An editorial in Thursday's print edition 

It wasn’t surprising to learn that members of the city Planning Commission expressed excitement after hearing details about the proposed Asian World Marketplace in Shakopee.

Under the proposed development, some 240 Chinese manufacturers’ representatives would be housed in an approximately 500,000-square-foot building in Shakopee’s industrial park to conduct business with American companies.

In addition, there would be a number of stores where customers could buy Asian products on either a retail or wholesale basis.

Developers say their project would be unique to North America and they envision it to become a shopping and entertainment destination, with an art gallery, sculpture garden and occasional cultural performances. Developers anticipate the marketplace opening next fall.

The building sits empty, since its expected tenant, ADC Telecommunications, never occupied it. It has been empty for seven years, according to a member of the Planning Commission.

The story about the proposal was first reported in the Aug. 14 Valley News, and a couple of weeks ago, the Planning Commission was introduced to the plans by Paul Ridgeway Sr. His company, Minnetonka-based Ridgeway International, is a nationally known events-management firm that works annual Super Bowls for the NFL, and other large-scale events.

Sales offices are already open in China, and the company has lined up a well-known architect and artists and a reputable property-management company to help design the project, according to the developers. State Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, is involved in the project as a consultant.

In addition to the business component and hundreds of jobs it would create, it could bring hundreds of Asian residents to the Shakopee area, the developers say.

Ridgeway said the project would be a “stunningly beautiful place” that features a sculpture at its entrance fashioned by Gloria Tew and a building interior designed by the late architect Ralph Rapson and his son. “It’s not going to be some of the poorly designed shops you see in other developments that are sloppy looking,” he said. “These are high-tech, gorgeous.”

Ridgeway told the Planning Commission the project would create opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to trade with Asian companies.

As exciting as the project sounds, there are some obstacles to overcome before it would be approved by the city. The most obvious is zoning, since the proposed location is in an industrial area. The city would have to approve special zoning for the project to allow shops and restaurants in an area zoned for heavy industrial use.

Other issues to resolve include traffic planning and access issues for the neighboring Quarry Lake.

According to Beard, developers plan to work with the city to allow public access to Quarry Lake. The city has secured grants to develop the former rock quarry as a park, but needs access within the next couple years in order to utilize the money.

Beard said that the development and lake would complement each other. He added that the development would serve as a good buffer between the park and industrial uses in that area.

He doesn’t think traffic management will need to be a concern for the city, being that Ridgeway specializes in transportation planning.

“Mr. Ridgeway knows how to move a lot of people onto and off of a site and do it safely and expediently,” he said. “You’re dealing with a world-class organization here.”

Beard said developers don’t plan to seek any public subsidies or tax-increment financing, although they will request property taxes be kept at the existing level for the next five to seven years while the project gets off the ground.

The project does indeed sound exciting and if the obstacles can be resolved, it could be an economic boost to the Shakopee area.