October 2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents October 2016 Rice Creek Commons site is officially ready for redevelopment Decades after it was a place where people worked, the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), now Rice Creek Commons, is officially ready for new life and activ- ity. The site is an important part of Arden Hills’ past and future but more recently was known for significant environmental contamination that had previously limited redevelopment. That has now changed as work to clear and clean the site has reached an important new milestone. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has awarded a Certificate of Completion for the site’s cleanup efforts. Arden Hills and Ramsey County have cre- ated a Joint Development Authority (JDA) which has worked to plan for the right way to redevelop it. Now that the clean-up is complete, work can focus on new homes, stores, and jobs in this significant part of Arden Hills. “This is a monumental time in Arden Hills’ history. Rice Creek Commons will help our already thriving community continue to grow by attracting residents, jobs, and busi- nesses,” said David Grant, Mayor of Arden Hills. “The City of Arden Hills, along with our other partners, worked so hard over the past three years to ensure that this valuable piece of property could be utilized in a way that will benefit our City, the County, as well as the whole State. We are thrilled to start development and see what the future holds for Rice Creek Commons.” The 427-acre site was origi- nally home to the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant for many years, resulting in haz- ardous materials polluting the soil. In 2013, working with Arden Hills, Ramsey County bought the property with the intent to clean the soil and redevelop the site. The cleanup efforts were completed in November 2015 after removing 93 percent of the concrete, metal and other materials to meet residen- tial standards. The site will be officially removed from the state’s Superfund list (a collection of all sites in Minnesota that are too hazardous for development) in 2017. “We are at an important place in this com- plex process,” Grant said. “While crews worked to clear buildings and clean up the contamination, we were working with other partners on a plan for what happens next. What is the right way to bring together new homes, businesses, and community space within a coordinated plan and vision? As exciting as it is to see the clean-up happen, we think the redevelopment vision is just as significant.” by Mike Zipko of Zipko Strategy Arden Hills has hired the public relations company Zipko Strategy in partnership with the Connelly-Kuhl Group to help articulate the City’s vision for the Rice Creek Commons project. The St. Paul- based company provides communica- tions services for businesses, non-profits, government, and advocacy groups. The contract was approved by the City Council on August 29. Arden Hills Mayor David Grant speaks at an August 10 event to celebrate the awarding of the project’s Certificate of Completion. When fully redeveloped, Rice Creek Com- mons will serve as a mixed-use site that will be home to residential properties, retail properties, and a business district. Plans are underway to make this a sustainable, walkable community with parks and other community space. Developers are expect- ing that in the next 10-15 years there will be 1,400 new homes and 4,000 jobs at the site. Alatus LLC of Minneapolis is the master developer for the redevelopment. Arden Hills will continue to share more information as the work continues. To learn more about Rice Creek Commons please visit ricecreekcommons.com There’s an election on the way!Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. In addition to national and state offices, Arden Hills residents will elect three Councilmembers. Learn about the candidates and your voting options on pages 3 through 6 of this newsletter. City hires Zipko Strategy After years of cleanup, Rice Creek Commons has received a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Certificate of Completion