Forest Lake explores redevelopment of downtown area

The City of Forest Lake wants to bring new life to its downtown area, and a new plan calls for redeveloping the Broadway Avenue and Lake Street corridor.

The downtown area has struggled with closures and vacancies.

Rich Spratt, the owner of Dick’s Tattoo, says he’s seen quite a few businesses go out due to COVID-19.

“We’re like a lot of other cities, that the downtown (has) gotten a little worn out, and needs to be revitalized,” said Spratt.

Meanwhile, Forest Lake City Administrator Patrick Casey says they have a plan to bring new life the downtown area.

“It’s time to try and look and see if we can make it better, attract more not only business and people, and make it a destination place,” said Casey.

City officials unveiled its downtown plan to the public Tuesday night. That plan includes attracting new businesses, restaurants, events, making the area more walkable and highlighting the lake front. You can find the plan by clicking HERE.

The city hopes the plan will attract people from just a few miles away along I-35 to downtown.

“Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Menards, so it’s a very busy right off the highway place. The challenge is to get them off the highway there and say okay there is a downtown. How do we get you to downtown?”

The city would like to have the plan in place by May, and Spratt hopes it will benefit businesses who have stayed downtown.

“I want to see the people who are here be able to prosper so if they’re going to bring stuff in here, hopefully it benefits them” says Spratt.

Just like a tattoo, the city hopes to leave a new mark in the downtown area.

If you’d like to provide feedback on the plan, CLICK HERE.