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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 2013Reconstruction of Highway 96 and 10 interchange underway by Kristine Goodrich R R econstruction of the Highway 96 and R Three nearby road intersections at HighThree nearby road intersections at High - R U.S. Highway 10 interchange was R way 96 also will be altered. The access way 96 also will be altered. The access Ramsey County is paying for most of the R expected to commence in late March. R to the Arden Manor Manufactured Home to the Arden Manor Manufactured Home interchange improvements. The City of Ar - R R Park will be moved to align with Round Park will be moved to align with Round den Hills is responsible for a small portion safety but will eliminate access in some of the costs now estimated at $125,000 directions. Construction is expected to be to $150,000, which is well below what the to the new intersection. The Old Highway to the new intersection. The Old Highway substantially completed by the end of the 10 (Old Snelling Avenue) intersection will 10 (Old Snelling Avenue) intersection will City had budgeted in its Capital Improve - year. Starting in May, Highway 96 will be moved slightly and align with the new be moved slightly and align with the new ment Plan. The City's obligations include helping pay for the trail along Highway 96 will be open from westbound Highway 96 be installed here as well. The north interbe installed here as well. The north inter - to northbound Highway 10 via an entrance Road and the new Prior Manor entrance. Project basics: ramp. Throughout, temporary access to the It also is buying a small parcel of land on The project widens Highway 96 and The project widens Highway 96 and businesses along the Highway 10 frontage Lakeshore Place for road right-of-way. The lowers it 17 feet so that it runs lowers it 17 feet so that it runs road will be available. For information City is paying for a utility pipe upgrade check www.cityofardenhills.org. Click that, in the future, will help eliminate the under Highway 10. Roadwork and then Construction Updates. need for lift station no. 11. section of Old Highway 10 and Lakeshore section of Old Highway 10 and Lakeshore The project involves widening Highway In late January, the Arden Hills City Coun also will be installed at the on-and-off also will be installed at the on-and-off - 96 and lowering it 17 feet to run under cil approved three agreements involving ramps at Highway 96 and I-35W. ramps at Highway 96 and I-35W. Highway 10. New ramps will allow west the road work. Two agreements were com - - bound 96 drivers access to northbound 10, pleted with the County  one outlining Highway 96 will be widened at intersecHighway 96 will be widened at intersec - and southbound 10 drivers access to both the City's overall project costs and one for directions of 96. Drivers no longer will be the addition and maintenance of the new turn lanes. A noise wall will be installed turn lanes. A noise wall will be installed able to exit northbound 10 to either direc for Arden Manor residents. The trail on the for Arden Manor residents. The trail on the - tion of 96, or to go from eastbound 96 to outlines the utility work plans. south and the sidewalk on the north both south and the sidewalk on the north both northbound 10. will be extended to Round Lake Road. will be extended to Round Lake Road. New life begins for former Holiday Inn site by Jessica Luther by Jessica Luther A Thomas, University of Minnesota-St. Paul, space. NOW Bikes and Fitness will move fter sitting vacant, redevelopment of Hamline, and Macalester. There will be 19 from its 3673 Lexington Ave. location and the former Holiday Inn on County -is set to re-open in May. The other retail Road E has started. The development room, and 31 three-to-four-bedroom units, tenants are to-be-determined. agreement was approved and the building with full kitchens. Amenities will include a permit was issued by the City Council Parking spaces will wrap around the build- in February. Davidson Companies Inc. storage. ing, with the largest parking lot behind started the conversion of the hotel facility the building. The eastern two acres will be into a 74-unit apartment building with The former restaurant and banquet facility vacated and might be used in the future for will become 20,000 square-feet of retail retail or commercial development. open later this year. The project will target students at Bethel, Northwest- ern College, St. News from Around the Town: Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Gardening class to be offered Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 The Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Small Space Ur on Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30-7 p.m. at City Hall. Gardening 8:00 a.m.4:30 p.m.  a real struggle, especially when it comes to growing food. Take - 651-792-7800 prised how much food you can get out of the smallest of spaces. - tive vertical gardening ideas such as hanging pots and easy-acce cityhall@cityofardenhills.org space gardening solutions make homegrown produce possible no mat outdoor space may be. Sheriff and Fire Emergency 911 Sheriff (non-emergency) 651-767-0640 A Master Gardener from the University of Minnesota Extension-Ra Fire (non-emergency) lead the class. The fee is $5 per person. 651-633-0640 Water and Sewer Problems The City also offers vegetable garden plots for lease each summe (During non-business hours) tax. Space is limited. 