West Downtown street and utility reconstruction approved for design phase by Detroit Lakes City Council

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The Detroit Lakes City Council order designs for multi-street road and utility reconstruction project that will affect four major roadways on the west side of downtown.

The project, set to begin in summer 2024 and be completed during the spring of 2025, will cover Frazee, Holmes and Front Streets, as well as, Lake Avenue, west of Washington Avenue.

Jon Pratt, city engineer for Detroit Lakes, said they will be replacing some clay and cast iron water pipes along the project route that are estimated to be more than 70 years old. He added the roads are also in pretty tough shape.

“If you’ve driven the roads, this is pretty obvious, most of them are in very poor condition,” said Pratt. “Most notably, that block of Holmes Street isn’t even going to make through another spring. Front Street is pretty poor as well, but all the streets, to some degree, are in pretty tough shape. Sidewalks, it’s a mixed bag. There has been areas that have had a panel here or there be replaced, but, by and large, the sidewalks are in pretty tough shape. And it doesn’t currently meet ADA standards.”

He also said the city is picking up about 70% of the cost of the project and the remaining 30% will be assessed to the adjacent property owners.

“I think the important thing to take away is that out of a $4.1 million dollar project, about $1.2 million is being assessed, but the city is still picking up just shy of $3 million dollars on the $4.1 million dollar project,” he said. “So, the city is still picking up about 70% of the project, which is commonly a little bit of a misconception that these things are heavily assessed. The assessments are certainly sizable, but the city is still picking up a vast majority of the project cost.”

On average, a residential property owner with 75 feet of project facing front-footage can expect an assessment of nearly $20,000. Commercial property owners with 100 feet of front-footage can expect their assessments, on average, to be up to $30,000.

During the public hearing, Heather Hamlin, real estate development specialist for the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corperation, said, under the current special assessment formula and with the amount of front footage with the organization’s Greystone property, the assessment was going to be large and asked for some consideration be taken for their property since it also holds 41 units of affordable housing.

“Of course, with MMCDC owning a large portion of that block on Lake and Front Streets, just the special assessments, if that could be clarified on what those special assessments would be for that building that would be helpful” said Hamlin. “We’re looking at about 500 feet and, if that’s $30,000 per hundred feet of commercial lot, I mean, $160,000, it’s kind of a big chunk of change.”

Pratt said, since their property is unique by it spanning an entire block, he thinks some consideration should be given and said the city would begin working with MMCDC to agree on a path forward.

Designs for the project are expected in coming months.

To check out the West Downtown Street and Utility project presentation, check out the city’s website under the public works tab.