Karen,
Kudos on your analysis of MCDA response to communities it serves (??). Your
observation speaks volumes to one of the problems facing Minneapolis today.
Affordable housing, or housing generally, requires more input from the
community in the case when introducing new structures into areas of existing
homes.
As one who has built in the 8th ward, I can tell you first hand that MCDA,
Herron, nor any other member of city council cares about meeting the
requirement to ensure that construction complies with existing standards.
Without being aware of MCDA's involvement in my project, I find that their
influence, or the lack of it, has created a problem for me as well as the
community.
I would add one more thing: it is evident that the contractors allowed to
build my house are not professional by any stretch of the imagination, nor
even skilled in the trades. A cursory glance of my structure will attest to
the validity of my statement. That said, it is not hard to envision Herron
or MCDA allowing a modular structure's erection. At question is their sense
of community standards, or the real motives underlying their development
trends.
The community should be aware of the difficulty encountered in trying to
bring about corrections after these projects are completed, an issue that is
on going for me at this very moment. I would also warn of the real cost of
these projects, namely the cost of upkeep and correcting the structural
damamge to the site and the community. Clearly it is time to re-think the
activities of MCDA and its mission, as well as the politics supportive of
its acts.
Robert Anderson
IP Candidate 61B
-----Original Message-----
From: kaforbes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2000 1:03 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Letting off steam
Hello everyone, a lurker comes out of the closet,
With graduate school and a job I have little time to respond to all the
posts but I hope you will indulge me a few brief moments as I blow off steam
regarding Brian Herron and the MCDA. As I am so angry at how decisions are
made about what happens in our neighborhood. I had this silly belief that
Brian and the MCDA considered the neighborhood's wishes when making housing
decisions, but after what happened today in operations committee has totally
changed my mind. Bear with me as I vent with the history. I will try and
be brief. First PRG a non-profit developer approach the block and want to
build a house on our one vacant lot. They wanted the take advantage of a
program they have to reduce vacant lots in the city. They would offer a
subsidy to those entities who would build a house on one of their long
vacant lots. So after a couple neighborhood meetings we decide that we like
their plans, we even have a petition with 23 signatures that are in support
of the PRG house. In August PRG stated that MCDA had accepted their offer
and we all had the impression that PRG building a house on a block was going
to happen. Until the beginning of September when the block was flyered with
a notice that a private owner wanted to build a nice 2story house on that
lot. When I called PRG to inform them of this flyer they had no idea that
anyone else was even interested in the lot. Apparently MCDA ignored the
offer made by PRG for this private party. When we went to the CNIA housing
meeting, the neighborhood supported the residents but MCDA didn't support
us. The developer who wants to build the house was there and had no idea
there was anyone else interested. The house they want to build is a"modular
home" that comes in 4 pieces. This company makes trailer houses. This will
not fit in to our block with 3 story 100 year old homes. We tried informing
people on the operation committee of our concerns. We were told that it was
up to the council member Herron to decide. We e-mailed him and as per usual
he did not return any calls. He didn't bother to talk to anyone prior to
today's meeting. Council member Cherryhomes went down the hall when the
item came up on the agenda and returned to say he did not support the
residents but the MCDA because of the subsidy involved. He never bothered
to talk to anyone on the block and I bet he never even looked at the plans.
He just voted the MCDA party line which does not care about neighborhood
input. When it comes to funding projects downtown it the money doesn't seem
to matter. But when it comes to housing all of a sudden they can't spend
money. Also the MCDA does not seem to care how they treat non-profits such
as PRG. At the meeting today PRG was told they would get bumped and they
would have to find different lots. The MCDA can't be trusted to be up front
in their business deals. Councilmember Herron can't be trusted to get input
from his constituents or return phone calls.
Thanks for allowing me to vent,
Karen Forbes
Central Neighborhood
