By MaryHelen Swanson

A group of interested people have been meeting to discuss and plan for the future of the downtown area in North Branch.

Most recently this group, the Downtown Revitalization Committee, has engaged the assistance of BIKO Associates, Inc., to do some studies in preparation for development of a plan to spruce up and improve downtown as a more vital economic and social part of the community.

On Oct. 11, the planners met with citizens and business people who also have the desire to improve the downtown, or at least were interested in what is being planned.

Some local people felt the downtown was fine, others look for esthetic improvements, and some were interested in the more grandiose plans the BIKO folks had proposed.

In the initial presentation, the BIKO representative Harold Skjelbostad showed maps of the downtown area under consideration, basically centering on a core area including the blocks between 6th and 8th avenues.

Skjelbostad spoke of the current buildings in that area as the ìbonesî of downtown.

He showed areas of existing redevelopment including a house, the old library, the new bank site and the Snap Fitness site.

But he stated that there are many ideas for change in at least 15 areas in downtown.

He said the downtown corner pivoted off the ì110 percentî corner of Hwy. 95 and County Road 30 (Forest Blvd.).

He pointed to potential corridors of redevelopment going north and south of Hwy. 95.

In particular, he proposed redevelopment on the southeast corner of the 100 percent intersection as an area where a historical looking three-story complex could descend southward housing shops on the first floor and apartments on the upper two floors.

These apartments, one audience member noted, would be good for young adults who are not ready to purchase a home.

Skjelbostad repeated over and over the need to get more people living in the downtown area.

Get people in your downtown, he said, and goods and services will follow.

Skjelbostad also informed the people that North Branch already has the kind of things other communities are trying to get.

Still, he strongly suggests North Branch get population density in the downtown area so people can walk to the services.

He pointed to potential improvements on the north end of town, possibly using the still-active railroad tracks as a point for a new draw to town.

He talked about a civic center corridor that potentially could be created in the city hall area and south to Hwy. 95.

Skjelbostad provided questions to get the conversation going on public input.

? What is your current assessment of the economic vitality of the study area?

? What changes would improve the economic vitality?

? How does the Hwy. 95 and CR 30 intersection influence the future success of your downtown?

? What mix of goods and services are likely to open operations in your downtown?

? Does existing parking supply meet demand?

Some people felt that the current downtown area is vital but many agreed that there is an entirely different business mix from 30 years ago.

Skjelbostad reinforced that it will take some good governing, bold steps and vision to make downtown NB what the people want, now and in the future.

Bill Rice remarked that some years ago a downtown improvement group simply wanted nicer lights, benches, planters, etc., and that didnít happen.

Citizen Barbara Burrington said it took three years to get the hanging plants alone.

Skjelbostad reminded the group then that he had been talking about the ìbigî picture, but that the master plan, when finished, will include smaller things, too.

Downtown attorney Dan DeWan said in his opinion, downtown is fine and he didnít think the outlet center west of the freeway posed a problem for the downtown area.

He agreed with Skjelbostad that it would be good to get more residential density to make downtown a more pedestrian area.

Dentist Richard Nyman, who has recently added on to his building in downtown, remarked that it was hard to get across Hwy. 95.

Building owner Deb Heggerston likes the historical looking aspects of the downtown area. She likes the quaint look and said the downtown area should be consistent in appearance.

Resident Doylene Voligny also recommended denser housing near Uptown Maple Commons. In her opinion, downtown was no longer vital because it didnít have the shops that were there 30 years ago, such as clothing, variety store and two grocery stores.

Barber Bob VanAlstine bemoaned the fact that downtown no longer has a good full-service restaurant. It had one, he said.

Jim Vrchota, who is opening the new bank in town, said to have some of the shops desired would require more space than current buildings will allow. To be proactive, he said, when a house in the downtown area came up for sale, the city would have to buy it up. And, he added, shop owners would have to be able to make a living.

Talk of a civic center included major changes in the use of more than one block. Councilwomen Kathy Blomquist said she regretted the theater leaving; there needs to be something to draw people downtown, she said. She talked about communities where businesses stay open one night a week as a draw.

One resident, new to North Branch, came to town by way of Orange County, California, and then the California of Minnesota - Woodbury.

She wanted to be in the country. Her observations about North Branch were revealed. People here are friendly, she said, but clannish.

Itís hard to assimilate into the community. She observed that people here donít like new people or new businesses, especially the older people, she said.

Housing is either too expensive or subsidized, there needs to be more moderate-priced housing and she agreed with the denser residential housing downtown.

Skjelbostad wrapped up the gathering by saying that when the plan is finished and approved by the city council, there should be a party, at cityís expense, to celebrate it.

The revitalization group will continue to meet, he noted, and another public meeting will be held before a master plan is adopted.

If you have suggestions or comments regarding the downtown revitalization plan you can call Dave Stutelberg at city hall, 674-8113.