Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 06/10/2021

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Sustaining Our Legacy The Future of Ramsey Town Hall RETROFIT RETROFIT: OTH REMAINS AT CURRENT LOCATION (continued) Over the years, there has been interest in putting the Old Town Hall to use. Since it was left mid -remodel, it has been sitting there, lifeless. We will explore two business proposals for adaptive reuse of the Old Town Hall, as well as potential use of the space as a business incubator. By looking at the proposed floor plans for the building, we will evaluate the reuse options and their effects on the space. School of the Arts 0 46 It's not really about me. I just want to see that space used again and I want to bring more artists to Ramsey.» Shannon Potter's proposal for reusing the Old Town Hall focuses on bringing a community use back to the building. The location is a main draw for potential arts instruction programming and Shannon's experience as a property manager gives her an ability to manage the building while utilizing the space. Proposed program components include: •Teaching: •Flexible teaching artist model Classes for youth • Expanding classes offered as Classes for adults new teachers join Voice lessons •Building reservations for Other art classes as possible community events Braven Music Anoka 4066We love history and a good story; we think that it is great that the building started out as a school and could again be one!» Tara Gattner's proposal for the building is based on expanding the established music school. Having reached maximum capacity operating out of their home and limited rental space, the stand-alone Old Town Hall building seemed like the perfect location. Program components include: •Teaching: • Currently over 50 students Music •Music lessons for youth Fine motor skill optimization • Experience working with Personal discipline children with disabilities People skills •Giving back to the Team building community Business Incubator “An incubator would catalyze entrepreneurship in the city of Ramsey and be the cornerstone for creating local goods and services. —Mathew Goodwin, Talent and Tenacity The city's economic development team and the Resilient Communities Project have been working to create places and services provided by the city of Ramsey aimed to help startup businesses get off the ground. The Old Town Hall building would diversify this by creating a smaller scale space that appeals to new businesses. Components include: •Business possibilities: • Flexible business model Small scale start-ups •Discretion of Ramsey Nonprofits •Building can be used for Arts organizations community events (To further explore the business incubator option, see the "Talent & Tenacity" posters) Community Growth A new business with a focus on bringing artists to the community will help Ramsey's community and business grow. Property Management Having the historic property used by a business owner who is als® a property manager add: extra understanding to the nature of running a historic property. Unestablished As a new business, it may be difficult for the School of the Arts to establish itself. The building could end up being empty again if the programming is unable to take off. Unpredictable The flexibility of the business plan leaves the space utilized during unpredictable hours and by an unpredictable amount of people creating possible complications related to negotiating parking easements. Established Business Braven has already established a client base and is not a new business just trying to get on its feet. Community Involvement Braven is an active participant in the community of Anoka, regularly attending community events in order to give back. Bringing that into Ramsey would be a boon to the community. Dividing Space The school needs the building to be divided up into at least 3 private practice rooms. This will involve a great deal of construction. If Braven outgrows this space, these divided rooms may make finding a new use for the property difficult. Sound Proofing The separate rooms in the music school will need to be soundproof and set for acoustics. This will also add an extra layer of complication to the construction process. rsification Brings a new scale option, encouraging development of different types of businesses not already served by the Ramsey Business Incubator. Existing program Ramsey already has an established business incubator program. This addition simply expands the program. VS Control Ramsey will retain control of the building, requiring management and oversight on the part of the City. Turnover There can be a high turnover rate in any business incubator, leaving the possibility of the space being left empty and underutilized. There is local interest in putting the Old Town Hall building to use on its current site and bringing new life to the area through adaptive reuse of the building. However, the City of Ramsey has also considered moving the building to the Center of Ramsey (The COR), the city's new mixed - use downtown area. In the next set of posters we will explore the relocation of the Old Town Hall. PA521 1: Land Use Planning / Instructor: Fernando Burga PhD. . Mary Cutrufello, Katriona Molasky, Amy Van Gessel l b,i..n (. Dim...,