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2 Building on the City's Tradition I . I ....y '~TY CitN....IiASSEN - - ~.~_"_i_'_'t'~.;(FoiMEmY snruBERTUS) The original Chanhassen plat map dated 1898 shows settlement near St. Hubert's Church. Significant events which shaped downtown during the city's early years include: -1865, dedication of first church, St. Hubert's -1880s, current Klingelhuetz Building built as carpentry shop or hotel -1885-6, railroad constructed through town -1893, Village Hall constructed -1896, village incorporated (previously platted as St. Hubertus in 1887 by the Franciscan Brotherhood) -Shift of the depot from the north side of the tracks to the south of the newly expanded railroad -1930s, Pauly's Bar and Lounge constructed as a general store -1968, Chanhassen Dinner Theater opens -1978, Tax Increment Financing District created -1978, new city hall dedicated -1980, Business Park created -1989, downtown infrastructure improved -1989, Old Village Hall relocated -1990, new Chanhassen Bank built -1992, Market Square Shopping Center opened -1993, Target opened -1994, Byerly's opened History of Downtown Today, downtown Chanhassen is a compact commercial hub in an expanding suburban community. But when it was first settled around 1850, mature hardwood forests dominated the area. The Dakota tribes called the region Chanhasen, refer- ring to the sweet juice of its numerous maple trees. These "Big Woods" were especially attractive to the early German and New England settlers. In 1858 the Chanhassen precinct adopted the Dakota name in a public meeting at the school- house. At the same time, officers were elected and structures were established to guide the town's future. . Chanhassen's gradual development as a small trade and railroad center in a rural township resulted in a limited but significant collection of now-historic. buildings. Turn-of-the- century houses, old St. Hubert's Church and cemetery, and the Village Hall sign<:J.l the city's eastern entry and define the architectural and cultural roots of the community. These buildings are critical markers of the city's history. Together they preserve the attractive fabric of a traditional main street while providing lessons for the expansion of downtown. Downtown grew slowly through the 1960s. A modest wave of construction around 1970 resulted in new apartment buildings, St. Hubert's School and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, all located adjacent to the historic center. Most notable about these buildings was the change in scale, form and siting that formerly characterized the streets of down- town. Although the sidewalk was not abandoned, these new developments stressed the importance of parking for retail developments and diminished the pedestrian experience in the downtown. Today, the intersection of Great Plains Boulevard and West 78th Street marks the boundary between the historic core or traditional downtown and the modem entertainment, business, retail and civic center of the city. Changes in Chanhassen's downtown continued through the 1970s with the establishment of the tax increment financing district (a funding tool used by cities to pay for public improvements using taxes generated by the new develop- ment). This district spurred development of larger-scale commercial projects and brought aesthetic improvements to the expanding downtown streets. Today downtown reaches from the historic center to Powers Boulevard nearly one mile to the west. Public Process for Building a Downtown In 1858, when Chanhassen was first organized, citizens held a public meeting to set a course for their new town. In 1993, citizens were asked to lend insight and knowledge to guide the creation of a plan that would reflect the community's needs and desires for its downtown. In a series of public meetings, more than 100 residents participated in a process that defined a vision and a set of guiding principles for the downtown. An ad hoc committee met frequently over the course of eight months to further shape this vision and to craft a plan that closely fit Chanhassen. The needs and issues considered most important for downtown Chanhassen's future included: - a balance between the pedestrian and the automobile environment; -continued opportunities for development of new businesses in downtown; -the need to keep important public facilities downtown; -the recognition that downtown contains historic features which are important to the community; -the need to plan with some degree of flexibility for changes in the future; -the strong desire to keep and enhance downtown as the center of community life in Chanhassen. Also noted were strengths of the existing downtown including: -public buildings located at the center; -unique features such as the Chanhassen Dinner Theater; -nearby residential areas and recreational opportunities; - a compact downtown. Focus group participants felt that downtown could be im- proved by addressing some key issues including: - a lack of identity from Highway 5; - an incomplete pedestrian network and an emphasis on the automobile; -the need for night-time activities in downtown; -the lack of senior housing; -the need for expanding some public facilities to serve the growing community. A community survey conducted over the next several weeks will provide a critical check for the plan's fit to Chanhassen and determine whether or not the plan moves forward to adoption by the community. Today, downtown Chanhassen is a compact commercial hub in an expanding suburban community. J ~ ~ ~ j ~! ~, J. I , r S; -' i ~ ~ ~ ~ ifi ~ :::i i ~ .of: 'I I i