Lack of money has long stood in the way of constructing a downtown parking ramp in Minot. But a developer's plan to revitalize the downtown could provide a solution.
The Minot Area Development Corporation is asking the MAGIC Fund Screening Committee for $3 million toward the $9 million construction of two publicly-owned parking ramps to support Phase One of the proposed "Imagine Minot" redevelopment. According to information provided to committee members, each ramp will consist of a three-level parking structure.
The screening committee will meet Friday at 7:30 a.m. in City Hall to discuss the request and also a request from Parshall 2000 Inc for $10,000 to renovate a portion of a building for a telepharmacy.
MADC reports that preliminary engineering estimates show that each parking ramp will cost $4.5 million. The proposed development plan would increase parking on the two city-owned lots from about 260 spaces to 588 spaces, an increase of more than 200 percent.
Phase One of Imagine Minot will include about 350 units of market rate, work force, and affordable housing, with rents ranging from about $550 to $1,500 per month. In addition, there will be about 20,000 square feet of street-level commercial space in three separate sites. Phase One sites are located at Second Avenue and Second Street Southeast; Second and Third avenues and First Street Southwest; and Central and First avenues and First Street Southwest. These sites are shovel ready and, when under simultaneous construction, will demonstrate to the community that the revitalization of Minot has truly begun, MADC noted in its application.
The Parshall project will involve matching funds from the City of Parshall. The project application explains that, in June 2011, the Good Samaritan Society donated its former nursing home building in Parshall to Parshall 2000 with the stipulation that the building be used to provide senior and/or community services. The building currently houses a child-care center, restaurant, beauty salon and massage business.
Parshall 2000 has a pharmacist interested in opening a telepharmacy in the Rockview building. The non-profit is seeking MAGIC Fund dollars to renovate space to accommodate the telepharmacy and senior homes.