I would like to weigh in on this one.
It is clear that this "Riverwest Corporate Center" (Ryan/Padilla Spear)
project, as it stands, should be stopped.
It misses the mark on several levels in my opinion.
First, it is not consistent with the city's own planning and design goals for
the area.
Second, it goes directly against a (sound and reasonable) City Council decision
on surface parking.
Third, it does not have community support. In fact the surrounding
neighborhoods (Elliot Park and the Downtown Neighborhood Association as I
understand it) are opposed to it.
Finally, the sale of the land has not even gone through the appropriate request
for proposal process. We don't even know what other good ideas are out there
now, much less what might come forward as the area around it is developed.
Jack, Lisa, Michael and others have already articulated plenty of additional
good reasons to rethink this project.
It seems to me (sitting here on the outside) that the situation also reveals a
certain lack of communication and cooperation within city government. Both
within the council and among city departments --- including the planning
department and the MCDA, --- the lack of clear consensus about design &
development goals for the riverfront and the appropriate process for selling the
property are cause for concern.
Cam Gordon
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council,
Ward 2
914 Franklin Terrace
Mpls. MN 55406-1101
(612) 332-6210
http://www.camgordon.org
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