THE CLOCKTOWER BUILDING IS RISING
WITH DOWNTOWN RECONSTRUCTION
Work began a couple weeks ago, without ceremony, on construction of the Clocktower Building in downtown Victoria.  Says developer Terry Hartman of Victoria,  "I'm happy to get it going."
Terry is also happy to be holding several letters of intent from people signed on to locate their business in the two-story Clocktower Building.  Because layout and design of the space occurred with some vision, there is flexibility as to where interior walls can be defined. The upstairs will be commercial office space, including for Hartman Communities, and the ground level will be retail and professional space desiring a storefront look or feel.
Letters of intent have come from an accounting firm, a manufacturer's rep, an attorney, a financial person, hair salon, and an upper scale coffee/wine shop, said Terry.  With a total of a dozen possible spaces available, there is still opportunity to make your mark in downtown Victoria.  If interested, call Roman Roos, a commer-cial broker from Victoria, at 952-829-3848.  Occupancy is expected to occur in January, 2004.
Most all of the downtown Victoria streets are now blacktopped, including the "Downtown Alley" and the newly constructed street between the Clocktower Building and the Creamery.  Sidewalks are being poured throughout the city, including on both sides of Stieger Lake Lane.  Reported City Planner Mark Kaltsas on August 28th, "We're working to get utilities buried as quickly as they can."  Electric poles are still standing in the alley and contractors have been forced to work around them because of Xcel delays.  Most of the other utilities are mostly buried.

CITY PURCHASES OLD VICTORIA CAFÉ
AS DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT GETS UNDERWAY
On August 14th councilmembers approved the purchase agreement of the old Victoria Cafe property on Main Street, located just north of the Post Office. 
"The property owner came to us," reported Planner Mark Kaltsas.  "We negotiated a purchase price.  The owner accepted the offer."
For many years the cafe was owned and operated by Catherine Vanderlinde of Victoria and her late husband Joe.  The city purchased the property from Deb and Doug Vanderlinde, their son.
The planner reported that there are several property owners located through-out the downtown area of Victoria who have contacted city staff regarding the potential sale of their property.  Staff has had the parcels appraised in an effort to determine the value of the property.
According to Administrator Steve Sarvi, the old cafe property is zoned Central Business District and the city's intent is to have it available should an interested party come along with a housing/retail development.  With city ownership, the city can have some say in the development of it.

DEVELOPING GREENWAY ON THE PARK
AND PREPARING 56 NEW HOMES
Council unanimously approved the preliminary plat and rezoning of what has been called the "McMahon property" out on Bavaria Road by Diethelm Park and Holy Family Catholic High School.  The developer is Carlston, Inc.
The 35 acres have been rezoned from agricultural to single family residential.  Now known as "Greenway on the Park," the proposed plat consists of 56 single family custom-built homes in the half-million dollar price  range.
Stated City Planner Mark Kaltsas on August 14th, "This was previously in front of the council in the form of a sketch plat.  It's adjacent to the new field house and park."
He said that it's proposed to be devel-oped under the PUD ordinance, which means lots can be 15,000 square feet rather than 17,500 square feet.  A PUD allows clustering of homes for the preser-vation of open space and natural amenities.
Mark said a trail will connect the de-velopment to Diethelm Park, and that the new plat keeps the trail system separate from the sidewalk system.  There is addi-tional berming along Bavaria Road and Diethelm Park.

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