Reading the Highland Villager #94

[A Villager endures late night noise.]

[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.]



Headline: Homeowners catch a break with little or no increase in property tax
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Taxes aren't going up very much in Saint Paul this year. Not really.


Headline: Highland Library opens new chapter with $7.9 million expansion in 2014 [Pun watch!]
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The library on Ford Parkway is getting a new doorway with more windows.


Headline: For 30 years, Ain Dah Yung has been a place to call home
Author: James McKenzie

Short short version: A building on Portland Avenue is a school for Ojibwe Indian children.


Headline: $1M more sought for public library materials; Friends of Library say city's budget for books, etc., has been shrinking
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: People want more money for library books.


Headline: All transit studies lead to West 7th; City, county, Met Council weighing various options
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Report on the multiple studies and plans being drawn up for West 7th Street between downtown and the river, highlighting the Ramsey County "pre-project" study of transit options along the street. Metro Transit has already pegged the street for aBRT rapid bus, and the city has it on its list of potential streetcar lines. Article includes history of the "Riverview Corridor" BRT proposal from a decade ago, where neighborhood groups successfully stopped the project (with the help of then-Governor Ventura) because of concerns over widening the street. Article includes details of different modal projects, alludes to potential complexity. Article includes quote from CM Thune: "The challenge for us is communicating the need for both of these types of improvements in the context of limiting transit funding." [Rather wordy way to talk about the need for eschewing obfuscation, no?]


Headline: Unidale market seeks permit changes
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The farmer's market that sits in the parking lot in the Unidale Mall wants to allow the sale of imported food (farmers grow food on land they own overseas) [presumably Asia]. The issue arose when someone started selling vegetables grown in Laos, and wood from Thailand. Article includes quote from CM Lantry: "...If it's safe, if it contains insects or if we're bringing in more problems." Planning commission will adjudicate


Headline: Minnehaha Ave. redesign in Mpls. eliminates acute-angle intersections
Author: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: The re-design of Minnehaha Avenue is going to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the street. The plan will be two 11' traffic lanes, two 9' parking lanes, and bike lanes.  The intersections will be redesigned with larger bumpouts to slow traffic from side streets. Article [apparently pre-dating the nixing of the cycletrack option] includes some mention of the "controversy still spinning [pun!] over the new accommodations for bicyclists." Article includes quote from Hennepin County project manager: "The cycle track would create dangerous blind spots at most intersections and endanger not only bicyclists but pedestrians and motorists." [I have a future post coming on this very topic. Basically, this statement is only true if its badly designed, which is one problem with not having defined cycletrack design standards yet. -Ed.]


Headline: Kowalski's addition games support
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Kowalski's on Grand will likely begin selling wine and coffee someday. [Take that, Trader Joe!]


Headline: Editorial: Land value tax would cure our economic ills
Author: Jacob Sutter

Short short version: Editorial arguing for a land value tax [very wonky; way to go Villager!]. Says that it would discourage suburban sprawl, uses New York City as an example of what the goal should be.


Headline: Highland Rides offers option for seniors just needing a life
Author: Leslie Walters

Short short version: A guy runs a company that will pick you up and drive you places. Old people use it. [This is the independent St Paul version of car sharing.]


Headline: Senior housing explosion; More units are on the drawing boards as the baby boom generation continues to age
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Old folks homes are being built in Highland Park and Mendota Heights.