Ahh, my most favorite parcel of barren and treeless land, originally slated for development of more cheap and poorly constructed housing and retail space to be occupied by chains and/or other failing businesses has really caught the ire of the Apple Valley City Council. Yup, the grand vision for the Apple Valley Central Village has hit another snag and more delays are expected because the developer originally interested in building just under 200 more town homes (just what Apple Valley needs!) and retail space has asked to alter the original plans and build fewer townhomes (which didn’t sell the first time and are instead being leased, much to the grave disappointment of the Apple Valley City Council) and reduce the square footage of retail space because, well, the buildings already there aren’t exactly beating off prospective business owners with a stick.
According to the Star Tribune, City Council member John Bergman said that the delays and headaches of choosing a local developer over a big corporate developer is his worst nightmare. Apparently, even though preexisting and established businesses under the “Save Downtown Apple Valley” moniker are still very concerned about the prospect of a Cedar highway destroying the real downtown Apple Valley, Mr. Bergman would rather fret over the prospect of not building housing and retail space that isn’t likely to get filled any time soon than lose sleep over the real downtown area.
Yes, there is a good possibility that Apple Valley will lose a $2.3 million grant if the already delayed project doesn’t move forward but honestly, the City Council needs to get back down to Earth and stop living the unattainable dream of this unnecessary “walkable downtown” that seems to be the fucking buzzword of all the suburbs. Let’s concern ourselves with established and preexisting businesses rather than new construction that may never get filled. I’d rather see open plots of land covered in scrub grass and dusty dirt than overpriced and empty storefronts with “Lease Now” signs cluttering the windows.
Both would be common scenes in a ghost town, one just happens to have cost a lot more money to create.
Related posts:
- 153rd St, Legacy Park, and Apple Valley Central Village: Apple Valley, MN
- Apple Valley to Allow Further Degradation of Central Village Plan?
- Apple Valley City Council Meetings/Minutes Behind the Times
- Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce President Agrees Cedar/42 is Real “Downtown”
- Cobblestone Lake City Owned Liquor Store: Apple Valley, MN
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May 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I’m not getting this “Let’s build a downtown” trend exhibited by various suburban city councils.
I didn’t move to Brooklyn Center because it had a downtown. I moved there because the rent was right.
I did not move to Minneapolis because it had a downtown. I moved there because the price was right on the house we bought.
I did not move to South St Paul because it had a downtown. I moved there because it was close to where we worked and the price was right.
The only people I know who cared about living somewhere walkable were retiree relatives. Everyone else I know bought a house because of location and price, not because it was near a “downtown”.
If you’ve got insight into the “Let’s build a downtown” trend, please share it because I am not understanding it.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I walk, a lot, as it was part of the reason that I lost as much weight as I did but even I still don’t find it important enough to devote as much time and energy as many of the local governments area (notably Burnsville, Eagan and Apple Valley) to this type of project.
While you have to take everything said at any ThisWeek publication with a grain of salt, I did see that at least someone out there believes that a walkable downtown is a good idea in the South Metro. I really want to see when he makes those walks with his family to buy groceries, that would be awesome.
I’m sure that in theory it’s fucking awesome but I just don’t see anyone, at least not yet, walking to either Target in Apple Valley. I have walked to and from both and even carried groceries from there and although I will not ever step foot in the “Apple Valley South SuperTarget”. As I walked my dog in the area on Sunday I found it hysterical that so many people were driving from their over-sized homes in Cobblestone Lake over to Target and back (I saw 10 cars go in and two return during my short time letting the dog chase ducks).
People just aren’t that interested, even if they are in close proximity to walking anywhere, especially when the prospect of carrying anything home is a possibility. Hell, just take a look at the number of people that drive their kids to Kelley Park in Apple Valley rather than walking the short distance (it’s under a mile from my home and I routinely walk by there).
I’m rambling… While the “if you build it, they will come,” mantra will always exist, it doesn’t mean that people are going to come on foot.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
“As I walked my dog in the area on Sunday I found it hysterical that so many people were driving from their over-sized homes in Cobblestone Lake over to Target and back (I saw 10 cars go in and two return during my short time letting the dog chase ducks).”
Wow, so judgmental. Oversized? Oversized to you? So apparently everyone needs to live like you? Oh wait, you have no kids and make squat. Who are you to judge how others should live?
Did you bother to see what those people were purcahsing when they drove to Target? You expect them to walk home from target with a weeks worth of groceries for a family of 4? “hey I know you just bought a TV, but you should walk home”. Funny stuff.
I love the vendetta against Target, but freely post about shopping at Cub (three within about 6 miles) and getting such tremdous savings. Why do you think Cub is forced to lower its prices? Capitilism is a bitch huh?
Such a whiney Gen Y hypocrite. Hey look others can judge too.
May 8th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
confused, this is your only warning that I will not post future trollfood comments from you.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Apple Valley will never have a “downtown,” no matter how hard we collectively squeeze our butt-cheeks together and wish for it. While that’s an itty-bitty bummer, I’m okay with it. I’ve seen lotsa empty downtowns, too.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
jorn,
I suppose that squeezing our cheeks together is better than letting go and seeing what happens…
While I think that the current setup for Apple Valley fucking sucks, I don’t think that wasting a ton of money to alter the current setup is a wise choice and one that will magically transform the city into something like Stillwater or Duluth.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Ok, don’t be mad…but last night I had to drive to the Super America and it is only .5 miles from my house…but I needed gas to fill my super sized SUV and I didn’t think it was feasible to carry that much fuel in little red containers. Although if I had gotten an earlier start and made several trips I guess I could have. Sorry.
Signed,
Anonymous
;)
May 8th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Mrs. M,
Shutup and go buy something hideous already!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I just found the most divine pink tool set! It is a must have!
May 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Mrs. M,
hehe! It will go with the pink bras that I found on a garage sale sign ;)
May 9th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
1) All agree, to really have a downtown you hav’ta have some history down there. We gots none of that. Our downtown ship sailed a long time ago. We could have done some pedestrian friendly streets and shopping centers, but our planning folks are bought and paid for. Its ain’t happening.
2) WHAT is the deal with the pink tool sets. We just got on in the mail from FlyLady something or other. Tool your husband wouldn’t use? Dumb.
May 10th, 2008 at 4:36 am
The Apple Valley City Council has agreed to change the original plans and limit the redevelopment amid a slumping market.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
[...] might cause nightmares for city councils and the creation of ghost towns but hey, it’s finally stopping and you should be [...]
September 18th, 2008 at 7:40 am
What City Counsel? There isn’t any! Soooo– is Founders Circle going to be built or not?
February 28th, 2011 at 7:01 am
[...] Star Tribune, Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley, the new senior and assisted living facility built in the nightmarish redeveloped area of Apple Valley known as Founder’s Circle and Central Village has provided a [...]
July 11th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
I was anonymously quoted for this article: http://www.startribune.com/local/north/125317153.html
Didn’t realize it was going to be anonymous or I wouldn’t have bothered.
July 11th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
You resident, you!