651-767-0640 For more information or to sign up, please visit www.cityofarden David Grant 651-538-0747 Mayor: Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 Friends of the Parks tree sale is on now Dave McClung 651-332-0352 The Ramsey County Friends of the Parks organization is again spo Ed Werner 651-636-2547 sale, which gives you the opportunity to donate trees to area pa See City website for e-mail addresses. the past. Among the trees available are species of birch, oak, e City Administrator: Patrick Klaers 651-792-7810 FriendsoftheParks.org. Communications Committee : Trees may be ordered until Friday, April 19, by printing the ord Kristine Goodrich, editor; Susan and mailing with a check. Prices range from $15 to $50. Tree don - Cathey ible. Trees will be available for pickup on May 4. Those given t Council Liaison: Dave McClung up and planted in the park of your choice by City staff. Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Arbor Day is April 26. Observe the occasion with a gift of a tre Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the Spring clean-up day is May 18 month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of the Planning Commission are televised T he Spring Community Cleanup Day for Arden Hills and Shoreview residents is Saturday, May Playbacks of City meetings begin the morning after the meeting and continue Bring items you want to dispose of to the Ramsey every day until the next City meeting. County Public Works Facility, 1425 Paul Kirkwold Playbacks are at 3 a.m., 11 a.m., and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 Hamline Avenue.) a.m., 2 p.m., and 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For web casts, visit www.ctv15.org. Arden Hills Notes - letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 Benchmarks: a review of recent City Council action M February 11, 2013 embers of the Joint Development Directed staff to apply for the Resilient Authority that will oversee devel " (McClung excused) - Communities Project program (4-0) opment of the Twin Cities Army Ammu - Appointed Darien Schifsky to the nition (TCAAP) site have been selected. " Directed staff to apply for the Ramsey " position of Public Works Maintenance Arden Hills has appointed Mayor David County Environmental Health, Public Worker (4-0) Grant, Councilmember Brenda Holden Entity Innovation Grant (4-0) and resident David Sand. Sand, who has Approved the Development Agree " - - February 25, 2013 ment for the Master and Final PUD sion, Cable Commission and Parks, Trails, regarding the redevelopment of 1201 and Recreation Committee, is chair of Approved a two-year contract with " the authority. Ramsey County appointed Eureka Recycling for residential plan set not referencing a future subdi - Commissioners Blake Huffman and curbside recycling services (current vision (old Holiday Inn) (4-0) vendor) (5-0) seats on the Joint Development Author Appointed David Sand as the Chair of - " Adopted updates to the City of Arden " the TCAAP Joint Development Au - February. Hills Safety Committee Policy (5-0) thority, and Mayor Grant and Coun - cilmember Holden as Commissioners to the TCAAP Joint Development Authority (4-0) Pavement Management Program for 2013 focuses on Northwestern Col by Susan Cathey A ordering improvement and preparation of - nother Arden Hills neighborhood will -tion option, which was ultimately selected have its streets improved this summer ment Management Program in the amount by the City Council. Another question dealt as part of the Pavement Management with storm water treatment. The City will Program. The neighborhood west of Snel- need to provide roughly 14,000 cubic feet ling Avenue behind Northwestern College, The funding comes from a combination of storm water treatment somewhere in the comprised of Glenhill, Edgewater, Asbury, of sources, including capital improvement neighborhood. Of those responding to this and Ridgewood avenues, will have work funds, City utility funds for sewer and question, owners of 13 properties indicated done. Problems to be addressed include ag- water main improvements, and assessment a willingness to have a rain garden or par- ing or failing infrastructure, poor drainage, of residents for roadway improvements.ticipate in the maintenance of one. and deteriorated pavement structure. Prior to the public hearing, a survey was This project is scheduled to begin in June Residents of the affected neighborhoods conducted to solicit input from the neigh-and be substantially completed by October. were invited to an informational meeting borhood on a few key items. One question Questions about the Pavement Manage- on October 23, 2012. City staff presented dealt with the preferred type of roadway ment Program may be directed to two alternatives for the street pavement rehabilitation. Of those responding to this John Anderson or Terry Maurer portion of this project, reconstruction or at City Hall. reclamation. Reconstruction involves extensive grading and removal of mate- rial with the addition of concrete curb and gutter. Reclamation includes reclaiming the Summer 2013 PMP projects: bituminous that is in place and repaving Glenhill, Edgewater, Asbury, and " the roadway, without adding new curb, but Ridgewood avenues will see improve replacing some of the existing bituminous - ment. Work will focus on infrastructure, " would be about double that of the second drainage, and deteriorated pavement choice. structure. The project begins in June and " Following this meeting, a feasibility report should be complete by October. - November 13. A public hearing on the topic was held as part of the January 14 City Council meeting. At that meeting, the Council adopted Resolution 2013-003 3 Ed Von Holtum, Economic Development Commission Chair A AA rden Hills has four distinct