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and there was not an appetite for those choices either so the EDA decided to stay the current <br /> course and re-evaluate. <br /> Mayor Strommen asked if there is an appetite from developers to purchase land to develop. <br /> Councilmember Williams stated that in the market right now, developers are not buying on <br /> speculation. She stated that multi-family housing is a hot market right, with demand and <br /> incentives available. She stated that is the market that is doing well and the retail market is not <br /> doing well right now across the metro area. She stated that retail is fickle and there are higher <br /> ups and lower lows and this is a low point in that market. She stated that it would take one <br /> retailer coming to Ramsey to bring in interest from other retailers that use the same checklist and <br /> market to the same type of customers. She explained that it would then be hard for developers to <br /> build with the expectation that retailers would want to come to Ramsey because of the different <br /> checklists that each retailer has. She stated that CBRE has a relationship with certain retailers <br /> and developers and stated that if the City changed brokers they would gain a different network <br /> that the brokers market to. She stated that CBRE is one of the largest raw land developers in the <br /> state. She stated that if the City is looking to market to certain types of businesses, then it may <br /> be helpful to find a different broker that has contacts within that business community. She <br /> explained that there is not an easy clear answer. <br /> Councilmember Riley stated that never once has someone said that they want more apartments in <br /> The COR, as the comments are always regarding retail and restaurants. He stated that is what <br /> residents were sold on the idea for The COR. He recognized that housing was part of the plan <br /> and is an element of the plan but believed that there should be focus on what the residents want. <br /> Mayor Strommen stated that it appears that the recommendation of the EDA is to hold on the <br /> current course and focus on marketing to retail and restaurants within the part of the strategy that <br /> the City controls. She stated that the City cannot control whether a developer wants to buy land. <br /> Chairperson Steffen stated that the City could give the land away and that still would most likely <br /> not bring in a user like Chipotle. <br /> Mayor Strommen stated that if that is the focus she is curious on the comment from <br /> Councilmember Williams regarding brokers. She stated that if the focus is going to shift from <br /> one thing to another, when would the City consider switching brokers. <br /> Councilmember Williams stated that any broker can access the land for sale within Ramsey. She <br /> stated that if there continues to be requests for multi-family homes, the City could talk with other <br /> retail focused brokers to determine if those brokers think that they could bring that element to <br /> Ramsey. She stated that perhaps the EDA could speak with brokers rather than developers to <br /> find out more information and if there would be more opportunity to bring in retail and restaurant <br /> users. <br /> Mayor Strommen stated that she is hearing that there is no reason to switch brokers immediately <br /> but perhaps research retailers the City would like to attract and determine which brokers those <br /> retailers use to determine if Ramsey would be a good fit. <br /> City Council Work Session/September 26,2017 <br /> Page 3 of 6 <br />