11-03-2025 JDA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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watching the June JDA meeting, it appears there was frustration with Alatus and their lack of response. She expressed frustration with the fact the JDA let this frustration get in the way of a 10 year partnership with Alatus. She stated Alatus had millions of dollars invested in this project. She was of the opinion there were two members on the JDA that may have voted to extend the agreement, but the majority was unhappy with Alatus. She encouraged the JDA not to throw the baby out with the bath water. She reported this development was becoming a national case study for what was wrong with getting housing on the ground. She indicated she lived in St. Paul and she saw homeless people every day. She explained she had a lot of emotions when it came to the JDA’s inability to get this much needed project off the ground with the housing that was so desperately needed for the region. She stated Alatus has pledged tens of millions of dollars of private financing to make this project happen and the JDA does not want to see this project move forward. She indicated she was an environmentalist and she understood sustainability guidelines were important, but she also knew it was important for people to have housing. She questioned what the cost of the sustainability guidelines would be. She reported one of the members of the JDA was the vice president of a solar panel company and this was not a good look for the JDA. She stated Alatus would gladly come back to the table and negotiate with the JDA, but in the meantime has filed a lawsuit against the JDA. She understood the judge has stated Alatus has a case and that Ramsey County, the JDA and taxpayers will have to pay millions of dollars to Alatus. She encouraged the JDA to renegotiate with Alatus. She suggested the JDA members do what was right as public servants. Lyle Salmela, 1480 Arden Vista Court, stated for his 30 years of involvement with the RAB, ERAB and the JDA, he believed Rice Creek Commons was a tremendous opportunity for the growth of Arden Hills and the metro area. He supported building the roads next year as this will set the development on a path of major development occurring in 2030. He wished the JDA all the best with its visions and goals. Alex Polinsky, 16025 37th Avenue N in Plymouth, noted he was an employee of Alatus. He understood there was a lawsuit between Alatus and the JDA team. He commented he was the head of construction for Alatus and he does all of the fun finish details. He reported Alatus wants to complete this development and would be willing to drop the lawsuit. He asked that he be allowed to meet with the JDA team as soon as possible in order to get this project moving forward. He stated Alatus had a great team assembled to complete this project. Noah Schneider, 808 Airy Street in St. Paul, stated in listening to recent JDA meetings, he understood there was a vision to have an all-electric development on Rice Creek Commons. He explained he agreed with this, but noted he has not heard how much this will cost and add to each home price. He reported there was a need for more housing, especially affordable housing. He asked if these costs were being considered. He feared that the sustainability goals would greatly impact the affordable units within this development. It was his hope the JDA could prioritize the additional housing and not let perfect be the enemy of good.