Tag: Ed Briesemeister

Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery Opens At the Wayzata Bay Center May 30th

May 18th, 2009

Beginning May 30th, the Wayzata Bay Center will host Mahogany Bay’s Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery.

This unique exhibit is free and open to the public. It will feature sixteen exquisite, classic wood boats, many exhibited for the first time.

The Speedboat Gallery will be made up both of boats that are part of the Mahogany Bay permanent collection and investment quality family heirloom boats that will be offered for sale.

Included in the exhibition are the international iconic works of boat building art from Chris-Craft, Ditchburn, Dodge, Hacker Craft, and Riva. All of the boats have been carefully aged and painstakingly restored to their original splendor by Mahogany Bay’s specially trained craftsmen.

The Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery at the Bay Center will be the largest display of classic wooden boats in the Metropolitan area in over 25 years.

Also, throughout the summer additional rare and unique boats will be rotated through the Gallery so there will always be something new to see and experience.

It is estimated that throughout the run of the exhibition, over 25 different historic boats will be displayed at the Bay Center.

The boats will be on display during the summer of 2009 in the concourse of the Bay Center.

A Mahogany Bay Lifestyle store will also be open in the Bay Center concurrent with the exhibition, offering home furnishings and art with historic and nautical themes.

To welcome the classic boats to Wayzata, the city has organized a parade down Lake Street to begin at 11:30 am Thursday, May 21st.

The parade will consist of 16 classic wooden boats, Wayzata’s Fire Trucks, a musical calliope, and local dignitaries.

Included in the parade will be the 1937 54-foot John L Hacker designed commuter which graced the cover of Rudder magazine in October 1937.

Built at an original cost equivalent to 100 brand new automobiles; P.O.S.H. (Port Out, Starboard Home) has been described by wood boat enthusiasts as a National Treasure.

The parade will run along Lake Street and end at the Bay Center where the boats will be on display Thursday afternoon in the Bay Center parking lot.

Following the parade, the boats will begin to be installed in the Bay Center with the exhibit opening to the public on May 30th.

When asked to describe the significance of the Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery exhibit, Todd Warner, CEO & Founder of Mahogany Bay, stated, “Many residents of the Lake Minnetonka area are not aware of the region’s and Wayzata’s strong ties to boat building and classic wooden boats. The Minnetonka Boat Works, located where the current Boat Works building stands on Lake Street, was a very important boat builder during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Boat Works built both commercial and pleasure craft and earned a national reputation for quality and innovation. When boat building operations ceased, the Boat Works building, for many years, housed a boat dealership that sold many of the classic Chris Craft wooden boats that have been restored and cruise Lake Minnetonka today. We’re excited to share the classic beauty of wood boats and the rich history of this area’s ties to boat building and boating.“

Mahogany Bay President, Dave Bortner, stated, “There will be something of interest in this exhibit for boat enthusiasts and families alike, and we encourage all to come and experience what boating was like when art and style was as important as functionality.”

When asked about the Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery and summer plans at the Bay Center, Ed Briesemeister, Managing Director, commented, “We are very excited about welcoming the Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery to Wayzata Bay Center. There is nothing like this in Minnesota and it has already created a great deal of excitement in the Wayzata community, and we expect the exhibit to draw lots of visitors to downtown Wayzata over the summer. The Bay Center is also working closely with the historic Steamboat Minnehaha, displaying a handmade model of the wooden steamship and other historic artifacts along with schedule information. The Bay Center summer calendar is filled with special events and great savings. Mall merchants want to extend a special invitation to Wayzata and area residents to come see why we believe that `Summer Fun Starts` at the Bay Center.”

For more information on the Wayzata Bay Center Redevelopment, contact Ed Briesemeister at (763) 245-0962. For more information on the Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery Exhibit and Mahogany Bay, call (952) 495-0007.
Wayzata Bay Center Redevelopment Company Announces Revised Timeline

March 9th, 2009
Presbyterian Homes has issued a revised schedule for the completion of planning and construction for the Wayzata Bay Center.

While the planned Bay Center redevelopment remains unchanged in size and scope from the plans approved by the City Council in June of 2008, the new schedule delays construction from a 2009 to a 2010 construction start.

This change essentially moves the construction start date back one year from the schedule adopted in late 2008 when the economic recession was anticipated to be milder than has been the case.

The objective of Wayzata Bay Redevelopment Company simply is to deliver the new project when the economy has recovered sufficiently to support effective demand for new commercial and residential space.

During the extended redevelopment period, the redevelopment team will focus on the following activities:
- Work with the city to amend the current Redevelopment Agreement to accommodate the revised redevelopment schedule
- Advance design for all five blocks and finish design of initial development blocks
- Complete by mid-2009 the current testing for foundation designs and geothermal capacity at the site
- Finish contractor selection process and integrate general contractor with design team
- Value engineering review of all design and finalize construction pricing
- Complete common area association documentation
- Update market studies in the fall of this year
- Conduct focus groups for the planned housing
- Implement aggressive commercial leasing program once economy shows signs of recovery
- Monitor macro economic indicators to determine final project commencement date
This work is all necessary prior to the final City review process which is now scheduled to commence by May of 2010.

At that time, the final plans for the initial blocks to be developed will be submitted for approval.

Concurrently with presentation of the final plans, the development team will begin the building permit process with the city and its consultants.

