(KNSI) – Two small towns in central Minnesota are getting some financial help to give buildings a facelift.
Brooten will get $600,000 from the Small Cities Development Program grants to improve its public safety facility, and Watkins will get $943,000 to rehab housing and commercial property.
On Monday, Governor Tim Walz named 36 cities, townships, and counties across rural Minnesota that will receive a cut of nearly $24 million from the grant program. Cities can apply for help upgrading residential and commercial property rehabilitation, improving public facilities, and other economic development.
All projects must meet at least one of three federal objectives. Benefit people of low and moderate incomes, eliminate slum and blight conditions, or address an urgent community need affecting public health or safety.
SCDP grants are awarded to Minnesota cities with fewer than 50,000 residents and townships and counties with populations under 200,000.
This year’s grant recipients are:
City of Bagley, $345,000
Owner-occupied housing rehab
City of Baudette, $1,200,000
Rental housing rehab and public facility improvements
City of Big Falls, $170,430
Rental housing rehab
City of Brainerd, $575,000
Owner-occupied housing rehab and rental housing rehab
City of Brooten, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Clarkfield, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Darwin, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Deer Creek, $581,430
Public facility improvements
City of Delhi, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Dodge Center, $431,250
Owner-occupied housing rehab
City of Edgerton, $1,049,375
Owner-occupied housing rehab, rental housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Erskine, $704,375
Rental housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Fosston, $597,713
Owner-occupied housing rehab
City of Granite Falls, $943,000
Rental housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Hallock, $414,000
Owner Occupied Housing Rehab
City of Holland, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Kasota, $554,000
Public facility improvements
City of Kelliher, $417,300
Public Facility Improvements
City of Lake Lillian, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Lonsdale, $431,250
Owner-occupied housing rehab
City of Mabel, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Madison, $599,610
Owner-occupied housing rehab and rental housing rehab
City of Minneota, $599,265
Owner-occupied housing rehab and rental housing rehab
City of Nielsville, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Okabena, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Pequot Lakes, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Randall, $600,000
Public facility improvements
City of Red Lake Falls, $929,200
Owner-occupied housing rehab, rental housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Sacred Heart, $1,175,000
Owner-occupied housing rehab and public facility improvements
City of Staples, $948,750
Owner-occupied housing rehab, rental housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Stephen, $368,000
Owner-occupied housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Tracy, $1,127,000
Owner-occupied housing rehab and commercial rehab
City of Waubun, $573,600
Public facility improvements
City of Wood Lake, $600,000
Public facility improvements
County of Big Stone, $599,265
(City of Correll & City of Ortonville)
Owner-occupied housing rehab and rental housing rehab
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Copyright 2023 Leighton Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
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As the weather in northern Utah is beginning to cool down, you’re probably considering your next getaway to sunny Southern Utah where summer seems to last forever. Many Utahns make frequent trips to the St. George area but are increasingly weary of paying expensive nightly rental prices every time they take the family down.
No doubt you’ve thought to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be great if we just owned our own vacation home here?” But who has the time or money to own an entire second home all to yourself? Very few.
If there were a way to just own a portion of the home and use it for part of the time, that would be ideal. Then your ownership could match your availability and your budget. It would be even better if you could rent out the house when you aren’t using your time.
Ember is solving this problem through vacation home co-ownership.
⅛ of the home, 100% of the experience
Historically, not everyone could afford a vacation home—especially in top destinations like St. George, Park City, Florida, or Southern California. And even for families that could commit to a vacation property, research shows that they are only using the home for two to six weeks out of the year.
With Ember’s co-ownership model, you can choose to buy a portion of a luxury vacation home, instead of the whole thing—and only pay a fraction of the cost. The ownership of each Ember home is divided into eight equal parts. Co-owners get 6-plus weeks for each 1/8th share they purchase. Owners looking for maximum time can buy even more of the home. Ember features properties for as low as $114,437 per 1/8th ownership share.
