: April 24, 2017
Subject: Kenrick Liquor Store Retail Expansion Options
Background Information
The Kenrick store was constructed in 1997 and was designed to include a future building
expansion towards the south to accommodate a larger liquor store. With the future construction
of a store on Keokuk Avenue, and the addition of other liquor retail options within the Kenrick
store market area, an expansion of the liquor store is no longer anticipated. However, the City has
been approached by a national retailer interested in constructing an addition on the south side of
the building for their use.
In reviewing their proposal in relation to site conditions, parking needs, traffic circulation and the
overall impact to operating the Kenrick store, staff found the site includes ample space for the
building to be expanded to include two additional retail spaces. A 1,800 square foot addition
could be constructed on the south side of the building, as requested by the retailer, and a 1,600
square foot addition could be constructed onto the north side of the building to accommodate
another retailer (see attached). The site is also large enough to accommodate the additional
parking required from the increased retail space; therefore, the City has the following options:
• Decline Proposal: The City can decline the proposal from the retailer and maintain
the site as is.
• Design/Build: The current proposal from the retailer requires the City to design and
build the addition and enter into a lease with the retailer. The City would incur all
engineering, design and construction costs for the addition, but would retain all
control over the site by becoming the landlord. Payback on this option is dependent
on design, engineering and construction costs and negotiating a lease rate with the
retailer. Preliminary payback estimates range between 10 to 15 years.
2
• Sale/Leaseback: The City could consider selling the entire property to an investor
that would manage, lease and expand the building to accommodate the retailer. This
would require the City to negotiate a favorable long-term lease for the liquor store
space, and possibly negotiating a provision in the lease allowing the City some rights
in approving future retailers locating within the adjacent spaces. However, it avoids
the City taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord and the upfront construction
costs to build the additional retail spaces. It also provides the City income from the
sale of the property that could be used to help off-set the costs of constructing the
Keokuk store in the future. Finally, it gives the City more options to modify the
operation of the Kenrick store as needed to respond to future market conditions. With
the property owned by a private investor it also becomes taxable.
• Retain Store/Sell off Retail Pads: The City could consider retaining the liquor store
portion of the site and selling the north and south ends of the property to an investor.
This would require the property to be replatted as a Common Interest Community (CIC
plat) which would include covenants and restrictions for developing the property,
shared building and site maintenance and other responsibilities regarding the
property. The income from the sale of the property would be substantially reduced,
and finding a buyer to invest in a shared common situation may be more difficult.
Liquor Committee
At their April 17 meeting, the Liquor Committee reviewed the above options and recommended
that staff focus on the “sale/lease” and “retain store/sell off retail pads” options.
Conclusion/ Recommendation
The overall goal in considering a private/public partnership for the Kenrick store is to increase
traffic at the site with complimentary adjacent retail uses, reduce overall operation and overhead
costs to maximize income, and to provide flexibility to modify our operations as needed to
respond to future market conditions. Therefore, staff recommends the preparation of an RFP that
allows a potential investor to submit a proposal for one or both options. The review and
consideration of the proposals could follow the same process used when the 183rd Street property
was sold. Staff will be available at the April 24 work session to discuss the above options. If you
have any questions before then please feel free to contact me at akuennen@lakevillemn.gov.