When asked why the project time-line is being pushed back, Ed Briesemeister, Managing Director of Wayzata Bay Redevelopment Company, stated, “The new timeline is in reaction to the extreme economic downturn we all find ourselves in today and the impact that has had on the demand for new condominiums, retail, office and even senior housing. We are confident that the redevelopment plan is sound and we expect recovery in the general economy will revive solid demand for the new Bay Center. However, in the current environment people are reluctant to make any significant economic commitment until they see some positive signs economically. Given the choppy nature of the economy it would not be advisable for Presbyterian Homes to accelerate any construction in this environment. This extension of the pre-development period will require working with the City of Wayzata to amend the existing Redevelopment Agreement. We still have much to do in the planning and pre-development phase of the project. Market studies will have to be updated to ensure that timing of delivery and design features reflect market expectations. Our team will be very busy in the upcoming months completing engineering and architecture, preparing for the final city review process. As we have from the beginning of the project, we will work with our Design Review Committee, city officials and community members to get feedback in the final design phase.”

When asked about management plans for the current Bay Center building, Ed Briesemeister commented further, “We are working hard to find some interim uses for the increasing amount of vacant space at the mall during the extended time in the pre-development phase. On a positive note, Kraemer’s Hardware Store that had planned to close in mid 2009 is now likely to remain a Bay Center tenant until the mall closes, and we are hopeful of finding an operator for Glaciers drive-in to keep it open this summer season.”

When asked how the changes affect Presbyterian Homes, John Mehrkens, V.P. of Development for Senior Housing Partners, commented, “While we remain fully committed to the redevelopment of the Wayzata Bay Center, the revised scheduling is prudent and appropriate given current economic conditions. The extended pre-development timetable will allow us to continue to refine and customize the design, evaluate best project sequencing, and more fully address the technical aspects of the plan. We continue to have regular contact and are encouraged by the interest of the over 250 people currently on our waiting list. Despite the economy, we do not anticipate changing the scope and quality of the project and we look forward to continuing our mission of serving older adults in the Wayzata community.“
WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Wayzata.com’s Top 5 Stories of the week, Feb 23-Mar 01, 2009

March 2nd, 2009
It was a little slower week in terms of the news cycle in Wayzata, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything going on. A big time fraud case continued to generate headlines, the local body of goverment canceled a regular meeting due to lack of activity, and a local hockey team exited the section playoffs. Here we go, the Top 5 Stories of the week in Wayzata for February 23 – March 1, 2009. Brought to you this time around by John Roti at M&I Mortgage – for all your residential lending needs.
1. Tom Petters fraud case kept chugging along and made headlines again last week. The Lawyers bill for the case reached a staggering $1.6 million for two months worth of legal activity, and Petters attorney’s sought to have the case moved to Wisconsin or Iowa because they claimed Petters could not receive a fair trial in Minnesota.
2. There was so little going on this week in terms of applications and development to be brought before the City Council that the meetings for this Tuesday 03/03/09 was cancelled! This is in stark contrast to the schedule the Council has had to keep over the last number of years because of all the development in the city–and Mayor Ken Willcox has indicated it is due in part to the economic climate.
3. The Wayzata Boys Hockey team bowed out of the Section playoffs with a loss to rival Minnetonka on Saturday afternoon.
4. Dan Ament, a local financial advisor with Smith Barney appeared on KARE 11 and talked with Tim McNiff who has his own Wayzata connections as a Wayzata School District resident and as a Wayzata running backs coach.
5. Ed Briesemeister indicates it will be some time before pile test results are known over at the Wayzata Bay Center. The process will involve more strikes of the piles, as well as the installation of geothermal testing equipment.
Two other notes for you: Wayzata.com had a productive week as it joined the Minnesota.com network, and had John Roti of M&I Mortgage come on board as a sponsor. If you would like to spread your message to the Wayzata Community and the thousands of visitors that read Wayzata.com with simple and cost effective pricing, please contact Dan at 952-473-5800.
Crane Sets the Stage for Test Piles at Wayzata Bay Center

February 13th, 2009

Crane in the parking lot of the Wayzata Bay Center.

A prominent crane in the parking lot of the Wayzata Bay Center signals the commencement of test pile driving activities.

Residents traversing Lake Street near the Wayzata Bay Center may observe the substantial crane as it readies to drive test piles into the ground.

This noteworthy sight, witnessed late Friday afternoon by Wayzata residents and visitors, prompted a pause for a photo to share with dedicated Wayzata.com viewers.

Local residents and merchants in proximity should anticipate the potential for loud noises and sounds dominating daytime activities in the downtown area.

Ed Briesemeister, representing the Wayzata Bay Redevelopment Company, shared information indicating that the testing phase is expected to extend over approximately one week.

The presence of the crane and the impending test pile driving underscore the ongoing developments at the Wayzata Bay Center, with the community advised to brace for temporary disruptions as this phase unfolds.
Gordy Engel, Co-owner of The Foursome, Announces Key Development at Wayzata Bay Center

November 1st, 2008

Last night, Gordy Engel, owner of The Foursome in Wayzata, attended the Wayzata Football game where he shared a significant update.

Engel, a part owner of the Wayzata Bay Center along with John Berg and Ray Mithun, revealed that the deed for the Wayzata Bay Center had been officially transferred to Presbyterian Homes’ Wayzata Bay Redevelopment Company on 10/31/2008.

This marks a crucial step toward the anticipated demolition and construction process for the Wayzata Bay Center.

Despite attempts to reach out, a call to Ed Briesemeister of the Wayzata Bay Redevelopment Company went unanswered at the time of reporting.

Continue following Wayzata.com for the latest updates on the Wayzata Bay Center construction.

Tag: Ed Briesemeister

Mahogany Bay Vintage Speedboat Gallery Opens At the Wayzata Bay Center May 30th

Wayzata Bay Center Redevelopment Company Announces Revised Timeline

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Wayzata.com’s Top 5 Stories of the week, Feb 23-Mar 01, 2009

Crane Sets the Stage for Test Piles at Wayzata Bay Center

Gordy Engel, Co-owner of The Foursome, Announces Key Development at Wayzata Bay Center