Make memories while you’re there, rent it out when you’re not
Each buyer enjoys exclusive access to the home during their stays and with “Ember Flex” designated homes, they can rent out their time when they don’t plan to use it personally. Plans change. Life circumstances change. 6 weeks might be just enough in a given year and too much the next. Having the flexibility to simply rent out your nights and not worry about the home sitting vacant, delivers incredible peace of mind. It’s the best of both worlds.
Ember’s SmartDraft™ technology makes sure each owner gets their fair share of desirable nights each year. It’s easy to swap nights with other owners or change your plans throughout the year using Ember’s intuitive mobile app.
Ember sweats the details so you don’t have to
Ember’s innovative approach to vacation homeownership promises a five-star experience from start to finish—free from hassle and disappointment. Each home is professionally designed and comfortably furnished so you can simply show up and instantly enjoy your home. A 24-hour property concierge is available for any issues that may arise. Need a few extra home supplies? Did you lock yourself out? The on-call concierge will be there in minutes.
With Ember, their commitment to your experience continues even after you leave. They maintain your vacation home so you don’t have to worry about it. The home is cleaned, the linens are washed, the lawn is mowed, and the pool is maintained so the property is turnkey ready for your next stay.
Where luxury meets logic
But the biggest benefit to co-owning a premium vacation home in a rapidly growing market like St. George is building equity. Ember homes appreciate in value just like other properties on the market. Unlike a timeshare, Ember homes are owned by their co-owners in an LLC structure. Should you decide to sell your portion down the road, you name the price and capture any potential appreciation. The process is simple and Ember handles the details of reselling your ownership and handling the closing process.
With Ember, you’re paying yourself to go on vacation, which is impossible when staying at someone else’s Airbnb or VRBO. On top of that, because you own a minimum of 13% of the house (1/8th), your costs are offset by 87% thanks to the other co-owners. And with potential rental revenue and future appreciation, the gains offset your costs even more.
Ultimately, Ember’s co-ownership model was designed for one thing: to help more families enjoy hassle-free vacations in beautiful homes they truly own. Start by browsing the available St George properties and find the perfect Ember vacation home for you. Then talk with an Ember advisor to get all your questions answered and finalize your purchase. You’ll be able to book your first stays and arrive at your Ember home in as little as 24 hours. From there, it’s all about making memories that you’ll cherish forever with the people you love.
Ember Advisors are available for call or chat from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mountain Time at 1-800-366-6891.
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(KNSI) – The old St. Cloud City Hall site is once again bustling with activity.
Bremer Bank held a grand opening at its new 20,000 square-foot building at the corner of 2nd Street South and 5th Avenue South earlier this week, constructed where the former municipal center once stood. Known as Highbanks Plaza, the bank is the anchor for the property. Over 60 employees work at the location.
St. Cloud moved its city hall to the old Tech High School on 7th Street South in March 2022. Crews began demolishing the old site in late July of last year. Highbanks Plaza saw its first tenants move in less than 13 months later.
Bremer President and CEO Jeanne Crain says, “With this new downtown location, we will continue to provide value-added financial services to central Minnesotans in a more modern and personalized environment that drives partnership and value for our customers.”
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says the project has implications that stretch well beyond the lot’s boundaries. “A vibrant downtown St. Cloud is crucial part of a vibrant central Minnesota, and this development is one of those important pieces as we continue to modernize downtown.”
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Copyright 2023 Leighton Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
By West Kentucky Star Staff
Aug. 08, 2023 | 08:47 PM
| PADUCAH
On Tuesday, Paducah City Commissioners approved the sale of property in Commerce Park, heard an updated repair timeline for the Cherry Civic Center, and got midyear updates from various city departments.
The board authorized sale of the property at 2301 McCracken Boulevard in Commerce Park to Newgen Ventures for $3 million. In 2013, the city, county, and Greater Paducah Economic Development funded the building’s construction. Funds from the sale will more than cover the remaining principal.
Commissioners approved a contract modification with Midstates Construction for the Robert Cherry Civic Center Renovation Project, for completion December 28.
