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EDA reviews strategic plan priorities and downtown activity; council to consider aesthetics package
Summary
The Lindstrom EDA discussed the council’s three strategic priorities — growing the commercial tax base, aligning city services, and improving public access — and staff reported downtown activity including a busy indoor market, business expansions, and a planned downtown aesthetics package for council consideration.
The Lindstrom Economic Development Authority reviewed the council’s strategic priorities and discussed progress on several downtown projects, staff said.
Dan Freitner, speaking to the EDA, summarized three priorities the council developed in a January planning session: invest to expand the commercial and business tax base, optimize and align city service delivery to save costs and improve services, and invest in public access to position Lindstrom as a destination for residents and visitors. "Those are the 3 main initiatives that are the priorities that the council is looking to focus on here in 2026," Dan said.
Dan said the priorities have been broken into a staff work plan and Gantt chart to track deliverables across quarters and that the city has solicited quotes from a planning firm to update the comprehensive plan (the last update was done around 2016/2017). He said staff will coordinate assignments across boards and commissions so EDA, parks and other bodies can advance pieces of the plan.
Members discussed whether the numbered list implied rank order; several asked to convert numbers to bullets or add a note that items are not listed by importance. Dan said prioritization will reflect capacity, funding and timing, and that some items could proceed sooner if grant opportunities appear.
On downtown activity, Dan reported the Lindstrom Market (an indoor Saturday market in a former antique store) is drawing strong attendance and social media interest; the mustard seed business near the bakery is expanding; a new book-and-tea shop is renovating a downtown building; and at least one commercial developer is close to submitting plans. He also said a prospective multifamily developer is pursuing workforce housing tax credits for a possible project.
Dan said the council will consider a downtown aesthetics package at its next meeting that would fund fencing, signage, planter beds, benches and picnic tables intended to improve downtown appearance and pedestrian amenities. He also said the previously occupied Chamber of Commerce building is empty and will be used for rotating staff office hours so a senior staff member will be downtown at least some days to meet business owners.
When asked about the Meredith Building demolition timeline, Dan said he had not received an update from Phil Dolmer and could not provide a demolition date.
The EDA offered feedback on the presentation and next steps; staff will continue coordinating with council and other boards as planning and funding work progresses.
