Reading the Highland Villager #235

[Villagers lurking in Longfellow.]

[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: GABA rallies to get Grand Old Day back on track for June 2; enough sponsors, volunteers step up to repeal cancelation
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Grand Old Day will happen after all. Even the parade. Neighbors are concerned about drunken behaviors. A guy named Randy has been really helpful.


Headline: MPCA signs off on pollution cleanup of Ford site; Certification is major step toward its redevelopment
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The Ford Motor Company cleaned up the land under its old factory. The developer is going to probably buy the land now. Boring article. [Haha. Soil borings.]


Headline: Taking aim at climate change; City drafts plan for cutting carbon emissions; Goal is to reduce car trips, make buildings more energy-efficient
Author: Frank Jossi

Short short version: The city has a plan now for reducing CO2 emissions. There were "neighborhood discussions." Reducing energy use in homes is one big thing. Reducing car trips is the other. [Um, maybe don't re-pave Ayd Mill Road then?] Xcel is going to be carbon-free by 2050, they say. A climate change group says the city has not "assigned accountability" for the goals nor has it created "defined incentives." Article includes some info about how climate instability has been a problem for the city around things like landslides. [It's a nice plan. Basically, we need to make much larger transportation changes. Are we doing that yet? No. Not close, really. See also: my list here. One thing to do would be to build more housing in walkable areas, like Grand Avenue for example.]


Headline: Lawsuit seeks citywide referendum on organized trash system; County to decide whether voters should have the power to repeal system
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The trash lawsuit case is in County District Court. There was a petition. The City Attorney says the council can decide things without a vote. [Literally a garbage lawsuit.] 


Headline: After street fest, GABA will focus on regaining its strength
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The business association is losing members. Older businesses are closing. [Friendly reminder once again that that in 2015 GABA spent a lot of money -- $75K or so -- paying a right-wing PR firm to fight parking meters that IMO would have helped businesses on the street, especially the newer ones.]


Headline: Summit Hill Assn. to lead study of redevelopment on Grand
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Neighbors hired someone to think about development on the area. The zoning code is 13 years old and limits height to 3 stories. [Older buildings on Grand Avenue are at least that tall, are they not?] 


Headline: SHA asks Lunds & Byerlys to consider four stories for Grand Avenue project
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A developer wants to build a building above a grocery store on Grand Avenue. Neighbors are concerned about traffic, parking, height, and  "negative impacts."


Headline: Residents seek more bike lanes on Cleveland; Instead of sharrows that are called for in city plan
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city is going to mill and overlay the [concrete] part of South Cleveland Avenue. Some neighbors want bike lanes there, but it would require getting rid of some street parking. People did a traffic count and found there were not many cars parked there. The City would rather put in bumpouts. The lane is not on the bike plan, but sharrows are. Quote from a bicyclist: "sharrows mean nothing to me." [Same, lady. Same.]


Headline: Outdoor futsal courts planned for city parks, schools
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city might make courts for a small-scale version of soccer. It won't cost very much. Quote from a neighbor: "if a basketball court can be blighted, this one is it." [Please note that basketball is also very popular and there are not a lot of courts.] 


Headline: Council approves variance to use Summit-U church as event center
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An abandoned church can become an event center and child/adult daycare. Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking.


Headline: City withdraws charter change regarding administrative fines
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city might or might not change how it levies fines and citations. DSI would like them to be stricter.


Headline: City studies weekly overnight parking ban on Summit Ave.
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city might ban parking on Summit on one night a week in order to make it easier to plow. [Good. The bike lanes disappear almost completely in winter time. I still doubt they will be able to plow them though. Protected / buffered lanes without parking there is the way to really fix that problem.]


Headline: Emergency homeless shelter to remain open this summer
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: People who do not have a place to sleep can sleep in the basement of the County building still. CM Noecker is the one pushing for it.


Headline: Self-storage facility to replace EMC  Publishing in West End 
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A publisher is going to be converted into a self-storage facility. [The lowest possible land use for a Port Authority project right here. Still better than a tax-free one, though, I suppose.]


Headline: City's 20340 Plan praised for promoting housing density, variety
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Some people like the Comp Plan. There was a public hearing at Council. Lots of ideas for affordable housing listed in the article. [Lots more needed though.]


Headline: 145-year-old Ramsey Hill home may be saved from demolition
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old house is vacant and in bad shape but might not get torn down. Article includes lots of details about it. [Not sure exactly what's going on here or who owns it.]


Headline: Pates retires after 36 years at Villager
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The long-time Villager admin person is retiring to "spend more time with her family." Article includes details of her life.


Headline: Waiting for you; Park's revitalization gives St. Paul another reason to go downtown
Author: Anne Murphy

Short short version: Rice Park is getting fixed up. Article includes some park history.