Posted: 5/14/03

Restaurant plan scaled back

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A scaled-back Lake Park development in Forest Lake is ready to move forward, the cityís Economic Development Authority was told Monday.

A partnership group proposing the new restaurant on what is now municipal parking lot space on the north end of Lakeside Memorial Park told the EDA they would like to have the project under construction by August.

ìWe want to get going,î said Mike Muske, a local real estate company owner and one of the partners. ìWe want to get something built.î

The scaled-back plan has reduced the size of the restaurant complex from three stories to two stories by dropping some 7800 square feet of office condominium space envisioned for the third floor.

The project as proposed Monday would include a 9500 square foot restaurant complex on the first floor that would draw on its lakefront view. A second floor of 9000 square feet would serve as office-condo space or as a banquet facility if adequate parking can be secured near the building.

Project officials estimated the cost of the building at $1.5 million plus build-out costs for businesses within the complex.

New direction

Mondayís report to the EDA signifies a major change of direction for the partnership group.

The project will provide needed parking through the demolition of the Forest Laker building and the small insurance office. Forest Laker owner Peter Paidar is part of the partnership group.

But no longer does the proposal require the acquisition of the Forest Theatre building at 119 N. Lake St. The partnership group said Monday its inability to negotiate a purchase with Jackie and Dwayne Fladland means a new direction for the restaurant project.

ìParking was the number one issue,î partner Ron Vannelli said. ìWe have to get started. Itís time to move this forward.î

Architect Jerry Anderson of JAMB Architects, White Bear Lake, said the project was ready to enter the plan review process and formation of a development agreement with the EDA. A 60-75-day plan review process is the goal, Anderson said.

Work on the development agreement will take place as the final project design is put in place, he said. He said the goal was to be ready for construction by August or September with a restaurant opening in January of 2004.

The EDA endorsed the concept by general consensus on Monday and asked the developers for an update at the Tuesday, May 27 meeting.

Chip Robinson, executive director of the EDA, said the projectís desire to move forward would enable plans to continue for north-end improvements and streetscape changes to the municipal park area. The changes will mirror improvements to the south of E. Broadway Ave. serving The Plaza complex.

EDA officials also encouraged the developers to open dialogue with Rolseth Drug owner Jim Garrison to acquire municipal parking lot land that Garrison owns. The partnership must acquire title to the land before the project can move forward.

At the May 27th meeting, the EDA will also take up a request from the Fladlands to release their property at 119 N. Lake St. from the exclusive development agreement held by the Lake Park partnership. In a letter dated May 5, the Fladlands formally requested the release.

That Fladland letter also flatly rejected an EDA offer to pay for an appraisal of the old theater building property as a means to help the Fladlands and the developers reach agreement on a purchase. The EDA made the offer last month when it appeared clear the negotiations were stalled.

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