The work session was called as, with a new strategic plan in the works, the EDA wished to hammer out some short and long-term development goals. EDA member Char Kalk started the discussion by voicing her desire to see increased walkability.

“I think we should be able to walk to a grocery store if we need a gallon of milk,” she said. “How can we improve our walkability? We can’t really decide where grocery stores or convenience stores and things like that go, but maybe we can help push people in the direction of these neighborhoods.”

Kalk then suggested pushing for in-building groceries within upcoming developments, such as George’s or the Marktplatz mall. She said doing so would help support the new housing and housing surrounding it further.

The discussion then turned to housing. EDA member Andrea Boettger said the three multifamily units in development look promising and are full steam ahead. Beyond this, she asked City Manager Chris Dalton how much land the city has left for developers.

To increase livability in New Ulm, EDA member Char Kalk suggested making New Ulm more walkable and less reliant on car traffic. Integrating necessities like grocery or convenience stores into new mixed-use developments was one suggestion she had in this area.

“We have the land behind Walmart, and that’s it,” he said. “We are landlocked by the farmland surrounding us. Anything that we do or potentially buy will probably come at a premium, or the developer is going to have to buy the land at a premium.”

Boettger said the developments they have currently will meet their current housing need, but moving forward more will need to be made. She said the goals of more housing for older folks looking to downsize, affordable housing for people commuting from other places, and attracting people to New Ulm with jobs and housing will continuously need to be met.

“What can we do now so that in three years when this stuff is done, we’re teeing up the ability to have more housing?” Boettger asked. Dalton acknowledged talks may need to be had with developers and farmers to buy more land.

Kalk asked about the land in front of Garden Terrace. Housing Coordinator Heather Bregel said the land was buildable and she had discussed with Dalton to create some housing there. Councilman Les Schultz initially voiced his disapproval of this idea.

“Just so you know, the tenants and counselor Schultz have been set against that for the view,” he said. “The tenants don’t want to waste their view at all. You don’t want the view of another building right out your front window.”

Dalton said potential development there should not affect anyone’s views.

“It’s a 30-foot drop from the bottom of the first floor down,” he said. “I know someone that was potentially looking at it was going to where the roofline of the potential garden terrace three would have been even with the bottom of the first floor.”

Schultz said another counselor had previously suggested selling Garden Terrace, which was last appraised at around $7 million. Schultz said doing so could drum up funding for a potential expansion of the city’s industrial park. EDA member Tom Berg said he was cautious about abandoning the monthly rent received from tenants for a large sum of money.

“That [rent money is] a pretty good pile of money for us to do things. If we had a large amount of money suddenly become available within the city, there would be a real run on that money from things that we don’t necessarily want to be part of. A lot of people would want that money,”

Kalk said the usage of money received from the sale would be controlled by the EDA. Bregel acknowledged that the steady stream of cash flow had been helpful in the past, particularly in supporting the development of Westridge Place.

Other topics covered to increase livability include continuing daycare support, more retirement housing, creating a more welcoming community for other cultures, and making New Ulm a greener and more sustainable city.

The EDA also discussed future initiatives related to prosperity, skills development, and innovation. These discussions will be covered in a follow-up article.