Twin Cities Arms & Ammuntion Plant (TCAAP)

[Don Youngdahl]

As mentioned in a previous post, TCAAP can be opened to any organization that wants to stage a legitimate event there. A year or two ago, I attended a hayride which was sort of a combination nature-observation and historical tour, sponsored by Ramsey County Parks.

If the racing community wanted a truly unique and challenging venue, a race on "mow and ride" trails at TCAAP should be feasible. The terrain is sandy, with some dandy hills and one fantastic ridge line segment that would be a hoot. Race promoters, here is an opportunity.

Another possible idea could be a "Ride Your Bike at the Arsenal" day, possibly sponsored by a bicycle dealer, MORC, or a club like TCBC or Hiawatha. There's at least 10-20 miles of dirt roads there, plenty of places to make a "mow and ride" off-road loop, and some neat old arsenal structures preserved for historical purposes.

Unless there has been a change in personnel, the National Guard contact person for organizations wishing to stage an event at TCAAP is Sgt. Jamie LeClair, 651-775-1284.

A mountain bike race or other bicycle event there would be a great way to build rider awareness of this area. With more awareness, perhaps there are better prospects than I realize.

Don Youngdahl

[Brick]

Don,

I'll be happy to help....sometime after I get back......whenever that is :mad:

Eric

[jzipfel]

Arden Hills to acquire Army land

The Army Ammunition Plant is one of the metro's largest developable areas.

Arden Hills had a big win at the end of February when, after four years of negotiations, the federal Government Services Administration signed the city's offer to purchase the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant land. That means the GSA accepted the city's offer and intends to close on the sale and transfer 585 acres to Arden Hills.

Full article:

http://www.startribune.com/142/story/1032902.html

[ryno lite]

I like how they are giving more space in the plan to athletic fields than green space and wildlife coridor combined! Just what we need, more softball diamonds and soccer fields! Oh well, open space equals less profit! They better mow down as much as possible and bury it all in a sea of concrete and buildings!

[bakkeb]

That's awesome! Let's just hope the trails they will have will include some singletrack for mtbikers. The land looks like it would be great for mtbiking.:etard:

[FarmerBEN]

why not turn multiple hundreds of the acres into green space, once they develop it, it's gone for ever, with the current housing market they really don't seem to need those houses anyhow.

[ryno lite]

That's awesome! Let's just hope the trails they will have will include some singletrack for mtbikers. The land looks like it would be great for mtbiking.:etard:


Looks like the dream of mtn biking trails is dead. What a waste of good terain.

[bakkeb]

Looks like the dream of mtn biking trails is dead. What a waste of good terain.

Did I miss that in the article? I thought it said 25 acres for trails. Although I'm sure they meant hiking or paved trails.:etard:

[rideharder]

its nice to see that people read the star article and assume the worst for the land when in fact the site has been in the work for the last 10 years. it is a hot spot in the planning and development community being one of the only large acre urban site left in the twin cities. ramsey co has already requested the 116 acres rice creek corridor and there is an actually a total of 2,383 acres that the site so arden hills is only developing a portion of the old plant. if anyone really wants to try to lobby for mtb trails there is an restoration advisory board that is over seeing the whole site. http://tcaaprab.org/ i think that don has a good idea and i bet that the advisory board would like to hear from the community especially if they can propose a way to benifit the community with out any more of an eviornmental impact that has already taken place.

[trogolodyte16]

Arden Hills to acquire Army land

The Army Ammunition Plant is one of the metro's largest developable areas.

Arden Hills had a big win at the end of February when, after four years of negotiations, the federal Government Services Administration signed the city's offer to purchase the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant land. That means the GSA accepted the city's offer and intends to close on the sale and transfer 585 acres to Arden Hills.

Full article:

http://www.startribune.com/142/story/1032902.html

The cup is half-full - if the City of Arden Hills is acquiring this facility from the FEDs - this is really a GREAT deal for potential discussions on MTB trails!:D

[ryno lite]

Did I miss that in the article? I thought it said 25 acres for trails. Although I'm sure they meant hiking or paved trails.:etard:

25 acres is pretty small for mtn biking. Maybe it could be done. Lebanon is 80 acres. I'd guess if they are putting in housing and commercial and athletic fields, that they are probably thinking of the standard green space park with paved walking paths. I'm not saying it's not worth trying, but it wouldn't result in much probably.

