7. Community Center Needs AnalysisDate: 8-7-19
To: Scandia City Council Members
From: Mayor Christine Maefsky
Community Center Task Force Committee
Re: Scandia Community Center Needs Assessment Request
On June 10th the Council appointed Community Center Study Task Force Committee
held its first meeting. It determined the need for an update to the 34-year-old building
to maximize its use and effectiveness going forward. The committee agreed that the
first step should be a needs assessment study to best plan for the Community Center’s
place in Scandia’s growth and development based on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
After appraisals by three architectural/engineering consultants, estimated costs for such
an assessment were determined. Following the July 16th Council meeting, Council
members received the reports from these consultants. The recommendations of the
Committee were presented to the EDA who supported the Committee’s findings.
Scandia is looking to invigorate its Village Center as a focal point for business
development in the city. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan creates a vision for Scandia of a
small-town city with rural character and appeal – large lots, dark night skies, around a
vibrant Village Center. This past year the City engaged in a tourism study with the
University of Minnesota. Their recommendations included capitalizing on our historic,
cultural, and environmental assets. We see one way the city can assist in drawing
businesses that will build on those assets is to add to that appeal aspect of the Village
Center. For tourism attractions at present, the direct Village Center consists of the
historic Elim church and cemetery, the Scandia Market and Mercantile general store,
the Scandia Café, Meisters bar and grill, Gammelgarden Museum and the Community
Center. With recent state legislation, we are getting closer to having the Gateway Trail
come directly into the Village Center from William O’Brien State Park. Scandia is already
a popular bicycling destination in the metro area. We are working to increase that draw
in a variety of ways including adding a bicycling gathering spot by our ice rink warming
house, and extending the year round open hours of the warming house.
The City has taken steps to assess the possibilities for adding to wastewater treatment
and water resources for the Village Center. We are also already welcoming a new
business to the Village Center, one that will honor the historic aspects of its location (a n
early 1900’s bank building) and appeal to the tourist market. Further, the Scandia
Heritage Alliance community group is currently exploring rebuilding Scandia’s historic
Water Tower Barn on a site by the Community Center in the Village Center. This barn
and its intended use will add to the draw for businesses to locate here.
As we are looking to see ways we can increase business development in Scandia, there
are opportunities to draw new businesses that honor its heritage into the Village Center
by updating and redesigning the Community Center. The center can act as a potential
magnet that will assert the city’s viability as a business location and draw new
businesses that want to be a part. At present the Community Center, both inside and
out, is generic. It could be in any city, anywhere. It was built in the mid 1980’s with a
commercial kitchen added in 1999. It has suited a limited purpose up to this time, but
as the city grows, the needs of the Community Center, and its potential for supporting
businesses will grow also. We would like to assess the future needs of the center while
we are looking at ways to make the Community Center uniquely Scandia in order to
draw those businesses that will support Scandia’s Vision as put forth in our
Comprehensive Plan.
The redesigned Community Center also has the potential to offer brick and mortar
support for Scandia’s many home-based businesses. As businesses want to test the
feasibility of establishing their own locations, using Community Center facilities can be a
transition phase for them, for example: use of the commercial kitchen, use of the high
speed internet, conference facilities for meeting with clients.
In addition to an updated Community Center building up the economic strength of the
Village Center, the city’s growth as described in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan also calls
to attention the need to assess the future use of the Community Center as a growing
city hall. What will staff needs be in the next 20 years? How will the center
accommodate those needs?
The Council is being asked to authorize a needs assessment study for redeveloping
Scandia’s Community Center to make it a support structure for existing businesses, an
economic draw for new businesses, and an adequate city hall for future city growth.
Resolution 08-20-19-XX
Resolution Authorizing Community Center Needs Assessment Study
WHEREAS, The Scandia Economic Development Authority, upon the recommendation of the
Council authorized Community Center Task Force Committee, recommends that a needs
analysis study be done as a first step in updating/revitalizing the Scandia Community Center;
and
WHEREAS, With the Community Center having been built over 34 years ago, the study will look
at what expectations and expansions would meet the needs of the community going forward in
the next 20-30 years, and offer pre-design work based on the needs analysis; and
WHEREAS, Updating the Community Center, besides planning for future growth is also seen as
providing a clear economic boost for the Village Center, a magnet that will assert the city’s
viability as a business location and draw new businesses that want to be a part; and
WHEREAS, Both the Comprehensive Plan and the 2018 Tourism Study recommended the
importance of Scandia’s capitalizing on its historic, cultural, and environmental assets; and
WHEREAS, The potential economic benefits a redesigned, refocused, and repurposed
Community Center could have as a catalyst for the downtown businesses is noted. A more
vigorously used Center would draw people in, add vitality to the Village Neighborhood and
Village Mixed Use districts, and spur economic development in town.
WHEREAS, Estimates for that study proposed by three different firms puts $10,000 as a
reasonable cost for such an assessment;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City approves the allocation of $10,000 from the
general fund for a needs analysis study for Community Center updating for future needs.
Adopted by the Scandia City Council this 20th day of August, 2019.
Christine Maefsky, Mayor