Expanding on this post of Tim's, what I've been wondering about, ever
since I read the details of the Gutherie deal in the 'Strib, is this:
how is it that the owners of the land at the Hi-Lake Shopping Center, in
a corner of Mpls.' poorest neighborhood, can turn down an offer of $8
million for their land as being too low, while the City of Mpls. is
prepared to sell off a parcel of land (albeit smaller than the Hi-Lake
property) that has a primo location overlooking one of the world's great
rivers for a considerably smaller amount of change? Is this another
example of poor business acumen by our city officeholders? I understand
that the property at Hiawatha & Lake stands to appreciate considerably
due to the transit station that will be located there once the LRT
becomes a reality... but I understand that the voices of poor people and
the surrounding communities who find that the businesses in the Hi-Lake
Shopping Center serve their needs well, thank you very much, don't
necessarily measure up when compared to the cultured voices of patrons
of the arts who happen to frequent the same cocktail parties and have
"in" contacts to help facilitate good deals for them or their
organizations. I fear that I sound cynical, when in reality I'm
chagrined and angry about this sort of "classism" that no one really
wants to talk about out loud. It's not polite dontchaknow.
Perhaps I'm operating with faulty financial information about these two
disparate parts of Mpls. If so, I hope someone will enlighten me.
Jenny Heiser
East Phillips: home of The Green Institute -- one of Mpls.' greatest
resources
Ward 6, Precinct 8
Campaign volunteer on behalf of Urban Superhero, Dean Zimmerperson
Candidate for Ward 6, City Council seat
timothy connolly wrote:
> I understand how people feel about attachments vis a
> vis viruses but I thought I might forward something I
> submitted to the Strib which they chose not to accept.
> C'est la vie.
>
> I would add a few points that were not in the op-ed
> piece.
>
> When the city says the Guthrie will pay full market
> price for the land that may be true. What goes unsaid
> is that the city/Mcda had several millions tied up in
> that piece of land, some estimates goes as high as $12
> million. Remember that this was the preferred site of
> the Mayor and C.C. President for a Twins ballpark.
>
> I have no problem with the Guthrie going to the river
> though I believe that the city would have been better
> served by them staying in their present neighborhood.
>
> What concerns me, as it always has and forever will,
> is duplicity and hypocrisy.
>
> I do not understand Barb Johnson complaining that the
> Guthrie was trying to steal "the people's land" at the
> Parade Grounds site when they fully intended to pay
> for the land two years ago while she voted in favor of
> this land sale.
>
> The truth is that anyone's ownership of land in this
> city is precarious if the government sees fit to site
> something else on the spot you occupy. I see it again
> and again.
>
> I would love to see a discussion sometime of "right of
> eminent domain" wherein the city essentially seizes
> land for a low-ball sum from rightful landowners,
> turns the propoerty over to private developers, and
> then loses in court on contested claims by original
> owners who then forward the check to their lawyers,
> and walk away with less than their land was worth.
>
> Watch for the development at 13th and Harmon and don't
> be talen in by the cry that the developer is anteing
> up 20% of the units for affordable housing. Ten units
> when we need 15,000 in the metro area. Pshaw!
>
> This city's housing policy is scandalous.
>
> Tim Connolly
> Ward 7
>
>
>
> Note: forwarded message attached.
>
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