Reading the Highland Villager #207

[Men enjoying fresh Villagers on the patio at Dunns.] 

[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: Ward 4 hopefuls seek DFL's nod at Apr. 28 convention; Mayor plies his influence with Nelson endorsement
Author: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: [Mitra won the endorsement on the 2nd ballot; Shirley Erstad will remain in the race.] Article has pics and bios of the candidates. Mayor Carter endorsed Nelson and according to a guy in Hamline, it is "the first big political test." [I guess they both passed.]


Headline: Merriam Park development moratorium nixed; Survey of historic homes will proceed without protection
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The City Council, following the leadership of CM Henningson, has decided not to enact a nine-month moratorium on historic properties in a neighborhood. The study will continue. Article describes the lead-up to the discussion. CM Henningson is quoted as saying the preferred to "put people before buildings." An elderly couple really wanted to sell their old house for new construction of two houses. Neighbors are concerned about "losing homes to multifamily developments." [I thought most of these new buildings were going to be single-family homes, but larger?] Article includes some history of the neighborhood, which dates to the 1880s. People are doing research on the provenance of different homes. The homes in the area have "a wealth of architecture styles that were popular form the mid 1880s to the 1930s." [As one would expect from homes built in those years.] There was a "contentious" public hearing that everyone is still talking about.


Headline: Snelling-Carrol housing project get variance
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A neighborhood group likes a variance for an apartment building where a parking lot and one-story bunker-type building used to be on Snelling Avenue by the freeway. The variance is for balconies. Article includes some history of the building's proposals. The building will be U-shaped.


Headline: St. Paul may drop off-street parking requirements on Snelling
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city is studying whether to continue to force developers to build expensive parking spaces along Snelling Avenue. A neighborhood group is pondering the proposal. They would just get rid of minimums. [About time. Not that it changes all that much in Saint Paul. They got rid of minimums on University, and I don't think anyone has built housing without parking there yet.] There was a recent Dunkin Donuts project that will be one-story because building underground parking is too expensive. Neighbors have "mixed" feelings. [This is a good idea, as it increases flexibility for housing especially the potential of making it more affordable if possible.] 


Headline: BZA OKs variance for modular home on old Mac-Grove farmhouse site
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old house is being toln down to make a new house, according to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The house is from 1900 and was moved in the 50s. Neighbors are concerned about the size of the new home.


Headline: Winter leaves a pothole in Public Works Dept. budget; Weather wreaked havoc with city water mains too
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Winter happened. It is expensive to push snow out of the way for cars to drive around. There were 134 water main breaks. Neighbors complain about potholes. Ayd Mill Road is mentioned. [For more on this, click here.] Article includes some details about planned construction projects. [Oh well, at least there weren't any major landslides.]


Headline: With its building slated for demolition, Big Top Liquors plans move
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old strip mall building that houses a [good] liquor store is going to be torn down. The liquor store will move [into an abandoned Perkins!] and they will eventually open up a new store that will be much nicer. Neighbors say that the store has been a "responsible business." Article mentions the "late Sid Applebaum." The site of the old store will become a parking lot. [Hopefully only for the "short term" but given that this is Saint Paul, it might stay a parking lot for a decade.]


Headline: UST steer students away from wine-soaked Tour de Franzia
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Tommies drink terrible box wine just because it's funny. [See below for more details about this aspect of the study.]


Headline: City OKs supportive housing for women on Robyln Avenue
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A fourplex will become space for women in transition. Neighbors are concerned but it does not say what about.


Headline: BZA clears way for new duplex on vacant Dayton Avenue lot
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A vacant lot that is a bit too small for the zoning code will still become a new duplex. Neighbor is concerned about density.


Headline: Variance granted for two large signs on new Grand Ave. hotel
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A new hotel by West 7th Street can have signs that are too large. They will be "internally illuminated."


Headline: City amends requirements for short-term rental hosts
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Even if a host loses a license they can still have their homes on air BNB or whatever without the website getting fined.


Headline: City OKs expansion of liquor, patio service at Grand eatery
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A new restaurant [in a semi-cursed location] can serve beer and have people sit outside. Neighbors are concerned about parking and people sitting outside at night.


Headline: Starbucks drive-thru giving traffic the jitters
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [Looks like the Villager discovered #carbucks.] People want coffee but don't want to get out of their cars. Thus a coffee drive-thru is causing traffic jams and illegal driver behavior. There are many plastic bollards involved. A neighborhood group wants the city to issue an "ultimatum." [Possible film adaptation title: "The Carbucks Ultimatum".] Article includes extended description of a bollard. [I told you so.]


Headline: Contested seats, bylaws change mark HDC annual meeting
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: In a very unusual move, more than one person wanted to run for seats on the Highland District Council and they had to have an election. The election districts were re-drawn to reflect equal population. Some people won, but others lost. Article has lots of information about "engagement."


Headline: Seek and ye shall find; St. Thomas gets updated look at where some 2,156 students are renting space off-campus
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [The new groundbreaking research study at UST to fit all college students with radio trackers is going well, and the researchers at the University have released a first draft of a habitat map to the public. The research team is looking at dwelling behavior, dietary habits, movement patterns, and reproduction of the population, which is growing at rates that are alarming to some.] "The number is higher than I thought it'd be," said one UST administrator. [According to the methodology section, researchers tranquilize the students with Franzia before fitting the collar trackers around the necks of the population. Interesting!] Article includes large full-color map. Quote: "the mapping will tie into a 'neighborhood livability index' that WSNAC members and other neighbors have been working on." [Livability is defined as "the absence of students." Q: Are students people? Did this study go through IRB approval?]