One of the fastest-growing cities in the state (6,100 housing units since 1999), Blaine has had lots of recent job growth.

The developer said the 30-acre SportsTown complex would focus on recreation and sports - and could eventually employ about 2,000 people.

By Susan Feyder, Star Tribune

An Edina developer has revived and nearly doubled plans for a recreation and retail development near the National Sports Center in Blaine that would include a water park-hotel complex, a sports training facility, restaurants, shops and a family-oriented entertainment center.

Blaine's City Council on Thursday is expected to hear details of the proposed 30-acre project, called SportsTown USA, from Donnelly Development LLC. Bryan Schafer, director of planning and community development for the city, said work could begin on the project as early as the middle of next year. He said a number of issues still need to be resolved, including a decision on whether the city will help finance the $152 million project and the acquisition of some parcels. Schafer said the project offers Blaine the opportunity to have a "destination entertainment facility" that would be unique in the Twin Cities and complement the National Sports Center. "This is very different from a general retail center and could draw a lot of people into the community," Schafer said.

The complex would be sharply focused on sports and recreation, with general retail accounting for only about 5 percent of the 500,000 total square feet, according to a recent memo by Schafer to the City Council. The memo says the complex could employ about 2,000 people when fully developed. A smaller version of the complex was first proposed by Bloomington-based Frauenshuh Companies in 2005, when Blaine was also being targeted for a new Vikings stadium and associated development. The Vikings later decided not to build in Blaine, and Frauenshuh didn't go forward with its Sports Center plan, which was intended to cover 16 acres.

The plan got new life earlier this year when John Donnelly, a former executive with Frauenshuh's commercial division, formed his own development company and took over responsibility for the proposed project. Donnelly said Tuesday that he hopes to have a hotel operator selected by next month. He expects the hotel, which will be attached to the 80,000-square-foot indoor water park, would have 400 to 500 rooms. That would be a significant increase for the city, which currently has only about 110 rooms, according to Schafer.

Donnelly said he would expect the hotel to draw both business travelers and guests using the National Sports Center with its 52 soccer fields, a 12,000-seat outdoor stadium and indoor sports hall. Donnelly said other SportsTown USA tenants would include Competitive Edge Sports, a Georgia-based operator of sports training facilities; Flagship Fitness, a Twin Cities-based operator of family-oriented sports and recreation centers, and Fat Cats, a Utah-based operator of dining and entertainment centers. Donnelly said the development also would include a 6.4-acre lake that could be used for paddle-boating and ice skating. There also would be a "ceremonial square" for medal ceremonies and special events. Donnelly said financing for the land has been arranged, as have terms of a construction loan. But he also believes that some sort of public financing is warranted for the project, parts of which will create "a significant community space" with benefits to the city.

Susan Feyder • 612-673-1723

Susan Feyder • sfeyder@startribune.com

It makes me very proud for the City, said Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan. It shows the hard work of the City Council and City staff through the years to make this the best community possible for our residents. And best of all, we haven't tried to copy any other cities Blaine has been recognized for creating its own identity, one focused on quality and responsible growth and creating opportunities for residents.

For the 2006 list, Money set out to find small livable cities that had the best possible blend of good jobs, low crime, quality schools, plenty of open space, rational home prices and lots to do.

Blaine made the cut from an initial list of 745 cities nationally with populations exceeding 50,000 residents.

Money's evaluation staff, using various economic and quality of life indicators, narrowed its list before visiting each city and interviewing residents, local officials and community leaders to determine the final ranking. (BLAINE DETAILED SNAPSHOT)

Compared to other Top 100 cities, Blaine ranked especially high in the Leisure and Culture and Health categories. With the National Sports Center and Tournament Players Club, along with dozens of parks, endless miles of trails and countless acres of open space, Blaine as a community promotes active and healthy lifestyles.

Blaine's recognition as a recreational destination is well-deserved, said Bob Therres, City of Blaine public services manager. The City's Parks and Recreation Department is active in offering a wealth of recreational opportunities to residents of all ages. Those programs, in addition to activities operated by organizations like the National Sports Center, allow residents endless opportunities to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle.

Blaine also ranked well above Top 100 cities in Job Growth Percent. From 2000-2005, Blaine's job growth increased a staggering 13.94%, well ahead of the 10.97% average of Money's other Top Cities.

The increased job growth demonstrates Blaine's attractiveness as a destination for businesses, said Curt Larson, economic development specialist for the City of Blaine. The City is attracting quality jobs that contribute to a high standard of living. Blaine is committed to responsible and quality growth, both in business and housing.

Would our family know how to safely escape our home in case of fire ?
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If I had to use a fire extinguisher, would I know how? Is it charged ?
Do I have enough smoke alarms? Are they in the right place? Are they too old ?
Is there a system of fire protection to keep us safe even when we are not home ?
Am I at risk for a dryer, furnace or chimney fire? Can I prevent these ?
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Do I have carbon monoxide, natural gas or radon in my home ?
Fear not – there is help! The Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department offers Home Safety Surveys. They provide a non-threatening, confidential, room-to-room check of your home by a trained firefighter. Your awareness of potential fire, injury or crime hazards in your home becomes heightened. If children are present, a fire drill is conducted. If smoke alarms are needed, one can be installed for free. All information is protected by data privacy. It is done at your convenience and is FREE.

The council attributed the aging baby boomer population as one reason for growth, as that demographic moves to urban areas for convenience. Another factor -- newer suburbs have more blocks of available land, which attracts developers.

