Reading the Highland Villager #36 (May 11th - 24th Edition)

[Basically the problem is that the best source of Saint Paul streets & sidewalks news is the Highland Villager, a very fine and historical newspaper. This wouldn't be a problem, except that its not available online. You basically have to live in or frequent Saint Paul to read it. That's why I'm reading the Highland Villager so that you don't have to. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free.]

Total # of articles about sidewalks: 11
Total # of articles about sidewalks written by Jane McClure: 8


Headline: Highland hasn't given up on plan to redo Village's 1986 streetscape; lobbies for new sidewalks, lights, trees
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: As mentioned in the last RTHV, the St Paul Utilities Task Force of the Capital Improvement Budget Committee was not too keen on the new streetscape plan for Highland's shopping area. Includes description of the mix of funding sources: $4M in LGA funds, $760K in city bonds, and $731 from increased property assessments.

Headline: Mannillo, Tolbert line up support in Ward 3 race; Candidates curry the favor of prominent DFLers in lead-up to the endorsing convention
Reporter: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: Discussion of the open seat City Council race in Highland, including two front runners John Mannillo and Christ Tolbert with lengthy lists of their respective endorsements. Mannillo is a developer who specializes in historic preservation and Tolbert is a Hennepin County Attorney and former McCollum staffer (and who the article mentions “is single”). Both candidates emphasize the importance of the Ford Plant redevelopment. There is a nice Mannillo quote about how he doesn't believe in big giveaways to developers. Otherwise, it's hard to notice any meaningful policy differences between the two.

Headline: Commission considers three plans for redrawing St Paul's seven wards
Reporter: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: Because of population changes and movements between St Paul's wards, primarily away from Highland Park (Ward 3) and toward the North End, East Side, and West Side (Ward 2 and 6).

Headline: Growing seminary may reoccupy St Mark's old convent
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: There is an old convent what will switch to housing future priests in Merrian Park. Apparently men are “continuing to answer the call.”

Headline: Final draft of St. Paul's Great River Park plan to be unveiled
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: A big plan for making St Paul's Mississippi River frontage into a large National park, which seems to be a big amalgam of different park and improvement projects, including a re-thinking of Shepard Road into “a more pleasing parkway … with a maximum speed limit of 35mph.”

Headline: Federation buys part of brewery, awaits decision on historic status
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: More on the Schmidt Brewery redevelopment, about how the W 7th District Council used $1.4M in TIF money to buy the old office building and rathskeller. Includes obligatory CM Dave Thune quote, awesome photo of sculpture of “King Gambrinus, the patron saint of malt,” and more historical info on the brewery [probably cut and paste from the last 4 articles on the same topic. -Ed].

Headline: Graffiti vandals damage buildings, fixtures along future light-rail route
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: Taggers tagged a two-mile stretch of University Avenue on the night of April 25th.

Headline: Noise limits relaxed for rail project
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: Noisy construction can now extend further into the evening, until 10:00pm, thanks to a variance passed by the St Paul City Council. There will also, thanks to CM Stark, 25 “overnight extensions.”

Headline: Displaced Mdewakanton hope to move up the hill to sacred site
Reporter: Dave Page

Short short version: Story about the small Mendota Mdewakenton tribe moving their headquarters and healing house up to tan old farmhouse on Pilot Knob, an old spiritual site. Contains some history of Indian / government relations [which are obviously not very flattering to the US. -Ed.]

Headline: Summit-U board scrambles to keep district council afloat; Rejected reimbursement for Promise Neighborhoods program adds to SUPC debt
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: Story about the Summit-U district council and how they claim to have been screwed by the city over the "Promise Neighborhoods" program, which aimed at improving neighborhoods around schools in Frogtown. The city is not reimbursing $8,500 in expenses for the district council, which means that the district council is in debt. Includes quote from CM Carter proclaiming ignorance.

Headline: [A story completely buried after the culture and sports sections, on the HV's penultimate page] SARPA sets public meeting on Summit Avenue traffic concerns
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: Discussion of the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association's campaign to reduce traffic speeds and improve walkability on Summit Avenue. Refernces a paper written by the organization where they say they don't want any speed humps or traffic caliming devices, but do want bumpouts near William Mitchell Law School. [But bumpouts are traffic calming devices?] Apparently the group would prefer "stepped-up enforcement." [Far less effective than actual traffic calming infrastructure. -Ed.]