Thoughts on annexation for retail development battle in Proctor (Minneapolis: section 8, 2015)

[duluthian2008]

I was just curious as to what people thought of the battle that is occurring right now with Proctor trying to annex part of Midway Township so a large retailer can build. What do people think? Who do you think the retailer might be? What do you think about Duluth getting involved in the fight?

[bbtrips]

I guess I was really surprised when Duluth got involved in this. I really saw this as a Proctor/Midway Township issue. I'm sure the issue was that it was a retailer that Duluth had hoped to land, but was now looking elsewhere. My gut tells me it is Cabela's as it has been labeled a "destination" retail store. I see Proctor won the first round of the battle in this morning's DNT.

[nateduluthnative]

This is the main reason why so many things that we want up here aren't here or take longer to get here. Not just stores, but even the good paying jobs people need to shop at them. The Duluth area is well known for being too extreme with the NIMBY and "preserving every single little building built before 1950" types. But it is also becoming like that in every major metro area, causing people to move even further out to the "exurbs". It needs to change real soon or it will become a mini Detroit up there!

[Toronto416]

And now, the much-hoped for CVS near the Plaza Walgreens (12th Ave E & Superior St) might sit empty until 2015. Knowing Detroit, that is not a good sign - empty storefronts, abandoned mini-malls...you can bet if there is a crime, what perfect place to hide than behind the crevices of these spaces. The building preservation thing is an odd thing for me; in Toronto EVERYTHING is being torn down because of the explosion of $2 million condos downtown - reason being, 100 years ago, the idea was to keep progressing, keep moving forward, buildings come and go just like people and jobs; it's time to move on with it. Unfortunately, it's become such that all the rich people (who have cars or limo drivers) live downtown, and those who desperately need to be downtown near work (so they can walk) will no way be able to afford that rent, so they have to live in the city's worst area and required to purchase a $75 bus pass every month. It's bass-ackwards.

Duluth will be a lot different once Woodland Middle School closes this year, as long as developers move fast and furiously - going down Woodland Avenue, I see exactly what they mean and I think a 'grand entrance' into UMD along Woodland Avenue is a perfect idea. I could see a pedestrian bridge (similar to what you see going over to the sculpture garden near Walker Arts in Minneapolis) could link the space to the campus. As far as annexing Proctor, I don't know enough about that area to know if it's a great idea. I know that unless you live out there, most people won't drive there for one store (similar to Superior - I know many people who would love to try out that Phy Ed Health Club in Superior, but that 15-20 minute drive out of the way is a deal-breaker).

I don't know about everyone else, but there are two negatives I'm beginning to see in Duluth....1) the rental homes that are often neglected and ripped apart by students will never, ever be sold as family homes again. The amount of updates, handicap accessibility and maintenance would make it cheaper to tear it down and rebuild. I'm concerned these houses, once UMD has built high-demand housing on Woodland School's site, will eventually become Section 8 homes or group homes, which greatly diminish property values. Also, not much interest in the few quality jobs available. I think when people come to Duluth and see exactly how far the Twin Cities are, they say forget it. If you buy a home and lose that one great job, it's over - now you're unemployed, and have a house you can't pay for, or sell. Unless you have lots of money, most people aren't willing to take that chance. It's just a shame that Duluth isn't like the Quad Cities where we would have, say, 3-4 cities the same size of Duluth within a 20 minute drive of each other. Having one metro area 155 miles south is just too far away. It is starting to look like a lot of people are here because of the University, or because they have family here they live with, or because they don't have any money to move away. I hope that changes some day, but not sure how that will be achieved.

[newcastle]

Duluth should stay out of the issue unless Duluth wishes to Annex proctor which might not be a bad idea as proctor uses services Duluth provides (water,gas, sanitary sewer) and that might give Duluth reason to annex. Otherwise Duluth should stay out of it.

[MrWestDuluth]

Duluth needs to worry about Duluth. They should be concentrating their efforts on how to make Duluth more appealing to big-box retailers and other businesses. Then maybe we wouldn't lose so many business to Hermantown, and the surrounding area.

[newcastle]

Originally Posted by MrWestDuluth

Duluth needs to worry about Duluth. They should be concentrating their efforts on how to make Duluth more appealing to big-box retailers and other businesses. Then maybe we wouldn't lose so many business to Hermantown, and the surrounding area.

Well said. Duluth can also encourage new development in older neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Spirit Valley to encourage the tax base to grow. Theyv'e made some progress using Minnesota DEED funds cleanign up brownfields etc., but more can be done.

[snofarmer]

Originally Posted by MrWestDuluth

Duluth needs to worry about Duluth. They should be concentrating their efforts on how to make Duluth more appealing to big-box retailers and other businesses. Then maybe we wouldn't lose so many business to Hermantown, and the surrounding area.

I agree but the problem goes back to when Spirit Mtn was being planed.

The land on the spirit Mtn side has been in contention before. Duluth wants it, so does proctor.

Duluth all ready supports the area with water and sewer.

[WLSSDKarenAnderson]

Just want to make note to correct earlier comments about Proctor's utilities. While I believe its true that Proctor is a customer of Duluth's water and gas utlities, Proctor operates its own system of sanitary sewers that connect into WLSSD's regional sewer system. WLSSD serves 17 communities and 5 industrial customers (e.g. Sappi, New Page, USG) in St. Louis and Carlton Counties. Duluth and Proctor are both customers of WLSSD. Duluth does not provide Proctor with sewer service.

[snofarmer]

"Proctor operates its own system of sanitary sewers that connect into WLSSD's regional sewer system"

Karen, if wlssd is processing Proctor's s sewage we are providing Proctor with sewer service.
we may not be installing or servicing their infrastructure but we do provide the service.

we also have a line all the way to the top of spirit mtn.

Proctors water pumping station is located at the bottom of spirit mtn on the south, east corner, up on the end of 80th ave west and the line runs up the gully below the railroad tracks along the north, east side of the ski area.

both of these utilities will be utilized by any growth in that area.

regardless Duluth wants the taxes that it will bring.