Nine of the top 10 growing cities were developing suburbs. Blaine led the list , adding 9,006 to its population. Close behind are Shakopee with 8,767 new residents, Lakeville with 8,584, Maple Grove with 8,055 and Woodbury with 7,628.

Also on the list: Eden Prairie, 6,054; Farmington, 5,658; Prior Lake, 5,478; Minneapolis, 4,984; and Chaska, 4,864.

There are currently several large residential housing developments underway or set to begin construction in Blaine within the next few years. They include: The Lakes, Quail Creek, Savannah Grove, Glenn Meadows and Crescent Ponds. The chart to the right shows Blaine’s housing statistics compared to other metro communities from 2002-2005.

Residential development is, however, only part of Blaine’s substantial growth. Commercial business growth is continuing in the area, with several major business openings on the horizon. Gander Mountain and Home Depot have their sights set on Blaine. Gander Mountain is currently constructing a 66,500-square-foot store south of Super Target on Highway 65. The site also features three outlets for future commercial development. Meanwhile, the Planning Commission approved a proposal to build a Home Depot at Northtown Mall. City Council was to have voted on the measure December 1.

Two road construction projects are also in the works. Ramsey County has moved forward with a road design and construction project on County Road J (85th Avenue NE). The improvement is in cooperation with Anoka County, MNDOT, the cities of Mounds View, Blaine and Shoreview and the consultant, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. The boundaries of the project will extend from approximately Airport Road (93rd Lane N.E.) on the west to Rice Creek Parkway/Naples Street on the east.

The improvements consist of:

• Widening County Road J to accommodate a continuous, four-lane divided roadway with raised concrete center median.
• Replacing the narrow, two-lane bridge over I-35W with an expanded four-lane bridge complete with turn lanes.
• Installing two additional traffic signals.
• Adding left and right turn lanes at public street intersections.
• Intersection upgrades.
• Modifications to driveways and access points.
• Construction of a continuous pedestrian path along the roadway.

Improvements are essential to increase capacity and safety. Currently, the bridge over I-35W and the lack of turn lanes along County Road J cause congestion and traffic problems. The frequency and severity of the problems are expected to worsen as Medtronic office facilities and planned commercial and residential developments are completed. Upon completion, the improvements will safely accommodate anticipated traffic volumes at full development of properties within the corridor.

Construction is expected to begin in May 2006.

Next spring, Anoka County will begin road improvements to 109th Avenue. The stretch between Club West Parkway and Radisson Road will be widened from two lanes to four, with right and left turn lanes and a raised concrete median. The project is expected to be completed prior to the 3M Championship golf tournament next summer.

When in the Blaine area, you will find many things to do and see. Blaine is home to the National Sports Center Olympic Training facility which features year- round, top level sporting events such as soccer, hockey, and track and field, and Fogerty Arena which has two ice sheets for hockey and indoor soccer. Blaine also hosts many baseball and softball tournaments each summer. The Anoka County wave pool is just a few miles away in Bunker Hills Regional Park.

Golf is king. The story of the Tournament Players Club of The Twin Cities in suburban Minneapolis is one of passion and creativity. Arnold Palmer and his design team, in conjunction with Minnesota native Tom Lehman, dug deep into the wellsprings of their imaginations to produce an intriguing championship golf course in a location
ill-suited for the purpose.

Located 12 miles north of downtown Minneapolis, the 7,146-yard, par-72 layout was converted from a flatland sod farm into a dramatic stadium-style golf course that challenges the golfer with a collection of water hazards and waste bunkers. Though fully modern in its appearance and approach, the design has a links feel to it. High handicappers can navigate it, yet the TPC of the Twin Cities is exacting enough to host the Champions Tour's 3M Championship.

"I think it's a good, solid golf course, strategically very strong," Lehman said of the centerpiece attraction to the 550-acre residential development, which was nominated by Golf Digest as the best new private course after opening in June 2000. "When you consider the land that we started with, there were so many challenges involved in getting to the finish, but it was fun to see our ideas take shape."

Golf is not only for the adults, kids are welcome at the National Youth Golf Center. This course is associated with the National Sports Center providing an affordable golf experience for children of all ages 18 and under. At this course children pay their age.

We can't forget to mention the miles of walking, hiking, biking and rollerblading trail that take you throughout the city.

With the tremendous growth in the housing market in Blaine, also comes a remarkable number of commercial developments. This growth has changed the face of Blaine bringing jobs, professional services, shopping and restaurants.

Along Highway 65 between 105th and 109th Avenue, the National Market Center and Victory Village includes over 600,000 square feet of retail space. Home to Menards, SuperTarget, and Kohl's. Not to mention the several freestanding buildings that include sports bars, hair salons, Jimmy John's, Figaros Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, Planet Beach Tanning, Camille's and Nextel to only mention a few.

Travel a few more miles north on Highway 65 is the Main Street Marketplace. This shopping area offers Cub Foods, Gold's Gym, Foss Swim School, Hankering's Grill, Starbucks, Blockbuster and many restaurants.

But that's not all, at the corner of I-35W and Lexington Avenue you can find HomeDepot, WalMart, Cub Foods, Micheals, Applebees, Damons and the Green Mill as well as many other retailers and restaurants.

You also can't forget Northtown Shopping Mall that has called Blaine home since the 1970's. Blaine is only minutes from both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and the many arts, entertainment, and restaurant opportunities they offer. So, whether you are into sports, shopping, eating or the arts - Blaine is the place for you.