Reading the Highland Villager #114

[Send in your pics of the Villager inaction!]

[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. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free.]


Headline: Ruling rubs salt in Cathedral Hill parking wound; Restaurant not asked to provide extra spots as license condition
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A new restaurant is opening on Western Avenue! Neighbors are excited. [Apparently they're excited in the same way that electrons get excited because parking.]


Headline: Biking the Green Line; A growing number of cyclists are extending their reach with new link to light-rail transit
Author: James McKenzie [the two clans of the Highlands are the Clan McKenzie and the Clan McClure...  but "there can be only one?"]

Short short version: You can put your bike on the train, which is useful for people wanting to get to and from the train and their destinations. People ride bikes in Saint Paul, apparently. In the winter and the summer. Some quotes with complaints about University Avenue being terrible for bicycling, including this one: "I've biked in China and I wouldn't like on University Avenue now." Some nice things here about Charles Avenue as an alternative [though it doesn't actually connect past the Prior Avenue area].


Headline: West End reviews plans for Riverview transit study; County says the opening of new transit line may be a decade away [Ten more years of this article and I'll be dead!]
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The county is still studying what to do on West 7th Street.


Headline: Apartments, office building eyed for former Island Station location; Three new buildings would complement lost structure [odd verb choice? "Hello, lost structure, you look nice today."]
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The place by the river place where the old coal plant used to be before they tore it down might have new buildings but there are no firm details other than "350 market rate apartments and a new office building."


Headline: Commission OKs plan for boutique hotel on Summit Ave.
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old Victorian mansion might formerly used by the College of Visual Arts (CVA) become a "boutique hotel" for longer term stays [kind of like a B&B]. "Local residents are of two minds." The Planning Commission approved the idea, but it hasn't gone before the City Council yet.


Headline: Hearing set on Midway industrial area
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There will be a public meeting about how to improve the industrial area north of University Avenue.


Headline: Domestic Abuse project may move to Dayton Ave.
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A nonprofit will go into a former CVA building.


Headline: City OKs cellular antennas atop Little Sisters of Poor
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A nonprofit will have an antenna on its roof.


Headline: Commission OKs building on St. Mary's Home site
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The former home for nuns will still become an old folks home.


Headline: West 7th auto parts shop allowed to pave its parking
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [Pavers rejoice.]


Headline: Privatized or not, golf rounds are down at city's four courses
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Still fewer people are playing golf in Saint Paul.


Headline: Ford asks city to allow demolition work at plant on Saturdays
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [This passed through the Planning Commission.]


Headline: Expansion project puts West End homeowners at odds with Hazelden
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The people that live next door to the rehab facility don't like the construction of it. Hazelden cut down a bunch of trees.


Headline: Self-storage plan for old brewery warehouse stirs up controversy
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Someone wants to turn an old warehouse near the Schmidt brewery into a self-storage facility. The plan passed through the planning commission, but on a very close vote. The debate was about offering a zoning variance, because the land is zoned TN3 [relatively desnse mixed-use].