Reading the Highland Villager #252

[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 looks to get back to business; Association focuses on boosting membership, refining Grand Old Day
Author:

Short short version: A business association has been losing members and can't pay for many things any more, like its trademark quai-parade. They were allegations of financial shenanigans. They are trying to figrure out what to do. [Maybe spending lots of cash to hire right-wing PR consultants to fight the city on basic parking policy aka. parking meters was a mistake?] They might want more people to join, but might make the parade smaller. Quote from head of group: "to be honest, a lot of us are getting tired. We need some new blood."


Headline: Area projects meet mixed fates in gov.'s bonding bill; Plans for Watergate Marina, Victoria Theater make $2B list, St. Paul's top requests shut out
Author:

Short short version: Some things that Saint Paul wants state money for might get it, and other things it might not. One of those things might be "new orangutan habitat." [For the umpteenth year in a row] $10M for the 3rd Street / Kellogg  did not get added to the list. [It's almost as if expensive auto infrastructure projects are not going to paid for with a magic pot of money from the state or Federal governments.] 


Headline: HRA board decides to drop Highland Fest' large increase in costs, staffing needs cited for cancelling celebration
Author:

Short short version: Another business organization [totally different from the first one, mind you] is finding that their celebration is too expensive to continue and is not going to do it any more. [IMO Highland Fest is not nearly as fun or interesting as Open Streets across the river.] The city is charging more for police overtime. The fest dates back to 1984. [Saint Paul would be much better served by an Open Streets program.]


Headline: St. Paul consisders raising city's sales tax from .5 to 1.5 percent
Author:

Short short version: The city will ask the legislature to let it increase its sales tax to pay for expensive automobile infrastructure, and other things like pre-K. CM Noecker is pushing it.


Headline: Housing assistance programs top county's legislative agenda; health care access and funds for roads, bridges, and transit are other big concerns in Ramsey
Author:

Short short version: The county will lobby the legislature.


Headline: HDC committee reviews plans for parkland on redeveloped Ford site
Author:

Short short version: A neighborhood group had a meeting and talked about parks that might exist someday. There are "cost issues." There is a survey and people want walkability.


Headline: MPCA reveals latest findings on toxic wastes at Ford dump
Author:

Short short version: There's an old landfill by the river left behind by the Ford Motor Co.Industrial wastes is in there MPCA is looking into it.


Headline: Four-story dorm-like apartment building planned for Marshall-Finn
Author:

Short short version: An old house will be torn down and replaced by 18 apartments. Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking. Some people want to save the house and move it somewhere else.


Headline: BZA reverses course on proposed banner at 'X'; After granting variances for new advertising sign it denies 3 other variances
Author:

Short short version: A city committee decided it did not want to let people hang a large "temporary" ad for Apple iPhones on the side of the hockey arena after all. Some people liked it, while others did not.


Headline: Three new bars recommended for Ward 2 sites
Author:

Short short version: [Using a strange zoning rule], the Planning Commission [including me] will allow three new places to serve liquor. There are [weird, old] "limits" on licenses in each ward, [but also a loophole way around it].


Headline: Five-story building planned near Selby-Dale
Author:

Short short version: A long-vacant lot and auto shop might become a five-story apartment building. Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking.