Reading the Highland Villager #246

[Chiaroscuro Villagers.]

[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: Mayor pushes for more public safety spending; Rampant gunfire has made this year St. Paul's deadliest in almost three decades
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: People are shooting each other with guns. There are debates about how policing should be done. Police are very expensive.


Headline: Plan to narrow Ayd Mill Road continues to generate debate; Lanes to be restricted as Summit bridge is rebuilt
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Neighbors are concerned about traffic. A city-owned quasi-freeway might not be paved to be as wide as it once was. A bridge over the road is being replaced, and that is expensive. The construction is reducing the size of the quasi-freeway road in a fashion unrelated to the future plans. Article goes over the Mayor's proposed road reduction plans, which involve a bike path and new signals. Article has a picture of cars. There have been meetings at neighborhood groups. [I heard about one neighborhood group committee just today, which voted 26-0 to support the Mayor's plan. The only question they had was how to improve the public realm.] Some people want the construction period to be a change to study the two-lane configuration for the road.  [Here's my BOLD PREDICTION -> I am predicting that, in the future, whatever happens here, there will be traffic congestion during rush hour. It will be caused by the people driving alone in cars.]


Headline: County's winter safe space becomes year-round homeless shelter
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: People will be able to sleep in a big area in a County building this winter.


Headline: City may ease up on residential design standards in wArd Three; Local homeowners asked to help draft ordinance
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A while ago the city tried to create rules for people building new homes or making additions to their homes, but only in the wealthy part of the city. "Much of this area is established neighborhoods..." said a city planner. [A terrible term, of course.] Variances to the rules are expensive.The city might tweak the rules to reduce variances about things like setbacks or walls. Some people do not like large blank walls, for example. [I find it hard to care much about this.]


Headline: Ryan seeks variance to height limit on Ford site development
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The company doing the development work on the former Ford factory wants to build higher buildings closer to the river. There are rules about the riverfront area in particular, set by the state. They are called MRCCA. [Whenever I see that acronym, I think MRSA.]


Headline: St. Paul to hire out to improve access at snowy intersections
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The Department of Public Works is going to hire people to shovel out intersections that are especially difficult for people to walk or get around at in the winter.


Headline: DAR to honor more veterans at monument along riverfront
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There is a bronze tablet with names on it by the side of Summit Avenue.


Headline: Summit-U neighbors plead for more affordable housing in Alatus project; District council asks city to withhold public subsidy without more affordability
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A vacant lot might become apartments. Some people want the apartments to be cheaper.There might be a supermarket. There might be 226 apartments and 180 parking spaces. There might be some designated affordable housing but might not.


Headline: County updates agreement for Riversedge project in downtown; Four dramatic towers would rise on old jail, West site along river
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A empty space where buildings once were along the river downtown might have new buildings on it sometime soon. It is a huge project. There are plans for office towers, a hotel, condos, retail, and at least 500 parking spaces. It is unclear how much subsidy from the County and City would be required, but it would be a lot. The plans might include a pedestrian access from the city street down to the river, bridging the railroad tracks and [unnecessary] freeway. County Board guy is quoted saying "at this point it looks good." The county owns the land right now.


Headline: Capital City Bikeway is still taking shape 
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The plans for bike routes though downtown from a while ago are still not dead yet. The city is not as far along as they would like on planning and building it. Article does not really lay out a timeline for the next construction phases. [Not soon enough, is the answer there.]