Target, a division of Dayton Hudson, wants to build a 122,000 s.f. store in the city of Northfield, MN. Or does it? City officials were warned this week by their City Administrator that Target might pick another neighboring town if Northfield doesn’t step up the timeline. The city had proposed paving the way for Target by creating a planned development zone, but Target told officials they would prefer the city just amend it’s C-3 zone to allow big box retailers outside of the central business district. Either way, the project involves the annexation of land that could take until January, 1999 to consummate, and even then could face a referendum by area residents who are not happy they have been “Targeted”. “Target has overtly raised the possibility that they will build their new store in Dundas,” the City Administrator said, “if the city of Northfield does not accelerate the proposed timetable for their final regulatory approvals.” Dundas already has a Kmart, and if it “steals” the Target, Dundas residents may find themselves the proud location of a dead mall where Kmart once stood. The Mayor of Dundas says his City Council has not made any formal overture to Target, but privately individuals may have been talking to the Minneapolis-based company. Target says Dundas has contacted them, and offered development incentives. “If they wanted to come here,” said the Mayor of Dundas, “we’d let them come here. We’re not trying to steal them away.” Meanwhile, Northfield Council member Phil Hansen said the Target project will tell “the rest of the world what Northfield’s all about.” He described Target as a “big fish”, as in: “I don’t think we can let this big fish get away, because of moving too slow…” Target was described as a “class act”. But it appears many of the “little fish” in Northfield are not ready to jump in the tank with Target. Some question whether the market in Rice County can possibly absorb a 122,000 s.f. retail store that must bring in nearly $30 million to survive. There are already 46 places in Minnesota that have a Target. Ironically, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota has been warning for years about the negative consequences of state’s vying with each other to offer tax incentives to lure businesses away from each other. But this so-called “economic war” between the states is happening right under their nose in Northfield and Dundas. Officials in Northfield believe that Target is some cash cow that is going to create economic self-sufficiency for this small community that advertises its quality of life and educational facilities such as Carlton College. “Target will add substantial funds to the tax base,” claims the President of Northfield’s Econommic Development Authority, apparently relying on Target’s own projections rather than any independent study. Some local officials apparently believe that Targets are made in Lake Wobegon, where are the developers are above average, and all the site plans good looking. Target has boasted that its new chocolate and tan colored building is like none seen before in Minnesota. But for now, Target has become a moving target, and the communities of Dundas and Northfield are like two dogs scrapping over a big fish bone.
Perhaps Target wants to hurry up and get done because they sense growing citizen opposition to the plan. For further information about the Northfield fight, contact Stephanie Henriksen at 507-645-7086. A letter to the editor of the Northfield News against “big fish” Target can be faxed to: 507-645-6005. For more background on Northfield, see their website at: www.northfield.org
