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CDG preparing to buy RTC land
Campus Development Group would purchase parcels, setting up ownership for learning center
Originally published 10:52 a.m., November 19, 2008
Updated 02:37 p.m., November 19, 2008
Mark Sievert
If all goes as planned, the City of Fergus Falls will start selling Regional Treatment Center property to the Campus Development Group in December.
Council members met with attorney Kent Mattson in a closed session Monday to discuss the sale of two RTC properties: the nursing cottages and surrounding land (Parcel A), and the four buildings south of the Minnesota Veterans Home (Parcel B).
The latter buildings once housed the Department of Health, Fergus Falls School District, Early Childhood Family Education and Catholic Charities.
Monday’s meeting was closed because it involved sensitive financial discussions, said City Administrator Mark Sievert.
When the meeting re-opened, aldermen introduced a resolution of intent to sell Parcels A and B.
They also set a public hearing for Dec. 1 when the issue can be discussed in its entirety.
“On Dec. 1, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions or make any comments on the sale of the property,” Sievert said.
Aldermen are scheduled to vote on the resolution for the sale on the day of the hearing.
The sale of the Kirkbride building, known as Parcel D, will be part of a separate action. A public hearing on Parcel D is scheduled for Dec. 15, Sievert said, and a vote on the resolution to sell that property will follow.
The properties’ sale prices will be based on appraisals by The Valuation Group Inc., a Minneapolis-based real estate valuation and consulting company. The company has worked with RTC land in the past, most recently in February 2007.
City staff say they expect the appraisal of Parcels A and B within the next week or two. The Kirkbride’s appraisal will not wrap up until later in December.
Members of Campus Development Group (CDG) plan to develop the RTC into an international business college for Chinese and American students.
A delegation of MSCTC and Fergus Falls School District staff joined CDG President Rick Anderson in China in early November, and were scheduled to return to Minnesota Tuesday.
The Journal will have more on the group’s trip this week.
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 fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They are using every minute of that deadline. Just get it done!
Posted by jimmyjohn986 (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what's the deadline, and "what" do you want to be done mom?
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jimmyjohn986: Welcome out of your hole! You have been gone a while not to know about this.
From City Council Minutes Dated June 18th, 2007: "If a Developers Agreement is not signed by December 31, 2008, the city has the ability to use the state money for abatement and demolition of the 7 buildings, costing approximately $2.5 million. The remainder of the state money would still be available for use as infrastructure improvements."
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully this doesn't all fall through. I would hate to see a site like that turn into a bunch of townhomes. Or in the case of Fergus Falls, a big empty lot. Granted, this whole "Chinese business college" idea raises red flags and the word "sketchy" comes to mind.....as long as it's all legal.
Posted by luvmyboys (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not opening that facility to the Chinese would be a huge mistake. Has anyone read the story on CNN about that very topic??? http://search.cnn.com/arProcessing.jsp?s... students
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if we can I think we should keep the kirkbride and make it a museum
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think (if the business college idea goes through) that it would be very good for our town. We'd have all the students purchasing food and other items from Walmart, Target, Service Food, Sunmart, etc. and sometimes going to to eat at restaurants in town. If chains see all this business, they'll open up some stores in town, and make their money. Fergus Falls could possibly become a prosperous little town like the majority of us want. Also, having the Chinese people in town might help the closed-minded of our city open up their minds and see that their way isn't the only one.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems that some in the city think that it will cost a fortune to keep the Kirkbride, it won't! Just let it stand, a good use for it will come along, such as a historical museum.
If it is torn down not only will the money for distruction will be gone in short order, so will the beautiful historical building never to be injoyed again for what it is.
Who ever is in charge of the distruction will become infamous as time goes on. The next generation will look at pictures and will wonder "what were they thinking".
I hope people will realize what they have here.
Posted by cheif (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where have they mentioned tearing down the Kirkbride building? They haven't.
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a redemption date for the federal money that the city would use to tear it down. If they don't come up with a plan by that date, the city loses the money along with the excess that can be used for other infrastructure.
If they don't have a rock solid plan for the property and structures, the city will most definitely tear it down. Otherwise the taxpayers would most likely foot the several million dollar bill for taking everything down.
A small community like Fergus Falls doesn't have the operating budget to keep such a large campus going and in proper repair-that and there isn't a lot you can do with such a large collection of buildings in such a small community. There's too much red tape and money involved, such as asbestos abatement to name one. It costs ten times as much when the state government and city has to deal with these issues.
Granted, they can come up with a grand scheme for a 7 million dollar high school ice rink no problem. Talk about misplaced priorities.
Posted by watermelon (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A good example of a large historic property with all the structures being neglected is Fort Snelling in the twin cities. The buildings have been sitting empty so long, that the estimated repair bill is now at 70 million dollars. The longer they sit, the less likely they are able to rebuild them. I think the government does it intentionally.
Stuck between miles of red tape, almost all the remaining structures in this whole complex have been neglected for so many years that the roofs are caving in and are in serious shape. This is a reality of what may happen to the old RTC if something isn't done with it quickly.
http://www.steve-olson.com/minnesotas-mo...
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there any chance that the city could get an extension from the state on the "drop dead date" Dec. 31st? Ask Rep. Norness.
This building could have been used as a low risk jail. The reason not to, "the halls are curved, so you can't see the prisoners good enough". Ever hear of closed curcuit cameras?
The nice gymnasium could be used by the youth in town. The reason not to, "we don't have insurance"
The large dining room could be used for who knows how many meetings? Lets start looking at the place as an asset instead of a liability. If all else fails, at least save the castle and enough of the sides so as to keep an elevator.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the Chinese deal goes through!
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