The board contracted with Midstates to repair the facility, after a traffic crash damaged the building. The center will house office space for the Parks & Recreation Department’s administrative employees and will become an emergency operations center, when needed.
President and CEO Bruce Wilcox presented an annual report of GPED activities. The organization worked 40 prospects in the past year to unprecedented interest. Wilcox said in the past three years GPED was involved directly in adding 1,025 jobs. He said each $1 of investment in GPED brought a $35 return, with local job and company growth.
A mid-year report on this year’s top 10 Commission Priorities and five Continuous Improvement items included these other highlights:
Bike Lanes & Trails – The city received the National Park Service – River, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Technical Assistance Grant, to design of the Greenway Trail and urban bike extensions.
Community Growth – The City contracted with MakeMyMove for remote worker recruiting help.
Downtown – The BUILD grant project plans to finish the design this year and to contract to start construction in Spring 2024.
Housing – The City-County comprehensive plan project has begun, with more than 300 community members providing input. An online survey will increase feedback.
Minority Inclusion – The city seeks a Diversity Specialist to work with the recently repopulated Paducah Human Rights Commission.
Neighborhoods – The Paducah Police Department has held 14 neighborhood meetings to gather public feedback so far.
Quality of Life – The City launched campaigns for Mental Health Awareness, beautification and code awareness.
Revenue Equity – The Finance Department proactively seeks out non-compliant businesses and is recruiting for a revenue technician position.
Southside Enhancements – The Planning Department finalized a package of Southside residential and business incentives.
Continuous Improvement measures include:
911 Radio Equipment Upgrade, Governance, and Revenue – The City and County are finalizing a contract with Communications International for the radio and tower improvement project and exploring a parcel fee on property tax bills for funding.
City/County Outdoor Sports Complex – The project is designed and the team is preparing construction documents to place the project out to bid this fall. The request for proposals for relocation of the dog parks is expected soon.
Several departments are working to improve efficiency, including GPS routing on solid waste trucks and conversion to Microsoft 365.
Protecting Key Historical and Cultural Resources – Rhodes Heritage Group will recommend ways to preserve and steward key historical and cultural resources.
Stormwater – The Buckner Lane Bridge Replacement Project enlarged the bridge’s hydraulic opening above Crooked Creek.
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SALT LAKE CITY — The tension between Iran and the United States is already high. In an effort to minimize Iran’s harassing and seizing of private commercial tankships as they cross the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post reports the U.S. has said it may consider putting armed military personnel on this these ships.
Will this cause tensions to run even higher between the two nations? What could happen with marines on these ships? Are we getting closer to a direct conflict with Iran?
Dan Lamothe, a U.S. military reporter for The Washington Post, joins KSL NewsRadio to discuss the situation with Iran.
He said the discussion to use armed military on commercial ships comes after a series of incidents in which the Iranian military has captured tankships.
“It’s not a done deal, but it’s very close,” he said.
Lamothe also said the use of marines would come at the invitation of these countries and companies that are shipping out of the Strait of Hormuz.
Some unknowns still about securing the Strait of Hormuz
What is unclear, according to Lamothe, is the number of marines and what their rules of engagement would be.
“But the idea is that you’re now at least creating a deterrent factor,” he said. “Is something that would maybe make the Iranian military think twice from taking over these vessels. And forcing them to go to the Port of Iran.”
KSL NewsRadio’s Boyd Matheson asked, “What kind of harassment are we continuing to see?”
Lamothe said Iran uses small speedboats in groups of up to 12 at a time.
“Which makes it very difficult for a vessel, larger and slower, to get away,” he said.
Lamothe said the marines that would be involved arrived in the region a few weeks ago, and are doing training in Bahrain. Furthermore, he said other military members, who could be involved arrived over the weekend by sea.
Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.
Methuen plans to sell a previously contaminated property—vacant since a 1994 fire—which will be redeveloped into 76-88 apartments and adjacent retail and restaurant space.
Methuen Mayor Neil Perry hailed the plan Monday, saying it relives the city of an environmental problem it inherited after taking the property more than 20 years ago for back taxes.
