Reading the Highland Villager #46

[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: 7
Total # of articles about sidewalks written by Jane McClure: 5 

[Editorial Note: When I first saw this edition of the Highland Villager, I was pretty sure that it wasn't a new edition. Paging through it, every single article was giving me that deja lu feeling. Normally I only get the feeling with one-out-of-three articles. Even the photos looked familiar. I was sure I'd already blogged this copy of the paper. 

But then I checked again, and it was indeed an all-new edition of the Highland Villager. Apparently there's not a lot going on in Highland Village these days. So, sorry about the delay. -Ed.]


Headline: Property taxes likely to rise across city
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: the property taxes for most of the [all but the poorest] residents of St Paul will go up because of State politics and the bad economy.

Headline: Public Works seeks comment on Jefferson Avenue bikeway
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: [I can’t even bring myself to write about this. The bike boulevard is dead. All that’s left is a bunch of sharrows on the pavement, some of which are half- covered over in black paint in a failed attempt to erase them. If you want to ride on a bike boulevard, go to Minneapolis or Portland.] Blah blah. Includes some bullshit from St Paul Public Works engineer John Maczko.

Headline: Five in the running in Ward 2; City Council hopefuls lay out their visions for creating a better St. Paul
Reporter: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: [Unlike Ward 5, this isn’t even a race. Incumbent CM Dave Thune will win easily. Jim Ivey is a good candidate though, who says great things about street design and bicycling. –Ed.] Article includes brief biographies and platform statements from five different candidates for the Ward 2 City Council race [West 7th Street and part of Summit Hill.]. Article includes brief biographies and platform statements for [semi-nutters] candidate Sharon Anderson [after the fold].

Headline: Change to Shepard- Davern plan would pave way for PPL
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: [For the third consecutive Villager, there is an] Article on  the zoning change that will allow the affordable housing project to be built on West 7th Street by the non-profit Project for Pride in Living. Neighbors are pissed [about the prospect of poor people in an apartment building living next door].

Headline: Intertwined Pioneer-Endicott buildings share storied legacy
Reporter: Lis Heinrich

Short short version: Historical column on the beautiful Pioneer-Endicott buildings in downtown St Paul, which date back to 1889 and were the “tallest buildings West of Chicago” when they were built. In the 1920s they were the home of the “state’s first commercial radio station, KFOY.” They are about to be renovated.

Headline: New plan rolls out for Marshall-Otis corner
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: The six-story apartment building set for Marchall and Otis, by the Mississippi River, requires both a height and a setback variance in order to be built. [Why is there a setback variance in this walkable neighborhood along Marshall Avenue? Buildings should be up against the street, not set back six feet! –Ed.]

Headline: Stonebridge proposes Victoria Park apartments
Reporter: Jane McClure

Short short version: A developer has proposed building two 300+ unit apartment buildings in the Victoria “Park” area along the semi-West end of West 7th Street. The project had been put on hold for some time due to the crappy housing market.