Reading the Highland Villager #198

[A cold Villager.]

[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. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free. See also: Three Reasons Why I Re-Blog the Highland Villager.]




Headline: For sale: 144 acres of prime riverside property in heart of a metropolis: Ford Motor puts former assembly plant on market
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [Huh. Why haven’t I heard about this before?] Apparently there’s a public hearing on zoning [for some reason?] on 1/17.


Headline: McNally Smith College closes; students complete semester with help of unpaid faculty
Author: Kasey McKee

Short short version: The music school closed without warning. Article includes details of how it all played out, and the email sent by the founders. Also includes some history of the school and some quotes about how much things were change and the progress that was made. Article includes story about how students were kicked out of their dorms with little notice. [The staff were screwed, yes, but the students were especially screwed. The two founders / owners, by the way, have not been seen around. There had been a plan to make the school a non-profit institution with a governing board. That was about to happen but hadn’t happened yet. Also, the building was originally sold to the school for $1 and $1.5M in city financing. Today the property is worth at least ten times that, I was told. Also the end of the fall semester is the worst time to close a school. Summer would have been much much better for all involved, and given people a chance to maybe “save” the school. This really stinks and there are some clear heroes and villains here. Hopefully we learn more about what happened, but regardless, an excellent piece of reporting in the Villager! You might even call it a scoop.]


Headline: Coleman bows out on night note; mayor leaves behind a more vibrant St. Paul
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Chris Coleman is running for governor and isn’t mayor any more. Melvin Carter is mayor now. Article includes list of Coleman’s accomplishments during his 12 years, and also quotes.


Headline: City foresters will be cutting down 2,192 ash trees in 2018
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The trees are sick or will be sick and need to be cut down. Areas includes Highland, Summit-University, Merriam Park, and other places. It’s expensive, and will be on the regular property tax levy. People can treat the trees if they get a permit and pay for it themselves.


Headline: Site plan for Marshall-Moore apartments reviewed Jan. 4
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A developer wants to build an apartment building on the site of two homes. No variances or conditional use permits are required. Neighbors are concerned about teardowns, the building’s size, noise, parking, and student behavior. [The site plan was approved unanimously.]


Headline: Developer drops plan to raze Iglehart homes amid public outcry
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A developer [same guy as above] had planned to tear down two homes to build an apartment building. Article includes lots of details about the two homes’ history, which are at least a hundred years old it seems. Neighbors are concerned about traffic, parking, historic preservation, and students.


Headline: Rezoning supported for Morning Star site
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A church and its large parking lot will be rezoned to allow for a new building to be built that will have lots of apartments for old people and a new church space. Quote from developer: “we know resources are slim and want to do this without city assistance.” [That is quite the noble gesture, IMO.]


Headline: Committee set to review St. Kate’s plan to remove trees for new parking lot
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A university wants to cut down a bunch of trees to build a surface parking lot with 250 spaces.Neighbors are concerned about the loss of the woods. Quote from administrator: “I understand the controversy, nobody wants to see trees taken down.” [Apparently university administrators DO in fact want to see this, which is why they are doing it.] Another quote from the person: “we are all parked up.” [They should have a strong transportation demand management plan that encourages things besides “everyone drive”. This is basic university campus planning stuff.]


Headline: Public hearing set on noise exemption for soccer stadium
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: the soccer team building the stadium wants to get an exception from the city’s noise limit ordinances.


Headline: Council is poised to increase tax on charitable gambling
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city wants to raise the tax from 2.5 to 3%. Nobody spoke for or against it. We are talking about pull tabs here. [This is where my inner Republican comes out: keep yer damn hands off the pull tabs.] 


Headline: City Council awards $250,000 for revitalization of Rice Park
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: 250K in STAR and CIB funds are going for some improvements in the park. [Meanwhile they just cut down some trees in the park  to make a one-month-long ice palace.]


Headline: UPDC to vote on a name for new Griggs Street park
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There’s a new park in an old parking / vacant lot  and it needs a name. Choices include: Peace Park, Midway Park, Mosaic Park, Unity Park, and Tiwahe Park, which means “family” in Dakota. [My vote is for Tiwahe; everything else here is super boring.] Article includes brief history of the park.


Headline: Changes proposed for St. Paul’s two-year CIB funding cycle
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city’s process for funding capital projects will be changed, probably, so that projects that are similar compete against each other. [See my old article on this.] Big city projects would be on a one year cycle, and smaller neighborhood projects would be on the other year. Lots have people have been working on the change for a while now. [What will the balance between these two budgets be?  Regardless, this seems like an overdue and welcome change to me.]


Headline: Food shelf serves ample portion of St. Catherine students in need
Author: Frank Jossi

Short short version: College students go to the food shelf for food. Quote from  organizer: “we’re realizing these students are taking on tremendous loans, find themselves in debt and having to work while being in school.” [But at least they have a shiny new parking lot. No new housing nearby, though.]