“The conceptual plans check off nearly every box the city could possibly hope for when it comes to historic preservation, blight removal, environmental cleanup, new tax growth, affordable and market-rate housing, commercial investment, downtown revitalization and access to transportation and recreation amenities like the Rail Trail, Spicket Falls and nearby parks,” he said.
Methuen will begin formal negotiations with SAi Group, of Salem, N.H., to sell 54 Osgood St. for $134,900. SAi Group responded to the city’s request for proposals that was issued in May. The proposal encompasses not only the city parcel, but a total of 1.5 acres, involving the adaptive reuse of the historic Methuen Company Storehouse into retail/restaurant space.
SAi Group President Anton J. Miller said in a joint statement, “It was clear from the RFP process that the City of Methuen is committed to not just selling 54 Osgood St., but to having a partner and advocate in transforming this long-neglected area that is so rich in history and centrally located.
The quarter-acre parcel is located at the junction of Osgood and River Streets in Methuen. It was taken by the city in December 2002 and had been the location of Precise Circuit Tech, a plating company in operation from 1974 to 1994. The business was destroyed by fire in January 1994.
SAi will also conduct additional environmental testing on as a condition of their purchase.
Methuen Economic & Community Development Director Jack Wilson acknowledged many years of support from the U.S. Environmental protection Agency, state Department of Environmental Protection and Merrimack Valley Planning Commission.
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(KNSI) – The impending foreclosure of the Crossroads Center mall may not have as big of an impact on commercial real estate as its $107 million loan size might suggest.
St. Cloud State University Economist King Banaian says the almost 900,000-square-foot property is too unique, even among retail lots, to draw broad conclusions for the sector as a whole. “I don’t think it’s gonna matter to other buildings that have, say, a single tenant like a Best Buy or a Target. I think those are very different creatures than a mall.”
Retail centers have struggled since the financial recession of 2008-09 as consumers shift their spending to online in greater degrees. However, almost every closure to this point has focused on less desirable properties, Class B or lower. Banaian says just being a mall, even a premier one, isn’t enough anymore. “Class A malls that are doing better are finding other ways to bring visitors into their mall space. It’s got to be something other than the volume of the number of choices in the mall you have to go to, right, because you can get that online but you can’t recreate that personal experience.”
The owner of Crossroads Center stopped paying its commercial mortgage in August 2020. The mall was originally part of a portfolio at GGP, which was then bought by Brookfield Properties. They are the parent organization of real estate holding company, St. Cloud Mall, L.L.C., which is officially listed as the borrower. Almost $84 million is still owed on the loan, plus accrued interest and penalties. Even with the foreclosure, Banaian says he expects it to continue to be a shopping center for years to come.
“They will operate it as a mall but they’re gonna get it at a price where the rent they have to charge to make the financials work is going to be less. I see there being a buyer down the road that probably continues it substantially in the same way that it’s been before,” he predicts.
Banaian says the location makes it too valuable for the right owner at the right price. He says the only competition is in the Twin Cities suburbs and out to Alexandria, both about an hour away.
Another area of concern in St. Cloud and several other cities is office space. Banaian says the stresses there will be analyzed using a different set of criteria than the mall. St. Cloud and St. Paul have recently announced pushes to get more people to live downtown to help.
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Friday, July 21, 2023
A man was arrested by Providence police on Thursday after he attempted to steal a tablet from consultants who had a table set up in Kennedy Plaza.
According to the victims, he threatened them at knifepoint before fleeing.
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About Incident
Police responded to Kennedy Plaza shortly before 5 PM on Thursday for a report of theft at knifepoint.
Police met with the first victim — a male in his 30s — who said he was the manager of a tablet program that was on display at a table.
The victim told police the suspect, a middle-aged male, came up to the table and took one of the tablets; another employee — a female in her 20s — was able to take it back from him.
At that time, according to the male victim, the suspect pulled out a knife and demanded they give him the tablet.
The victim said he was able to get away from the suspect and call police.
