On Wednesday September 16th our club was treated to an update on the City of Faribault by Tim Murray, City Administrator. Tim jokingly said the theme this year is apartments! But he wasn’t kidding, Faribault recently added Hillside Apartments, a 44-unit market rate building, across the street for the community center. The upper floors of the new Redemption restaurant and the Masonic lodge renovation will provide 14 downtown units. The site of the old Evergreen Knoll will be home to 76 new affordable apartments. Construction has just begun there.
Straight River apartments will begin construction with the hopes of leasing next fall and that will be another 111 units at the old city shop site, next to the river near the American Legion building. Rick Cashin a private builder is constructing a 21-unit complex out on Cardinal Ave. There are also single-family homes and twin homes going up as well.
He touched on some efforts to keep TryStar portable power in town, and they are staying. He noted that Absolute Air and Cry Baby Craig’s will be up and running in the manufacturing sector. The city is wrapping up work on the master plan, adding a water treatment plant to improve our water. Park improvements have happened over the summer, with the addition of outdoor pickle ball courts at two parks. Construction will get underway for a new park in the North Downtown area, that will include a playground, restrooms and parking to access the bike trail where it winds along the river.
The impact of Covid-19 was felt at City Hall. Staff followed all the guidelines set forth to keep us safe. The city was given a grant of $1.8 million from the CARES act and decided to award that money out to businesses to help during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lastly Tim encouraged us to complete the census if we haven’t, he is hearing Faribault is at about a 70% response rate. It was great to hear from Tim about what is happening around Faribault. It is always so exciting! Please join us anytime!
