Mike Mahler, the city's economic development director (representing Target in this presentation), and a Target colleague described several downtown initiatives during the July 21 council meeting, including pop-up kiosks at Water Street Commons, façade grants, and housing redevelopment work.

Mahler told the council that Target (the organization represented in the presentation) had supported a pop-up market of kiosks on the riverfront site as a proof-of-concept. He said the kiosks were intended as temporary incubator space and that the agreement with the DDA preserves the site for future development: if a permanent development proceeds, the developer must reimburse the DDA for fixed site costs so an incoming project is not blocked. "It does not block the potential development of that site for the right project," Mahler said.

Mahler and a colleague described progress at several local projects: asbestos abatement and anticipated demolition at a redevelopment site (previous Target property), Thunder Bay Community Health moving corporate administrative offices downtown, and a Bay Athletic Club locating downtown for employee and membership activity. Mahler also reported that the DDA had secured approximately $831,000 in façade grant dollars to improve building exteriors within the DDA district.

A Target representative who identified himself as leading housing work told the council that Target is launching the Lake Huron Regional Development Corporation as an internal initiative to support workforce and housing development. He said Target expects to start with about $325,000 in initial grant-funded investments to support rehabilitation projects and that prior Target programs had helped about 21 participants with rehab work at no cost to qualifying homeowners.

Council voted to receive and file the Target report. Several council members praised the kiosks and revitalization work and asked practical questions about kiosk storage and whether the kiosks would impede future development; Mahler said kiosks could be relocated and that electrical/site improvements would be reimbursed by a future developer if a sale occurred.

Ending: Council acknowledged the development activity and encouraged continued coordination on housing, façade grants and site remediation; no council appropriation beyond receipt of the report was approved at the meeting.