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Officials: RTC university talks have not matured as expected
Published Wednesday, February 20, 2008
If a cross-cultural college does not materialize on the Regional Treatment Center, original plans will be resurrected for part of the campus. However, there is no alternative for the Kirkbride at this point.
The Fergus Falls City Council heard an update on the project last night, presented by Attorney Kent Mattson, the city’s Kirkbride/RTC project consultant.
“The university (Minnesota Institute for Cross Cultural Studies) concept project has not matured to the point we thought we would be at this point in time,” Mattson said. “We’re continuing weekly dialogue with the developers … I have seen no formal acquisition proposal for the entire campus yet,”
The city council previously passed a resolution stating it wants a development agreement in place by Dec. 31, 2008.
If the university project does not happen, Mattson said, the developers of parcels A and B will proceed to develop those as they originally intended. The property is still under city control now.
Hawthorne Development, Fargo, is interested in parcel A (the nurses cottage) for multi-unit housing/condominiums. Goldmark-Schlossman Investments, Fargo, has earmarked parcel B (the buildings formerly occupied by the Department of Human Services, the Fergus Falls School District, Early Childhood Family Education and Catholic Charities on the east side of the campus) for use as office buildings. Those projects are independent of any overall Kirkbride project.
“It seems we’ve put all our eggs in one basket with this cross-cultural college,” City Council Member Randy Synstelien said. “If we see that the deal isn’t going to come to fruition, do we have a back-up plan?”
There is no alternate use for the Kirkbride, Mattson said.
“Isn’t that something we should be looking at,” Synstelien asked.
“We have until the end of the year to develop a plan B,” City Administrator Mark Sievert said.
Financial issues have also developed regarding the RTC.
It was once thought the $1 million allocated by the state to care for the Kirkbride could heat it for another year. Based on the states current operating costs, the money won’t last that long Sievert said. Mattson anticipates the state being off campus by Sept. 1, 2008; funds might last about 9.5 months after that.
No decisions were made or required on the matter Tuesday.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by cheif (anonymous) on February 20, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What would you do with the RTC? Join the discussion at http://www.fergusforum.com/forum/index.p...
Posted by olson736 (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What would they expect. The state and city say they have worked so hard for years without success but yet this group from Fargo have only been at it since last fall. It states in the article that the deadline is not until the end of the year so what is the concern. Why is the city so anxious to tear it down or does Kent Mattson want to develop it into apartments after it is all cleaned up? Maybe he has another motive to tear it down.
Posted by Indy (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Be patient. The group from Fergus Falls just 6-8 months ago. A project of this magnitude takes time. And remember, we're dealing with groups from America and China that are collaborating on this project. The rush, rush, rush of American life may not be the best way to proceed when dealing with the Chinese. I trust those that went to China are more in tune with how things need to be done and at what pace to proceed.
Posted by Callie25 (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The comments about Kent Mattson are way out of line. He has worked diligently with the City to find a solution.
Posted by TKay (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why was it being discussed? The article said "The city council previously passed a resolution stating it wants a development agreement in place by Dec. 31, 2008." No agreement is in place so they need to be talking about it as well as the financial piece that is the paragraph about th $1 million allocated from the state not going as far as anticipated. No action was taken...it was an update. Hope they are able to find a reuse!
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