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'Wal-Mart 'still in the works

Crookston Daily Times
Written By: Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor

February 16, 2005 - Based on an email he received from a developer a little more than a week ago, Crookston City Administrator Aaron Parrish said this morning that the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Crookston is "apparently still in the works."

Parrish, speaking at this morning's meeting of the Crookston Development Authority Board of Directors, said that despite various questions and concerns circulating on the street and around town, his understanding is that the development is continuing to progress.

"They're still looking at Crookston and evaluating their opportunities to come here," Parrish said to the board. "So when you talk to folks or people come up to you with questions, that's all you can say, basically."

Initial plans involved Wal-Mart purchasing the former Red River Valley Winter Shows building, demolishing the structure, and constructing a 105,000 square foot supercenter that would also include a grocery store. Project hurdles early on involved storm sewer capabilities in the development area. A purchase agreement signed with the Red River Valley Shows has expired, Parrish said. Whether or not that brings other potential sites in Crookston into play, he said he wasn't sure.

The apparent breaking of ground in Thief River Falls to construct a Wal-Mart there should have no effect on a development in Crookston, Parrish added.

"One has never been tied to the other," he said.

Other items of interest at the CDA meeting include:

Kari Thompson, CDA executive director, said that two applicants have been interviewed for the Crookston Vitality Project coordinator position for the phase that involves overseeing sector group meetings and formulating a strategic plan. A third applicant will be interviewed Thursday, she said. If no coordinator is hired from the current pool of interviewees, Thompson raised the possibility of hiring an agency or organization to assist in overseeing this phase of the CVP.

Thompson reported that another out-of-state firm has contacted her, expressing interest in coming to Crookston as part of the state's JOBZ program.

"They sound genuinely interested," she said.

Progress continues toward the potential construction of an ethanol plant in Crookston. Don Sargeant, who's helping to coordinate the effort, said the feasibility study is continuing toward completion, possibly in early March. Progress is being made on a potential site for a plant, added Larry Altringer, who's also involved in the group.

A downtown revitalization group continues to meet and prioritize needs for downtown, Parrish said. It's a daunting task, he said, listing a possible Wal-Mart development, the findings of the Vitality Project, the fate of the former junior high building, and concerns involving vacant, historic structures like the Wayne Hotel building as four major issues that will have a lot to do with what becomes of downtown. Retail space recently vacated or in the process of being vacated is another major issue, he said.

"It's going to be a slow process because there are an infinite number of issues and variables," Parrish said. "But we're brainstorming."

Although it's very early, the Artspace development at the former junior high may not be entirely dead. Months ago the CDA invested $5,000 to help cover up-front costs to look at the potential for turning the former school into a housing development for area artists. When it was determined that significantly more dollars were required up front, the idea fizzled.

But Thompson said a former Crookston resident who's looking to move back to Crookston was neighbors with the Artspace director, who was aware that Crookston had pursued a development. Without getting into specifics, Thompson said there might be an opportunity to approach Artspace again.

Board member Dave Genereux informed the board that the MnDOT project to reconstruct frontage roads along University Avenue this summer has been delayed until 2006. It's believed that the delay will not effect plans to construct a recreation trail from Fisher Avenue to the University of Minnesota, Crookston this year.