At least part of the plan for the redevelopment of the former Chaska Building Center has been approved. Monday night, the Chaska City Council voted unanimously to approve the concept plan for the western portion of the 11.4 acre site to the east of the intersection of Yellow Brick Road and Chaska Boulevard.

Discussion on the eastern half of the site was tabled until work on the Downtown Master Plan is complete.

Downtown is set to have a hardware store once again.

“We wanted to share some good news,” said Bruce Lundgren, property manager and partner in the Chaska Brickyard Shopping Center.

Lundgren reports that Security Development Company signed a lease with Arrow Ace Hardware last week. They will take over the space formerly occupied by Snyder’s Drug Store to the east of Cooper’s County Market.

Lundgren said that Arrow Ace Hardware is a chain of 11 hardware stores based in St. Peter. “The closest one is in Shakopee,” he noted.

The former Chaska Building Center is facing a dramatic makeover.

Recently signs touting a proposed retail development appeared in front of the dilapidated building, signaling changes on the horizon.

Monday afternoon, former City Administrator Dave Pokorney, who now heads up Community Asset Development Group, issued a press release detailing landowner John Klingelhutz’s proposal to redevelop the 12-acre site. According to the release, a master plan has now been submitted to the city of Chaska for the project.

The SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Waconia Chamber of Commerce are hosting a workshop for commercial property owners in Carver County.

The workshop will address the process by which you can appeal your 2011 commercial property valuations.

This timely forum will include panelists: Laurie Engelen, Taxpayer Services, Carver County; Angela Johnson, Carver County Assessor; Suzanne Grimm, Cresa Partners; and Robert Hill, Property Tax Attorney.

There may not be a jukebox blaring the sounds of “Rockin’ Robin” or “Rock Around the Clock.” There may not be waitresses gliding along on roller skates with trays perched high on their shoulders. There may not be boys in letter jackets giving girls in poodle skirts their class rings.

Tommy’s may not have any of that, but there’s no denying this is a malt shop.

By Unsie Zuege

Ladies and gentlemen, start your garden tillers, your power washers, your various power tools, and gardening implements, tune up the lawnmower, dust off the patio furniture and rethink the flower beds. As of last Saturday, spring officially arrived.

And just in time to help you sort out what’s new, improved, and must-haves for the coming summer season, is the annual SouthWest Metro Expo that features products and services for homes, landscaping and lifestyle.

By Cliff Johnson

Jan. 16, 2009 is a milestone date for Mike Lindell of Carver. That’s the day he quit all his addictions.

He’s been sober in the 13 months since, pouring his new focus and clarity into his growing Carver company – MyPillow, Inc.

By Unsie Zuege

It was going to be a burger like any other burger Chanhassen resident Russ Kamerud ever made.

Or so he thought. When it was time to add the Gedney pickle spears, the sharp-eyed burger maker looked at the pickle jar and did a double take.

The SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce and Mediacom have expanded the seventh annual SouthWest Metro Expo.

Free to the public, the Expo’s featured guests will be television’s Hometime Crew – Miriam Johnson, Dan Laabs and Tom Weckworth. Hometime, hosted by Dean Johnson, is a national home improvement and remodeling television series. The show is based in the Chaska area, and most episodes are filmed in that vicinity.