Reading the Highland Villager #247

[A stack of Villagers passing time at a deli.]

[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: Public financing of $77.5M outlined for Ford project; Subsidy would help pay for parks, infrastructure and affordable housing
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The Ford Site, a former truck factory, is being redeveloped and, using tax increment financing, the city is helping pay for some of the streets to the tune of $77M. [This was always part of the deal.] The Governor showed up at the announcement ceremony, along with other municipal and developer notables. Article has some quotes from the speeches. the "development agreement" is coming hopefully by the end of the year. The developer had originally asked for $107M.  It'll be about three years until anyone moves in.


Headline: Selby-Snelling is seeing green despite departure of O'Gara's
Author: Frank Jossi

Short short version: A long-time Saint Paul bar tore itself down, developed a building where it used to be, and then announced it was not re-opening. They could not be reached for comment [but then held a press conference when the guy shat on the City for some reason, and just for fun blamed "tap rooms" even though there are many bars that make money somehow]. Article includes history of O'Gara's, and the corner in general. [See also my audio documentary about this corner.] Some people thing it's just fine, and even "booming."


Headline: St. Paul voters say 'yes' to organized trash collection
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There was a referendum on whether to keep the system where the city choose your trash hauling company for you and it passed overwhelmingly. [And that is the final word on the matter, folks. NBD.]


Headline: City adopts final impact study on Ford site
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There was a study to look at how the development of an old truck factory might affect things like the amount of seconds someone might be stuck in traffic at an intersection twenty years from now. [These studies are mostly useless, IMO.] CM Tolbert is "especially pleased with the plan's focus on traffic and suggestion for potential mitigation impacts." [Honestly, if we're still complaining about traffic in twenty years, we're all doomed.] The report has some other things in it about pollution and other [more important] things.


Headline: City Council reduces trash rates over objections of haulers
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city negotiates prices for city-wide garbage collection and they went down slightly. [Seems like a good system! Glad we have it.] Article contains a lot of words [for some reason].


Headline: St. Paul re-elects six incumbents to City Council; Thao, Noecker, Tolbert, Nelson outline their priorities for the next four years 
Author: Kevin Driscoll

Short short version: There was a city council election and all of the people in office won. [Dai Thao was pretty close to losing though, holy moly, especially when you consider the fact that he had all the money and most of the endorsements.]


Headline: Citizens, city officials address the rise in gun violence
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: People keep shooting and killing each other. Article mentions the "shotspotter" debate. [See also.]


Headline: Committee supports plan to narrow Ayd Mill Road to two lanes
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A neighborhood group met to discuss the plan for a smaller Ayd Mill Road and decided it was fine. Neighbors are not concerned about traffic and parking. Quote from article: "No one favored the city's earlier plan to simply resurface the roadway." [I never thought that either I and/or the Highland Villager would live long enough to see this article appear in the Highland Villager.]


Headline: Federation supports 7-story building on W. 7th
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An vacant lot owned by an auto repair shop might become homes for 150+ people. The property needs to be rezoned. Article describes the property. Some neighbors are concerned about parking, but others are not. Quote from the article: "the project will have more than the required 90 spaces."


Headline: Grand Avenue's bus route in line for improvements
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A bus line that runs down Grand Avenue will have fewer stops so that it can go faster, maybe. [Currently it stops every block, sort of. This change seems great, and long overdue.]