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- e June 9, 1976 " ;; $ t TO: City Council FRQ.I: Heward Dahlgren Associates SUBJECf: Canadian Financial Corporation Housing Proposal We reported last week, that Canadian Financial CoIporation had redesigned their proposed housing project on Snelling Avenue (north of the Rose Drive- in Theatre) to include the follCMing changes: 1. P$duction of the building height from 7 stories to 5 stories. 2. Reduction in the number of elderly lmits by a total of 18 units. 3. Reduction in the number of car spaces for the elderly from 24 to 16, by elimination of one of the garages. 4. Added organized play space for the family housing areas. 5. Dropping the one acre area to be rezoned to be occupied by the panding area. The panding area will be a part of the project and will be occupied by the pond as proposed, but will remain zoned B- 2 as is now the case. ~ You will hopefully have had an opportlmity to review the existing development on Rhode Island Avenue in Golden Valley w.ich, as you know, is alJrost identical in building design concept to the project proposed in Roseville. It is generally recognized in the JOOtropolitan area as one of the better "mixed housinglt develop- ments featuring elderly occupancy and family living units on the same site. We have checked with the staff of the City of Golden Valley and find that they regard the developnent as well done and successful. A reduction in the height of the overall building will certainly materially aid the degree of acceptance and corrpatability with single family residential developJmJ1t in the area. The accollp3Il}'ing reduction in density (18 fewer elderly units) derives a mre spacious anangelOOnt, and would appear to be well acc:oImOdated. in the site plan. The small childrens play area and equiprmnt have been added in the open spaces within the family 1iv~ng area. This will be helpful for smaller children. The presence of athletic area for the elelOOntaty school on the contiguous property, of course, is the key feature that provides recreational space. We suggest the changes proposed all constitute ilrprove- lIe1lts of SOlIe significance, and in the overall make the p:oposal a reasonable candidate for positive action. We previously COlllllented on the relative assets of this project in question as it relates to the second elderly project in Roseville. Conversations with representatives of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency definitely indicate the possibility of approval for only one of the projects in the City. The responsibility for milldng this choice lies with the agency ",'ho has established the crt teria and regularly makes such choices wi thin various corrmmi ties. The question before the City is whether or not the proposal is appropriate on this specific site irrespective of cCl'Il>Ctition elsewhere.