There is no question that Nicollet needs to reopen. It was a mistake
made years ago and it has to be corrected. Nicollet Av. isn't just
important to the people who's neighborhoods abut it, it's an important
commercial street to all of South Minneapolis. Even though it will be
expensive and agrivating, it still needs doing.
It also looks similar to the proposed changes in 35W at Lake St.
Leaving Lake St without a North entrance or a South exit was truly
boneheaded, unless, of course, it was just another red-lining effort.
Closing Nicollet, screwing up the south end of the city through freeway
routes helped to drive down real estate values all around it.
Simultaneously banks and insurance companies red-line and the city and
county beggar areas for services and voila, the making of a disaster is
in motion.
Then let things sink into oblivion stirring occasionally, until some
bright young developer(s) notice "it" and bingo, it's redevelopment
time! Big bucks. It's got a certain rythm and repetitiveness that I
find discouraging.
Wizard Marks, Central
Barbara Lickness wrote:
> The subject of re-opening Nicollet has been on the
> table for as long as I have lived in Whittier (1991).
> It was addressed in the Whittier NRP plan, but, with
> no funding dedicated in the plan or by the city at
> that time, it became only a dream.
>
> The discussion has both dropped off and livened up
> during that time, but, I have never seen a real live
> "let's do this" plan until now. And yes, perhaps it
> lacks detail, design elements, square footage and all
> the other architectural language, but at least there
> is finally a plan out there. And if K-mart is at the
> discussion table along with the guy who owns the land
> underneath K-Mart, then more power to Sherman, Lisa
> McDonald, Jim Niland, Bruce Rasmussen, Dean Devolis
> and whoever else is driving this bus.
>
> Re-opening Nicollet is equally important to both
> Whittier and the Lyndale neighborhoods along with a
> string of other neighborhood both North and South of
> it.
>
> Quite frankly, I am excited about the possibilities of
> what could ultimately happen there and say it's about
> time. The fact that private developers are carrying
> the water on this is even better. Hip Hip Hoorah!!!!
>
> The TIF issue is a whole other e-mail and a whole
> other discussion. I will limit my thoughts at this
> point to the thought of an open street and Lake and
> Nicollet.
>
> Barb Lickness
> Whittier
> Ward 6
>
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