Reading the Highland Villager #213

A Villager on a sunny patio.

[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: City thinks liquor may be a quicker way to revive University's streetscape

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city is thinking of creating new "commercial development districts" along University Avenue, which currently has a lot of vacant storefronts and businesses. Currently the number of liquor licenses in the city are limited by ward. Commercial development districts are exempt from those limits, which would effectively increase the number of available licenses. [This is a weird article to me. The ward limits on licenses were always a strange concept, and the Midway has always had far more existing bars in general because there were so many bars here historically. In fact, there are fewer bars in the Midway than there used to be, according to my research and conversation with people on the topic.] Article quotes Dan O'Gara [for some reason]. Also includes a quote from the guy who just bought the Town House. [Commercial development districts are not limited to bars, it's worth point out. I am not aware of other benefits that come with this designation. A preferable policy would be to just get rid of the arbitrary and unequal cap on licenses by ward in the first place. For example, Ward 3 only has 3 liquor licenses, I have been told.] Article includes some history of the "commercial development district" concept, whicy dates to the "1980s as a way to cluster bars and restaurants in entertainment districts." [I am guessing that Saint Paul liquor policies were looser / better before the 1980s? I wonder what problem people were trying to solve.] Article also mentions history of liquor regulations for restaurants, which changed recently. Article ends with a nod to the recent "commercial development district" by Can Can Wonderland, which was expanded to allow a new axe-throwing establishment. [A good note to end on.]

Headline: Sign ordinance changes raise red flags for Scenit St. Paul; Some fear revisions targeting new sports facilities could have unintended results

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The city is allowing new signs at the old Daytons' building-cum-hockey rink and the new soccer stadium. CM Prince and a group aimed at ridding the city of billboards are concerned. There was a public hearing at the Planning Commission but nobody showed up. The group, Scenic St. Paul [see my article on their efforts], wants to reduce sign clutter in the city. Quote from their spokesperson, John Manillo: "In some ways, we'd be gutting the sign ordinance." Quote from CM Prince: "a lot of big changes." The new ordinances reduces the minimum seating requirement for places with new signs from 10K to 1K. The hockey rink building would have flashing signs. [Honestly, when this was at the Commission I did not realize it would apply downtown as well as at the soccer stadium. I don't think the "Treasure Island Center" needs electronic flashing signs. The building is bad enough as it is. It's like, "can we make this any uglier?" "How about some loudly flashing digital signs?" "Perfect." ]

Headline: Proposed rezoning offers 'bold reimaning' of Marshall; City considers high density along avenue in Union Park

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There is a plan put forward by a neighborhood, currently before the Planning Commission, to downzone parts of Marshall and upzone other parts. Some areas would be TN mixed-use zoning, but others would be zoned for less density than is currently allowed. Neighbors are concerned about preserving historic homes. Quote from one person: "we need to put the growth where the transit opportunities are." [Note that some of this rezoning plan is along a proposed aBRT route, that would follow the route of the #21 bus.] Some neighbors would like to see the gas stations and golf course rezoned for more density. A guy who owns a lot of historic single-story commercial buildings would like them to be zoned T3 so that he can redevelop them. Quote from him: "through proper zoning we could open the door to non-students at some of our most important coners." Neighbors are concrend about people trying to buy their homes, and the rising price of housing in general. Neighbors are also concenred about the existence of students.

Headline: St. Paul airs plan for a more pedestrian-friendly Midway Area; Boulevard and three parks planned near University-Snelling

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The [parking lot-laden] area around the under-construction soccer stadium will get some new parks, streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks. The "station area plan" is being updated. New housing is probably being built where a bank used to be. Further to the west, more housing and commercial buildings are being built. 

Headline: Area projects wishing upon $2.7 million in STAR funds for 2018; Grants for Treasure Island, Boyd Park playgrounds among those rejected

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Some projects will get city money, and some will not. Improvements to Rice Park are being funded, and probably also a cafe on Snelling and an old fire station that is being redeveloped. Some projects did not get money, including a playground on Warwick Street and a Boyd Park play set. Many of the requests are small amounts for matching funds for things like signage. Article includes more details about projects. [Pretty small potatoes, but nice to see the city supporting businesses to some degree.]

Headline:  Traffic issues raisd by O'Gara's project get closer scruity

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking near a building that will probably be redeveloped at Snelling and Selby. Public Works is studying things.  Article includes details of the project, and the history of O'Gara's [which is where Charles Shulz's Schulz's dad had his barber shop].  [To my mind, walking around the area is much better since they built the Vintage/Whole Foods on the corner.]  The developers are looking at ways to reduce car ownership and usage in the new building, including transit cards and shared mobility options. There will also be fewer curb cuts in the new building. [Good news! Now to close Ayd Mill Road, and Selby will have become a real neighborhood street again.]

Headline: Summit Hill urges caution in allowing accessory dwellings; Residents fear addt'l homes on single-family lots may lead to blight

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: [Blight? Really? What are we back in the 1970s? Blight on Summit Hill? Um, yeah. That is not happening. It's like I'm trapped in Jonathan Franzen's novel about Saint Paul.] The city might expand the ADU ordinance to be city-wide. [So far there has been one (1) ADU built in Saint Paul.] Previously it was only along the Green Line. There was a meeting about this in Summit Hill. Neighbors are concerned about airBnbs, [and traffic and paring, though the article does not say so].  New ADUs are expensive. Quote from woman on West 7th: "I don't think we'll see lots of requests for new units." 

Headline: Commission reccommends plan for five-mile bike and pedestrian trail' Proposed route among old railroad spur is still many years, many dollars away

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The old rail line that used to go to the Ford factory might become a bike/ped trail. Quote from city planner: "this is a project that really needs a champion." There might or might not be a bridge over West 7th street. The rail spur has not yet been purchased. Putting the study together cost $200K. Neighbors are concerned about the possible existence of transit near their homes.

Headline: Parking improvements sought for Starbucks on Snelling Ave.

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The Starbucks drive-thru might be modified. Article includes a reference to a hashtag, mentions of bollards and police officers.

Headline: RiverCentre parking ramp to receive $1.25M in repairs

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old downtown parking ramp is falling down, and the city is going to spend money to try and fix it. These will be "interim" fixes. The state did not offer to pay for the ramp. [This will not end well. It is also not a good use of city money, as building a new ramp is insanely expensive.]

Headline: Sound variance granted for Lexington Pkwy. resurfacing

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The big machines that are repaving Lexington will work overnight for one evening. There will be no jackhammering between 7pm and 7am. There will be bike lanes added to part of the street.

Headline:  City stays fine for Trend Bar's failure to record spring assault

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: An old bar on University Avenue did not video tape an assault and has been placed on [double secret] probation. [This bar used to be a mortuary in the 1930s.] Quote from owner: "it's a really tough neighborhood right now." 

Headline: City fines Budget Towing for last year's license violations

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A tow truck company did not park its vehicles properly on its site and was fined $500. [Take that, Budget Towing!]

Headline: St. Paul takes historic look at preserving its Africa-American culture

Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There is a study about the history of African-Americans in Saint Paul. The goal is to "ensure that significant African-American buildings and other resources are protected with the same due diligence that historic assets of [other] groups [receive]." Article mentions lots of cool details.