A new ice arena is on track to be built in Coon Rapids, without the rest of a community center that was put on hold after stirring vocal controversy.
The City Council voted unanimously last week to sell $13.4 million in bonds for a replacement to Cook Ice Arena, which has been home to skaters and hockey players since 1973. Late summer 2011 is the hoped-for completion date.
The arena had been part of a much larger plan, for a $46.5 million community center on the same Coon Rapids Boulevard site, but that plan was slowed down amid heated debate and council members' concerns about raising taxes in a recession. Opponents argued that the city and its residents should not pay for the center, and in particular for amenities that could be provided by the private sector. Supporters and city staff said that in addition to providing a regional amenity, the project would bring needed energy to a blighted stretch of the boulevard and kick-start even more private development.
The city council agreed in December to take a phased approach on the project. Still, the 59,000 square foot ice arena is being built to allow for future expansion, which could include a gymnasium, aquatics center, senior center and more. The city continues to have discussions with potential partners, including Anoka Ramsey Community College and the Anoka County Library system.
"This is all being done in the context of trying to allow for expansion of the building going forward," said City Manager Matt Fulton. "That's the reason the arena is being located where it is, as part of our long-term desire to have it incorporated into a larger community center facility."
This month, the council transferred ownership of the 25-acre parcel to the city's Economic Development Authority. The city will lease the land back and levy taxes -- about $50 a year for the average-value house -- to pay rent equal to debt payments.
Construction actually is projected to account for about $7.8 million of the total cost and could be reduced in the current competitive construction market. The additional amount will be spent on engineering, marketing, demolition and other "soft expenses." Part of that amount is expected to be recouped if excess land is developed later on as senior housing. Fulton estimated that in discussions with the architect, Perkins + Will, the council already shaved about $1 million off the pricetag.
On Tuesday, the council also held a required public hearing to discuss the bond sale. One resident spoke. Phil Rosar asked whether the council had considered the full expense of the project, including loss of rent from a Goodwill store that now is on the site, and the loss of the property taxes that would have been generated if the land had remained in private hands.
Rosar, who is running against Mayor Tim Howe and Dave Nelson in the August primary, suggested that the council "take some time and get the real costs of this hockey arena, which are substantially more than $10 million."
He suggested that the council put a moratorium on the construction until it has reconsidered all the factors involved.
Council Member Scott Schulte responded that the council has worked to plan the logistics and funding of the arena over two years of meetings.
"We've all listened to neighbors' concerns about Coon Rapids Boulevard and in particular the Target site," he said. "This is the most prudent way to fund this type of development. It's the most even way to spread it across the tax base."
Fulton said that the city council is expected to choose a contractor next month. He hopes construction will begin in September and be completed in August 2011.
Maria Elena Baca • 612-673-4409
