A WORK IN PROGRESS
NEW ACREAGE FOR DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
Victoria city councilmembers met for at least an hour in a workshop setting on April 12^th with Matt Crowe of CEI Ven-tures, owner/developer of the Notermann Building in downtown Victoria who has grand plans for the 13.5 acres of grand "Land Swap" property destined to become part of the downtown business district.
As Mayor Mary Thun pointed out, "The purpose of this gathering is to talk about his updated plan.  We can take it home and review it.  It's just an introduc-tion."
As Matt Crowe said, "This gives an overview of the project, which are the responsibilities of the city and which are of the developer, to be able to continue to move forward ... We've outlined what this project brings to the city.  It enhances city identity.  It includes a future city hall location."
Joined by several of his team mem-bers -- including project engineer, environmental consultant, legal counsel, financial consultant, personal references, funding resources, and also his father - Matt Crowe said he spent the last ten months fine tuning the project. 
"I will be here for a long time," he said.  "We've held open houses, visited the churches.  Everything has been posi-tive ... We found grants that would be applicable to this project.  The county has a new tax abatement program ..."
He spoke of things currently lacking in Victoria and positive things that would come from his development including tax base for the city and also the county.
There would be no "dead space" in his new buildings.  Each would have different square footages.  Everything is "very, very conceptual," including the sketches showing 170 units for senior citizens and 200 apartment units.
"We're happy to get the city any in-formation you'd like," said Matt Crowe.  "We want this to be a success for everybody.  We're thinking of a holistic village in an environment that supports people as they live, work, and play ...
"The project borders the park [Carver Park] which is a beautiful natural amenity.  It has the potential for a medical center, a new city hall, plus businesses that bring people here, maybe a theater that co-mingles well ... This is definitely not a suburban Woodbury community."
Said Mr. Crowe, Matt's father, "A development is an evolving thing.  We don't know who'll sign on the dotted line till they sign on the dotted line.  Anybody can create a strip mall, but if you want to create a small town district ..."
Said Matt Crowe, "This is a work in progress.  Nine months ago when this started, this was a different project.  I would think the city would want some flexibility ... Maybe they're condos or maybe they're apartments, depending on the market.  Everything is in evolution until something is signed."
Added his father, "Apartment build-ings are skyrocketing.  Assisting living is skyrocketing ... And we're not talking $400 a month rent here with vinyl siding." 
Said Matt, "We're working with de-velopers who don't know what to do with their condos ... I think it's also important to provide apartments for the working people, but $356,000 is the price of a starter home in Victoria.  You have to be able to provide for a lot of different people to live here."
Victoria City Councilmembers of-fered comments during the presentation.  Jim Paulsen was unhappy with receiving information late and added, "This is about credibility.  How many times have you done something like this where I can go and see the project?"
Kim Roden said she is excited about the project but agrees that communication is very important.
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "I like the concept and I want to see the development, but currently the housing industry is on the slide.  Developers have been changing their phasing schedules.  Things are even worse than they original-ly thought they'd be.  We don't want pie in the sky ... We want as much of the specifics as we can get.  I know we can't have it all laid out exactly."
Mayor Mary Thun stated, "Council-member Paulsen is on target.  We need any presentation materials early ... and we've received a letter from Presbyterian Homes who asked that CEI Ventures stop using their names."
Mayor Thun encouraged all council-members to talk to other developers as she has, and that she's learned it takes three years for some details to be worked out.
Another workshop was scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 26^th.  Accord-ing to the preliminary development agree-ment between Matt Crowe and the City of Victoria, May 1^st was mutually agreed as the date for submission of a development proposal for the Land Swap property.
The 5 p.m. workshop on April 26^th was unexpectedly and, at the last minute, cancelled.

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