First of all, congratulations to both Councilmember LeAnn Sargent on her re-election and Erik Johnson on his election to a four-year term on the City Council. Erik is currently on our Planning Commission. Voter turnout in Maple Grove, in Minnesota, and across the United States was great. We are blessed to be Americans and have a say in selecting our government leaders. Many thanks to all candidates for having an interest in serving their community, county, state and nation.
2008 is history. It has been a good year and given Maple Grove strength to weather what I believe will be a challenging 2009. Due to proper budget oversight and development projects, we will get through the next year.
At this time there are a number of developments either underway, completed, or soon to come. The Maple Grove Hospital, which is a partnership between North Memorial and Fairview, is on track for a December 2009 opening. It will be a state-of-the-art medical center and will serve the entire region. While it took several years to receive approval from the Legislature, we can see the light at the end of a long tunnel. The hospital is already drawing medical companies to Maple Grove, and more will come when it opens.
Leasing in The Grove commercial development (in the area of the hospital) is picking up steam. The big box users in that area are drawing consumers to the western part of the city. Ryan Companies, which owns and operates this project, is a solid developer. The Arbor Lakes area continues to be strong. While there have been several business closings along Elm Creek Boulevard, some new businesses are coming in to replace the closed ones.
There will be a new use for the vacant Krispy Kreme building, and Broadway Bar & Pizza has acquired the former Joe's Crab Shack site. These new businesses will continue to add diversity to our overall commercial base.
More good news - construction is underway on the new Hennepin County Library, located between the Government Center and LifeTime Fitness. The facility is 42,000 square feet, which is almost three times the size of the current library, and will also include a parking ramp. Estimated opening is late summer 2010. What a great addition this will be to our City and to the overall civic campus plan!
The second sheet of ice at the Community Center is now open and ready to go. This is a great project between the Osseo-Maple Gove Hockey Association and the City. Ice time has already been picked up with Junior A Hockey League, and OMGHA will also be a frequent user. A bandshell in the area of the Community Center and library is another project we would like to see come to fruition. Currently it is in the design stage, and it is hoped that construction will start next year. Again, this is all part of our civic campus plan which was laid out several years ago.
Residential development in the City has slowed as it has across the country. However, Maple Grove is in a much stronger position than most communities. While there are foreclosures, builders that have gone bankrupt, and builders with a high number of vacant homes, overall the City is still on strong financial footings. Vacant homes are being monitored to ensure they do not become an eyesore, and the City has a strong property maintenance code. The residential market will turn around, but it will take time. I see the economic turnaround as trying to turn around an ocean liner with a small motor. Time and patience are key, but regretfully many folks cannot afford either right now.
Dave Kosmecki - Guaranteed Rate, Inc.
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