Reading the Highland Villager #231

[Villagers at Cecil's.]

[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: MN United’s home opener on April 13 will test city’s traffic management plan; officials are urging. Fans to ride, bike, walk, skip — just don’t drive
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The first home soccer game at the new stadium is going to happen soon. There is a transportation plan, but nobody knows how realistic it is. A Saint Paul Police Officer is quoted saying “We don’t want you to drive by yourself, because its going to be a miserable experience if you do.” Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking. Some homeowners want to let cars park on their yards. [The Saint Paul version of the Portlandia solution to a problem: “park a car on it.”]


Headline: Lunds & Byerlys unveils plan for Grand grocery; market would occupy first floor of five-story apartment building
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A former chain clothing store / mall on Grand Avenue might become a grocery store and apartments. It would have about 70 apartments above a grocery, along with 200 parking spots. It might or might not include the Brasa site. Neighbors are concerned about traffic and parking.


Headline: Federation favors Island Station apartments
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The site of a former brick power plant by the river might be developed into apartments. Neighbors are not that concerned, except for one person who thinks “it’s ridiculous [to develop apartments with high rents that price people out].” [Fun fact: if you don’t build new apartments, people also get priced out.] There might be a small park by the site that would allow people to get to he river.


Headline: St. Paul considers charitable gambling changes; goal is to direct more proceeds to minority, low-income children
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The City might change how it regulates pull tabs to try and boost the amount of the funds that to go low-income groups. The Council is tweaking exactly how that works. 10% of pull tab profits go to these charities that have to qualify by showing that they serve kids from needy neighborhoods.


Headline: St. Paul dealers emergency as it braces for major spring flooding; streets, parks closed as rapid snowmelt keeps Mississippi River rising
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The river is high. Roads by the river are closed. [Traffic is still fine though.] “One bright spot with the snowmelt is that as of noon st. Paul lifted its one-sided parking ban on residential streets.” [The many seasons of traffic parking continue. The cosmic ballet goes on.]


Headline: CDH expansion plan features new entrance, gathering space; efforts to improve security, energy use also are underway
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Cretin-Derham Hall, a private Catholic high school, is getting a new doorway. “Conduit revenue bonds” that the City helps provide might be part of it. There will be a new piano.


Headline: HDC committee supports two-story addition for Urban Academy campus
Author:

Short short version: A charter school in Highland is getting a new building area that will be two stories tall.”We’re full,” said the school superintendent. [Keep in mind that charter schools generally perpetuate inequality.]


Headline: Hearings set on Ford site plan changes
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: There will be public hearings to hear from the public about the proposed changes to the Ford site. The Planning Commission passed some but not all of the amendments, especially about commercial parking, street configuration, and the proposal to built 35 single-family homes along the river. [The desire for a millionaire district flies in the face of the equity talk that dominated the actual public engagement and long debate over the Ford plans. Clinging to this symbolically, even though it is not economically necessary for the developer, seems like some sort of strange fetish. Not to mention that large single-family homes are increasingly unnecessary given the shrinking household sizes in the Twin Cities. The City should be firm about this, and CM Tolbert unnecessarily carrying water for the Ryan Company is disappointing. During both Ford Site public processes, the Planning Commission has asked the City for more equity along the river. Both times, so far, the more equitable plan has been shot down, with little rationale or logic behind it. Maybe this time will turn out differently, but I doubt it. It’s too bad because I hate to see the Ford Site get off on the wrong foot, and an exclusive, unnecessary district of single-family mansions is surely the wrong foot.]


Headline: $120,000 in unpaid trash bill reviewed
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Some people have not paid their trash bills. The City is trying to figure out what to do.