business Although they do not all reside in Arden The Gateway area just east of I-35W and AA districts: the Red Fox /Grey Fox area, Hills many of the leaders of our businesses west of Round Lake provides needed tax the B2 District, the Gateway District, and AA have served on City committees. For base and employment while offering the warehousing, service businesses, and light of I-694 and south of Cummings Park. have given their time and expertise freely industrial ready access to the interstate These areas are well-located and designed without compensation or preference to the system. Its location makes these uses a to integrate seamlessly into the commu - nity. We are one of the very few communities With the upcoming refurbishment of the North of I-694 and south of Cummings in Minnesota with more employment than former Holiday Inn building and the new Park is a corporate campus and light residents. For the most part the employWalgreens, the B2 District is poised to - industrial area. The most prominent feature ment provided by our businesses is high become the retail heart of Arden Hills. of this area is its scenic nature. These paying and challenging which enhances The establishment of good, well-managed corporate citizens have worked with the the community. Because commercial rental housing will provide wonderful City to maintain the lovely oak trees and properties pay a higher rate of property tax synergies that will help existing businesses than residential properties, a strong comwhile making the area more attractive for - into Cummings Park. mercial base helps to keep taxes relatively new retail businesses. low while allowing the City the revenue to By providing good-paying jobs and needed provide needed services. revenue and participating in contributing to The Red Fox/ Grey Fox area is a study into the life of the City, our commercial entities are a vital part of Arden Hills. Many of the including employment for our citizens, a industrial into a community. Its position owners and employees of these business strong tax base, good community partners, immediately south of I-694 between are residents of the City. They all contrib housing, retail outlets, and entertainment. Snelling Avenue and Lexington Avenue - ute to making this a livable city. We are Indeed Arden Hills would not be the vigives it great access without seriously add -- fortunate to have such diverse brant community it is without the contribu - commercial citizens. tions of our businesses. New Walgreens offers wealth of services by Fran Holmes T he new Walgreens at County Road E and The pharmacy drive-thru and in-store Lexington Avenue was built with a new prescriptions and credit card numbers pre- features Get Well, Live Well, and Stay state to be built with this new format, which app available on smartphones. all new Walgreens will use. In addition to the pharmacy, the store is One of the many features of this Walgreens divided into easy to navigate areas: is the variety of services provided by the " a beauty and hair products area, which pharmacy, which features a large seating includes a nail polish bar. area and a separate room used for different " a health products area. types of pharmacy services. Most immuni-" a convenience store area with a refrig- zations are available, along with free blood erator and frozen food wall that carries pressure screenings. a variety of foods and drinks. " a large photo lab with state-of-the-art The pharmacists offer a service, known as photo machines that print everything medical therapeutic management, reviewing from calendars to passport photos. Dustin Kresen is the store manager and with eligible patients their medications and Photos can be sent by smartphone or Trish Callahan manages the pharmacy. how they interact. The pharmacy provides Facebook via the Walgreens app. prescription delivery, which is free to senior The staff is excited to be located in Arden centers and available at a nominal fee to in- Hills and look forward to serving residents dividual homes. The pharmacy also provides Pharmacy hours are the same on weekdays, of this area by promoting health and well- free packaging of pills in daily unit doses, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 ness to new patients and customers. clearly marked and dated. p.m. Sundays. 4 by Lois Rem W W ith the coming of longer days and activity supervised by adults and spon W - Paul. The Curfew Center is not a substitute W warmer evenings, people want to stay sored by an organization. A minor is also W for jail; it is a safe place where a juvenile W permitted to be on the sidewalk next to the outdoors as long as possible. This makes W can wait for a parent or other adult to bring it a good time to be reminded that Ramsey them home. The curfew violation itself is a County (and Arden Hills) has a curfew the resident of a next door neighbor, unless status, not a criminal offense, unless crimi ordinance. The ordinance exists to protect that person makes a complaint to a law - nal activity is also involved. The Curfew youth from becoming victims of crime or enforcement provider. Center serves about 300 youth annually, becoming involved in criminal activity. between early May and mid-September. Curfew is enforced by all public safety The burden of observing curfew rests on agencies in the County.both the minor and the parent or guard - For the complete City Ordinance on ian who may not permit a minor to be in curfew, see the Municipal Ordinances violation of curfew. Likewise proprietors document, chapter 6 (Nuisances), sec The curfew ordinance covers two groups of of places of amusement, entertainment, - young people: