Facade loans, new restaurant plat approved

Shakopee Valley News

Shakopee's Economic Development Authority voted to approve four facade loans for downtown businesses on Tuesday night.

The loans are for 120 First Ave. E., 126 Holmes St. S., 507 First Ave. E. and 124 First Ave. W. and range from $30,000 to $52,750.

Under the facade program, the city provides 50 percent of reconstruction costs, up to $30,000, to ease some of the burden in improving downtown buildings though the cap could be higher if the Economic Development Authority thinks the project could add more to the downtown area.

Several of the projects came in above the $30,000 facade cap.

"I'd like to stay within that cap if at all possible," City Councilor Matt Lehman said during the meeting.

Putting more into the downtown means the city gets more back, Mayor Bill Mars said.

"I remember years ago when with this facade program we couldn't get any takers for it within our community," Mars said. "Every improvement project has added value to the building, to the downtown."

The loan for 120 First Ave. E, at $52,750, would go toward restoring the storefront to downtown design guidelines as closely as possible. This building houses Storm Angel contractors and others. This would involve removing some brick, which is part of the reason for the higher expense, according to the loan application.

A loan for $35,000 was approved for 126 Holmes St. S., which was Lady Di Antiques, for the owner to recreate the storefront from the 1920s, which was an ice cream shop. The loan would be executed when the owner closes on buying the building. Improvements include cleaning and restoring the brick, replacing windows and a door and buying a new awning, according to the loan application.

The loan for 507 First Ave. E. for $30,000 would be to renovate the existing storefront for Riverside Liquors.

The loan for 124 First Ave. W., the Pullman Club, would also go updating the existing storefront including replacing windows and awnings.

With the loans approved, the remaining facade budget has $92,250 for remaining projects.

Once the Shakopee City Council reconvened it: 

• Approved the change of date and road closures for the final Rhythm on the Rails for Aug. 23. The concert was moved due to inclement weather.

• Finalized a plat for the Southbridge Crossings development near Home Depot. Part of the lot would include a future restaurant and the other portion is unknown as of yet, as no tenant has been decided. The restaurant would also include a bar.

• Issued a negative declaration of need for an Environment Impact Study for the proposed Canterbury Commons project. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet was done and found "the project does not have the potential for significant environmental impacts," according to the resolution. The project includes 856 residential units and a 120-room hotel.