Police said they found the suspect — later identified as Axel Reyes, age 45 — a short while later in Kennedy Plaza.
According to police, he was in possession of knife matching the victims’ description.
Reyes was arrested and taken to Central Station.
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UTAH COUNTY, Utah — A new Utah program designed to give first-time homebuyers a break on their new house purchases launched on Tuesday, but before even it started, lenders and realtors were skeptical over how many people the program will actually help.
The program was created by lawmakers and administered by the Utah Housing Corporation. It provides up to $20,000 in loans to buyers that they can then use toward down payments, closing costs, or to buy down interest rates.
Under the program, the home must be newly constructed or never lived in and must be priced at $450,000 or less.
“As someone concerned we are losing our middle class, my goal is to help Utahns live the American dream and build equity in their future,” Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said in a statement this week regarding the measure he sponsored that created the program. “It’s imperative that we make homeownership possible in our state. I am excited for Utahns to use the program to get out of apartments and into homes.”
Utah’s red-hot housing market is calming down, so is now a good time to buy a house?
Rick Anderton, owner of Lindon-based Ridge Home Loans, said he didn’t believe the program went far enough and questioned how many people would truly benefit, especially within 45 minutes of Salt Lake City.
“You have to live in Utah for 12 months, you have to be under the area median income, and then you have to have almost no debt, or you’re not going to qualify because your income is so low,” Anderton told KSL TV. “The amount of people who qualify is just very few.”
According to data furnished by the Salt Lake Board of Realtors, the median sale price in June for a single-family home in Salt Lake County was roughly $600,000. Meanwhile, the median sale price of a multi-family home—a condo, townhouse, or twin home—was $413,000.
The board data showed there were currently only 578 listings of all kinds in Salt Lake County priced $449,999 or lower. Realtors said new construction typically accounts for 15 to 20 percent of the total, meaning there were just over 100 new homes approximately in the county that might fit the new program.
Most expensive house on the Utah market listed for $50 million
Other realtors told KSL TV there were new single-family homes that fit in the price range, but they were closer to the outer reaches of the Wasatch Front in places like Tooele County.
Adams was unavailable for further comment Thursday, according to a spokesperson. Attempts to reach an official with the Utah Housing Corporation also did not immediately result in a response Thursday evening.
“Yeah, it’s a supply problem, right?” Anderton said. “It’s a bigger problem than a little incentive is going to fix.”
Anderton said until interest rates, which were hovering around 7 percent, went down and until inventories went up, it would likely continue to be a challenging housing market, incentives or not.
“Until the builders catch up, which could be years, we’re just going to kind of be in this mess,” he said.
City asked to reconsider role in commercial developments
Recently, I responded to the City of Flagstaff (COF) appeal to residents regarding current budgeting priorities and objectives. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to attend the City of Flagstaff’s budgeting retreats. Over multiple days, I learnt a great deal regarding the anticipated spending on operations and capital projects for fiscal year 2023-2024. The days were filled with charts, tables and diagrams.
At the end of one day, a COF staff member presented the refurbishing and rebuilding of a commercial property owned by the COF. The property is located before the entrance to Buffalo Park and it is primarily leased to the USGS. He proceeded to tell the budget meeting attendees, City Council and City Staff primarily, that a new investment in the USGS buildings would cost over $50 million. This amount was higher than prior year estimate of over $35 million! But not to worry, USFS and the COF were close to agreeing to a five-year lease with a five-year renewal! Not one question from the audience! Not a peep! Not a graph, table or diagram! I was stunned! I do not believe any commercial developer would spend over $50 million with a potential five- or 10-year lease in the future.
Developing commercial property is NO WHERE to be found in the Flagstaff Key Community Priorities and Objectives used in the COF budgeting. The COF mission does not mention the COF developing commercial property.
If the COF remains in commercial building business, this presents numerous conflicts of interest for the COF. This situation today is like having the fox guarding the hen house given the COF enforces and creates the building codes!
The COF should divest all commercial property; the residents tax dollars can be better spent on actual COF’s Priorities and Objectives.
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