Buxton Study Follow-up 

In May of 2008 Brandon Norell of the Buxton Group, a Texas company, presented to the Ramsey EDA a proposal to develop a Retail Economic Development Strategy for the community (a revised proposal from July 2008 is attached).  The cost of the study was $65,000.  Subsequently the Buxton Group completed the SCOUT, trade area, and site assessment portions of the study authorized by the EDA.  The Ramsey Retail Site Assessment was completed in August of 2008 (see attachment).  It included information re Ramsey's retail sites, Retail Site 1 & 2 Analyses (Ramsey Town Center and the 167th Commercial Node), Site Comparison, Brief Segment Descriptions, Leakage & Demand Analysis, and a Demographic Report. 

Following the presentation of the Retail Market Analysis report in September, the Buxton Group provided a list of retail matches by location for the study.  Mr Norell presented the findings of the Retail Market Analysis at the October 2008 EDA meeting.  The EDA was provided a list of retail matches by location for the study.  Buxton was defining the trade area, identifying and profiling customers, matching customers to retailers.  Certain retailers were identified as not a match.  

At the 2011 ICSC members of the Ramsey team talked with Joseph Fackel of Buxton.  He indicated that the original agreement with Ramsey did not mention including a "refresh" as part of the cost.  He indicated that a project refresh cout be done as part of an annual SCOUT subscription.  Mr. Fackel will be in the Twin Cities in July and would be willing to make a presentation to the Ramsey EDA regarding the SCOUT program.  Staff is seeking to verify whether an update or "refresh" option was in place for this study. Staff will provide more information about the Buxton study and follow-up at the EDA meeting.  

N/A 

Informational at this time. 

No action is requested at this time.