cityofardenhills.org/). For more informa Those who are 15 and under must be to violate curfew hours in their establish 1. - - tion on the Curfew Center, visit its website home by 10 p.m. every night of the ments. at www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff/youth/ week, and curfew.htm. Those who are 16 and 17 can be out 2. until midnight. The curfew applies to A young person in violation of curfew may all public spaces, including streets, parks, roads, and schools. It also ap - plies to public establishments such as Curfew information available online movie theaters, restaurants, and bowl For the complete City Ordinance on curfew, see the Municipal Ord - ing alleys. chapter 6 (Nuisances), section 620.02, at the Citys website (ww For more information on the Curfew Center, visit its website at www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff/youth/curfew.htm. There are, of course, some exceptions, including: Juveniles who are accompanied by a " You can prevent thefts of items from your car! by Susan Cathey parent, guardian, or other responsible adult; Y ou may have noticed that there Being in front of his or her own resi " - are reports in the local papers dence; every week of thefts from cars and Going to, attending, or coming home " wondered what you can do to pro- from a supervised school, church, or tect yourself. The Ramsey County recreational activity; - Being at work or going to or coming " tions for preventing these crimes. home from work; Being involved in an emergency. " " Park in well-lit areas or areas visible to those walking or driving by. under curfew regulations, no unsupervised " Always close your windows and activity by youth 15 and under is permis It can take a thief less than 20 seconds to break into a car... - lock your doors. sible in public areas, vacant lots, places " Never leave personal property visible. Lock it in your trunk bef of entertainment, and other unsupervised your destination. places and buildings between the hours of " Use portable mounts for add-on radios, CD players, GPS units, an 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. For 16 and 17 year olds, " Obtain decals stating your car has an alarm. the curfew hours run from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m. Reporting crimes and suspicious activity is important because it patterns that will assist police in dealing with the problem. Wa- Exceptions include running an emer - sons loitering and try to get descriptions and license plate num gency errand or other legitimate business It can take a car thief less than 20 seconds to break into a ca adult person having care and custody of take victims months to recover. the minor. The restrictions do not apply to school, religious, or other recreational 5 ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit #1962 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 . I Highway 96/10 interchange work begins n Construction underway at former Postal Customer Holiday Inn s i PMP project for 2013 outlined d About our business districts e Notes from the City Council is the 39-unit housing development south of structures on the property. In general, Now that the weather is warmer, people of Highway 96. It was anticipated that the things seem to be moving along at this will be out and about more. So, I decided development would take three to four years point. covering a variety of short informational just over one year and the vast majority of - items that people are talking about.the homes have been built. The sales sign cally for TCAAP: http://tcaap.net. on Highway 96 has been removed and only I have talked to a number of Realtors, and the model home remains to be sold.This site contains background information, they tell me that Arden Hills has become pictures and a lot of documents related Winter is over and that means the other to the transfer. This website is evolving, Minnesota season is on its way, namely but it makes a good source for TCAAP where we were just a couple years ago. road construction. This year Highway 96 information. At some point we need a bet - Some home sales have two or three offers from North Heights Lutheran Church to on the table. There is even an instance of a New Brighton will be reconstructed. This what it is. is the last section of a 12-year project is certainly not the norm, it is good to stretching from White Bear Lake to New Sincerely, know that houses in Arden Hills are holdBrighton. See the related article in this - ing their value and selling well. Arden Hills Notes for details. The Minneapolis Area Association of RealThe Holiday Inn will be converted into - tors® latest data (The 200+ Local Market student housing. The former McGuires David Grant Update - January) shows the inventory restaurant area will be converted into retail Mayor of Arden Hills backlog of Arden Hills homes in 2012 was 6.4 months and is now down to 2.4 months. Arden Hills Notes for details. Inventory backlog is the amount of time needed to sell all the outstanding homes - for sale at the time, given the current sales velopment Authority was held in February. rate. The Association also reports a sizeThe items were administrative in nature, - able increase in the average sales price election of the chair and vice chair, autho - and price per square foot compared to the rizing work on the bi-laws, assigning legal previous year. tasks. The good news to report is that the Another indication of the strength of the County expects to close on the property real estate market is the speed that the Fox by mid-April. The necessary permits are Ridge development sold out. Fox Ridge underway for the cleanup and demolition