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The school district has been working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop a comprehensive Response Action Plan (RAP) for the site. The RAP is designed to clean up the site to residential standards. The RAP involves soil removal, groundwater remediation, and an aggressive PCE soil vapor extraction system to insure the safety of the entire neighborhood. The development and cleanup plans for this site are consistent with the Metropolitan Council's priority to increase the tax base of the area and provide affordable housing. The development is also consistent with the City of Roseville's General Land Use Goal to "(eJliminate blight and prevent deterioration of buildings and infrastructure. Strive for better aesthetic appeal" and the City's Residential Policy to "( c Jonvert unused/underused commercial lands to residential uses." Unfortunately, the discrepancy between the investigation and cleanup costs (approximately $2 million) and the market value of this property, even without contamination ($460,000), leads to the inevitable conclusion that this property will not get cleaned up for many years and will not be redeveloped without public funding. Instead, it will continue to sit vacant, as it has been for over a year. If funding is received, this property will be remediated and redeveloped within 2 years. Roseville is concerned that it avoid fostering a future source of crime and decreasing property values caused by this vacant building. Studies have shown that vacant buildings are magnets for crime, can bring down the property values of neighboring residential homes and businesses, and strain the resources of a municipality. See September 25, 2006 St. Paul Pioneer Press article ((If nobody's home, trouble comes calling" and 2005 National Vacant Properties Campaign Report ((Vacant Properties, The True Cost to Communities." As indicated above, the site is located in the middle of a nice residential community. Historically, efforts to revitalize blighted neighborhoods and demolish or restore vacant buildings have focused on inner city neighborhoods. We believe that what has been observed and documented in urban areas is likely to be applicable to first ring suburbs like the City of Roseville. We all know that suburban neighborhoods also face the negative impact of vacant buildings and therefore deserve serious consideration for a share of public funds. Redeveloping this site will not only avoid the substantial negative impacts associated with long- term vacant properties, but will benefit the city and community by: . Increasing the tax base from $0 to over $50,000 annually . Helping to stabilize Mounds View School District by increasing the residential properties in its district . Increasing the property values of neighboring residential homes . Promoting in-fill housing development in an area with virtually no available vacant land and avoiding sprawl to previously undeveloped areas . Utilizing existing infrastructure such as roads, city water and sewer, and other utilities . Eliminating blight . Alleviating a potential hazard to human health and the environment