TO THE EDITOR:

Occasionally there is an opportunity to shape the identity of a community. It might be an event that the community celebrates (i.e. Winterfest) or a person or group of people who accomplish a significant achievement such as winning a title in a high school athletic sport. Another way to form a communityís identity is through the development within the city. Development is more than building. Good development integrates many facets of the vitality of a city, such as how people get around (roads and sidewalks), where people live (homes, apartments, hotels), where people work (commercial and service businesses), where people recreate (parks, lakes, school grounds), and where people gather (churches, restaurants, schools). There is a piece of property that is ready for re-development and I believe it will impact the city for years to come; for better or worse. There will be no neutral effect.

The site Iím referring to is the Lamperts site across from Central Park. Lamperts business is now relocated to Flink Avenue. What remains in the downtown area is a large lot in the city that faces one of the more used community event areas (Central Park) along a heavily used road (State Highway 95) and connected to the rail line corridor which is currently used as a bike and hiking trail, and the central business district via the sidewalk. Iím not aware of any hazardous waste on site and the existing structures are not so extensive that their removal should discourage re-development.

I hope that whoever has the opportunity to re-develop the site has the vision to see the potential of its location and the will to build to its full opportunity. The potential affect for the site is that it should enhance events held in Central Park. It should support the use of the bike/hike trail. And maybe most significantly, it should promote the whole of the central business district by drawing in people who would make more use of existing businesses. The right development could encourage more businesses to re-develop other sites in our central business district. The presence of any downtown is important as it is the heart of a city. The downtown area presents the soul of a cityís identity to its inhabitants and its visitors.

I hope for great success for Lamperts in their new location. I hope to see a great re-development in the downtown at the existing Lampertsí location. This is a significant opportunity for the identity of North Branch to be expressed through re-development. I hope it is done well.

Kurt Liebenow
North Branch

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com