Reading the Highland Villager #189

[A stack of Villagers leaning on a pole.]

[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: With master lease, MN United evicts tenants in the way of soccer stadium
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The really wealthy guy who owns the soccer team has purchased the strip mall and is buying out tenants like the Rainbow and the bowling alley. The port authority had been trying to do this but hadn't been able to. The Milwaukee developer that was going to work on the project is no longer working on the project. [Seems like a big FAIL for the Port to me. Still, redeveloping a strip mall is one of the hardest things to do.] The bowling alley owners are sad. Construction is underway. The liquor store building and old bank are not controlled by McGuire at this point. [Those were where the urban redevelopment portion of the project were slated to begin.]


Headline: Longtime West 7th staffers Ed and Betty ready to retire; Pair have held down the fort for Ford Road Federation since 1970s
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Article includes a lot of neighborhood history. [So long!]


Headline: Residents, businesses brace for closing of High Bridge, Smith, Dodd
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [The bridge is closed now. I am sad.] Some trees will be cut down.


Headline: Proposals sought for future use of Highland Park's south reservoir
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The people who are in charge of water things are closing the reservoir and now the land can be used for other things. Some people want to use the land for soccer, baseball and softball fields. Others would like it to be used for hockey and the parking of cars. [We really need new soccer fields in Saint Paul, so that's my vote.] Yet others want it to be developed.


Headline: Snelling rezoning gets hearing; City Council considers high-density mixed use for 2.5 miles of avenue
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city is looking at switching to TN zoning instead of the old [obsolete] classifications. There was a hearing about it at the City Council [yesterday]. One property was almost developed at Snelling and St. Clair, but then wasn't [because of a title issue?]. An auto shop closed and the guy who owns it is going to move to Lino Lakes. [That seems like a better place for an auto shop.]


Headline: Mayor proposes city budget with 23.9% tax levy increase; but 19% of property tax increase is due to a drop in street maintenance fee [buried the lede there!]
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Property taxes are going up but "street fees" are going away. Article includes lots of detailed numbers. Other than a few cops, there really aren't any spending increases.


Headline: Proposed PILOT program will not ease tax burden in 2018
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [The city is going to try and beg non-profits and other non-tax-paying institutions for money but isn't able to do that until next year.] Schools seem OK with it and suggested ways to "pay" that are not necessarily cash. [This isn't bad but it also isn't going to help much in my opinion. The city should look to other solutions for the tax base problem.]


Headline: Business licenses granted to historic Waldmann saloon
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A really old lager beer saloon / brewery will open soon. [Just in time for the bridge to be closed! Of course, there was no bridge there in 1857 either. Maybe we can get a ferry boat to run between the West Side and the upper landing?]


Headline: Controversial new skyway rules get a public hearing
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Some people want the skyways to be closed earlier; others do not. There [was] a City Council hearing about it. [The fight is over who will pay for security downtown. There is a leadership vacuum in downtown Saint Paul that really sucks. The small group of very wealthy people who own property downtown do not get along nor agree about what direction downtown should be going. And some of them really don't want to pay for some seemingly basic things. The city should have a skyway removal policy and program that could help shrink the system over time and focus civic attention on the sidewalk, where it should be. Skyways, with their impossibly "grey area" muddle between private and public space, are something of a lost cause and not good for the city.]