SECIA Minutes

Van Cleve Park

June 3, 2008

 

Board Meeting: 6:30 pm

Present: Connie S., Wendy M., Tedd J., Jake J., Joan M.,

Excused: Jeff H., Bill D., Lee H., Jeane M., Jeremiah P., Stewart S

Staff Present: James D.

 

No Quorum present – all action deferred to next meeting

 

Discussion and Reports:

Mid-City Industrial Discussion.  Council member Ostrow contacted Bob Miller, NRP Director to explore the Mid-City industrial area starting a neighborhood association.  Questions – could the SE Como Neighborhood Association be expanded to include the Mid-City area?  What are the benefits?  Do they need us? What has been our relationship with the Mid-City area?  It was noted the residents of 1901 Lofts on E. Hennepin have had some contact with the SECIA office staff.  Some residents have purchased the solar security lights from us.  Currently the residents at 1901 and the CW Lofts on Stinson Blvd. are not associated with any neighborhood.  Como could add the organization  structure they lack.   The plus for us could be environmental benefits – working with many businesses there.  Question – primarily industrial, what benefit/problems/power for our residential area?   We will continue to explore this idea with NRP and Ostrow.

2400 Como Ave SE – Tom Vaith

This is the old Manning gas station property.  Vaith has purchased property for his contracting business and proposes adding a second story.  He and his son own Planet Beach at 15th and Como.  Grant Vaith would put his real estate business in the building also. There is a question regarding the two lots across the street on Weeks Ave.  Manning’s station was granted a variance to use the lots for parking vehicles they were working on with conditions they fence and landscaped the property; this was supported by the neighbors.  Zoning will meet with Mr. Vaith in the next couple weeks.

Grand Round: People are encouraged to go to the public hearings.  On June 18,  the 1st hearing at Mpls. Park Board headquarters, 6:30 pm.  On  June 23 the second hearing will be at Van Cleve Park, 6:30 p.m., and the 3rd public hearing the  following week at Windom Park in NE Mpls.  The recommendation is to use 29th Ave until they are able to acquire property over a period of years.  At the June 4 meeting, the Park Board will vote to accept (or reject) the report from CAC.  It’s anticipated the industry people will be there.  Also, the improvements to 29th and 33rd Ave. will proceed.   At this time, Dziedzic has stated support for no bike trails on upper

Stinson Blvd. 

Central Corridor

University has agreed to use of Washington Ave for light rail.  The concerns for the wider area include:

            Traffic impact: E.Hennepin, Como, Granary Rd, E. River Rd. etc.

            Bike and Pedestrian traffic

            Bus routes

            Truck routes

            Displacement of businesses

This is historic; the 1st time the University has lost a battle with the state.

Issues: Engineering report will come in after approval without full disclosure of costs and impacts.  There are concerns about timeline and not doing it right. 

Comment: St. Paul gets it.  Neighborhoods involved – looked at development, mass transit, opportunities along the corridor.

The city can either approve or disapprove of the plan with or without conditions.

Questions remain about the Washington Ave Bridge – costs and future responsibility for bridge has not been addressed.

There are huge parcels of brown field owned by the University?  Will they be abated?  Is there leverage in giving up Washington Ave?

There is need for base information – What are the layers here?  What impacts what? What are the impacts of  the Stadium, Light Rail, Grand Round combined on neighborhoods and businesses?

Cam Gordon – 2nd Ward Council member

See handout 6/3/08

Dinkydome development:  Proposing a 12 story new building on northern portion of property and will rehab the Dinkydome building  for student housing with some businesses on lower floor and street level.  The proposal goes before the next Planning Commission meeting. 

Protest Resolution:

Cam will oppose the current proposal and submit new language to Regulatory Services,

including restricting to the time period of the convention.

 

Questions:

CLIC – 14th and Winter Street pushed back on timetable.  33rd /Talmadge scheduled for improvement 1st.  No response from city.  Is there correct information being presented

by city to CLIC?  Could we ask for the tour buses to drive down 14th/Winter Street?

James will forward information to Cam.  He will contact CLIC, etc.

 

Good Neighborhood Fund: SECIA has been tentatively approved for a $30,000 grant from the fund.  Wendy and James will meet with the fund committee to refine the proposal.

 

Meeting adjourned,

 

Joan Menken

Recorder