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12/1/11 <br />EDA PROJECT UPDATE <br />From the Economic Development/Marketing Manager <br />A. Buxton Study Update <br />At the October EDA meeting I presented a revised Retail Site Analysis (RSA) and the Retail <br />Match List for both Site 1 (167th Avenue/Hwy 47) and Site 2 (The COR). I have attached both <br />lists to this e-mail in case you would like to refer to them again. I asked members if there were <br />specific retailers from the list that they would like to see contacted. Councilmember Wise did <br />suggest adding convenience stores to the retail list. <br />As part of the contract, the Buxton Group contacts a total of 20 retailers on our behalf (as <br />identified on the match lists). For Site 1, I requested they contact: A&W Drive -In, Aldi, Inc., <br />Arby's Roast Beef, Curves, CVS Pharmacy, Dairy Queen, Dollar Tree, Marshalls, Napa Auto <br />Parts, and Walgreens. For Site 2, I requested they contact: A&W Drive -In, Five Guys, Golf <br />USA, Hobby Lobby, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, True Value Hardware. <br />In addition, I requested that the Buxton Group undertake a C-Store analysis for five <br />convenience store/gas station concepts —Freedom Valu Centers, Holiday Station, Kwik Trip, <br />PDQ Food Stores, and SuperAmerica. Buxton indicated that Kwik Trip and Holiday Station <br />were good matches at both locations and SuperAmerica was a stretch match for The COR. I <br />have attached the match status for all five and profile reports for the recommended matches. It <br />should be noted that the C-Store analysis was done using a 4 minute drive -time for both sites <br />and not the 12 minute drive -time used for the other retailers. <br />The Buxton Group mailed letters to the first group of prospect retailers on November 18th and to <br />a second batch of prospects this week. I will be following up with all of the prospects that <br />received the Buxton letter in early December. <br />B. Status of Minneapolis Manufacturing Company (Bury & Carlson Site) <br />After a significant amount of activity in the Spring, it has been relatively quiet. I expected that the <br />company's Board of Directors was going to make a final siting decision at its June meeting after <br />considering sites in several states. That has not happened. The company still wants additional <br />capacity, but still has not made its decision. The stalemate continues --management likes <br />Ramsey (they also recently asked about the Molin property again) and ownership continues to <br />check into sites out of state (Ohio or Indiana). <br />C. Master Plan for Commercial Node at 167th Avenue and St. Francis Blvd <br />On October 13th Senior Planner Gladhill made a presentation regarding the history of efforts to <br />improve this area, the impetus for creating a master plan, and the proposed plan to achieve the <br />