[ryno lite]

its nice to see that people read the star article and assume the worst for the land when in fact the site has been in the work for the last 10 years. it is a hot spot in the planning and development community being one of the only large acre urban site left in the twin cities. ramsey co has already requested the 116 acres rice creek corridor and there is an actually a total of 2,383 acres that the site so arden hills is only developing a portion of the old plant. if anyone really wants to try to lobby for mtb trails there is an restoration advisory board that is over seeing the whole site. http://tcaaprab.org/ i think that don has a good idea and i bet that the advisory board would like to hear from the community especially if they can propose a way to benifit the community with out any more of an eviornmental impact that has already taken place.

That's what I hate about the paper and news, they always leave out key points. Sounds like there is still a ton of acreage to fight for! I thought the 500+ acres in the article seemed smaller than numbers I've heard in the past. Hopefully someday a good chunk will be park and we get the oppurtunity to build trails in it. Even if we can't build mtn bike trails, I'm always for green space in our metro area!

[Brick]

That's what I hate about the paper and news, they always leave out key points. Sounds like there is still a ton of acreage to fight for! I thought the 500+ acres in the article seemed smaller than numbers I've heard in the past. Hopefully someday a good chunk will be park and we get the oppurtunity to build trails in it. Even if we can't build mtn bike trails, I'm always for green space in our metro area!

The land that the city is going to develop is on the west side of the Arsenal property, consisting of the of the old industrial zone on the west side of the ridge line that runs down the center of the site. The area once cleared, is fairly flat and level and is ideal for development. (all the revenue generating STUFF that cities like so much). All the really interesting terrain (I believe) will remain in the zone controlled by the National Guard to the east. I haven't seen a current project map in a while, but that's what I recall.

[flashmcduff]

... I haven't seen a current project map in a while, but that's what I recall.


You are correct. The transfer portion probably hasn't changed since you last saw it and is the westernmost swath from 96/10 along up 35W up to County I. There's a whole lot of TCAAP left after that.

[Don Youngdahl]

........there is an actually a total of 2,383 acres that the site so arden hills is only developing a portion of the old plant. ..........

Here are the approximate TCAAP numbers, from City of Arden Hills:

Total site --------------------------------------------- 2400 acres

Owned by Army, controlled by National Guard ----------- 1600 acres
Recent Arden Hills Purchase ---------------------------- 600 acres
Balance is edge parcels: Arden Hills city hall; MNDOT maintenance facilities; Archery range & wildlife viewing areas; etc.

Arden hills purchase of 585 acres planned as follows:

Wildlife corridor ------------- 49 acres
Atheletic fields -------------- 75 acres
Open Space/Park ------------ 25-30 acres

The open space acreage will be several scattered parcels. (edited 4/3/07 to correct error)

[zx10freak]

there was some planning in the works a couple of years ago to extend Co Rd I. the plan was to make Co Rd I a straight shot through a small section of the arsenal (Northeast corner) but it was stopped do to some endangered frog or something...SO I'm guessing that any development east of the cop shop/ridge line will probably not happen because of said frog....(this was only hearsay so I probably have my facts wrong, but never the less the road still isn't straight.)

It would be absolutely fantastic if we could get a MTB trail in that area! I've lived in Mounds View for 35 years and I have ALWAYS wanted to go through that place either on a bike or by foot.

Kyle

[Brick]

Just got word of this--it's tonite, don't know if anyone can go on short notice: http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2007/04/25/news/fo19tcaapworkshop.txt

Alternative redevelopment scenarios will be publicly reviewed Thursday, April 26, for the former Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant (TCAAP) property located near County Road 96 and Highway 10 in Arden Hills. The combined open house and community workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. at North Heights Lutheran Church, 1700 W. Hwy. 96 (just west of Snelling Avenue). Renderings of three development alternatives and optional approaches to design features will be displayed from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Active participation by the public begins at 6:45 p.m. when the concepts will be presented and attendees can actively participate in a workshop to review and comment on the alternatives and specific design features.

Three development alternatives have been prepared to explore a range of uses for roughly 585 acres of the regionally significant TCAAP property. The uses include retail, office showroom, various types of residential, parks and native open spaces. Each concept approaches site development, street patterns and open space in unique ways that make community input critical before refining the concept into one preferred plan.

In addition to development alternatives, participants can evaluate and comment on alternative approaches to specific design features such as streets, open space and building character.

Community feedback gathered at the workshop will be used to refine the range of preliminary ideas into a preferred master plan and set of design guidelines that direct future development. For more information, visit the TCAAP section of the City of Arden Hills' Web site at www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us.

[jag]

In the paper today....

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_7208188?nclick_check=1

[berrywise]

Drove by it last weekend. That'd be some sweet terrain to get into.