[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> The Fair Oaks was a problem for 20 years and has finally been
> removed. Don't forget that there are still more than a few "saunas" on east
> Lake - the area has improved in the last several years, but is in no way
> prepared for what a motel could mean.
There are only TWO saunas left on Lake St. East--The Royal Knight which we took down
for 18 mo. and the Utopia East which we have plans for this Spring. You are all
invited to help us with this "in the streets" project.The Fair Oaks is not a good
comparison. Further, Sabri is doing this planning thing with AericaInn or whatever
the true name is. That's Wells Fargo which just moved its headquarters into the
Honeywell property on 28th. THEY want a hotel there. Abbott and Children's
desperately need nearby hotel/motel space for relatives of critical and otherwise
ill patients and for visiting doctors and training people. That's who this
hotel/motel is planned for. Many will come in on planes and leave the same way.
You heard SSB say they were planning a medical corridor on Chicago.
Further, it was Corrine Zala who asked Basim to hold the land when Bob Fitzgerald,
the previous owner, died and the lots came up for sale.
> Mansoor & his family do not want to live adjacent to a hotel and have made this
> clear more than once. They do, however, feel very helpless to stop it being as
> new to the country as they are, and feel threatened by the process.
>
> Talk to any of the area residents, and you will get a similar response of
> disapproval - the two houses south of the proposed development that you noted
> are owned by Dave Coral (3037) and Corrine Zala (3045) ; both have made
> significant investments in their properties and are committed to the
> neighborhood. one the other side of that block, the houses that face 3rd Avenue
> don't support it either - Ken Flowers and his family are facing increasing
> pressure to sell their house to Basam for a parking lot, the Lors sold to Basim
> after they received written death threats from an anonymous source, and Brad
> Otto opposes it.
This is David's side of the story. From Sabri's point of view everyone has a
price. If the Monsour's were offered either a similar house in another part of the
neighborhood or having their house move to another part of the neighborhood, they
would go. Ken Florwers and Corrine Zala both bought to put businesses in the
buildings when they could afford to. Dave Coral doesn't want to hear any more
wrangling, period. So would others. The nasty note, unsigned, which came to the
Lors may have been the final straw that drove them away, but it could also mean they
got the price they wanted and were planning to go anyway.
I do know that the Artist's Housing thing was voted down in CNIA. I think because
ArtSpace said it could not be done economically without taking more land than was
vacant.
Bunny and Chuck, owners of the Roundup Bar, though not the building, think they may
have first right of refusal on their building, seem to go back and forth about being
bought out.
> How many times have I heard Basim telling everyone that everybody supports
> whatever it is he is doing at the moment! It's part of a strategy to build an
> impression of widespread support for issues that are questionable at best.
And how many times have we heard you, David, and Walt Gutzmer, and Corrine Zala
alledge that Basim murdered his brother, that he will burn you out if you don't
sell, that he and Urban Ventures are "taking over the neighborhood". Both ways both
groups are building their cases on allegations of no particular merit.When the
possibility of a deal is far enough along, there will be community meetings where
soimething with the possibility of having reality behind will be laid out. Until
then, everything is speculative.
>
>
> Finally, the proposed location definately needs development and investment; that
> is no reason to support this development. There are other development
> opportunities that are more suitable and enhance liveability in the
> neighborhood, such as the ArtSpace proposal.
(See above.)
> Wizard Marks, Central
>
>
>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> cc: (bcc: Dave G Piehl/USA/Pillsbury)
> Subject: [Mpls] Re: East Lake motel
>
> I read a couple posts on this subject earlier in the
> week but got caught up in hearings at the capitol and
> knowing not enough but interested i wanted to survey
> the scene before i weighed in.
>
> one of the problems for me ia i've been confused as to
> what goes on in central. i know or have met a few of
> the players and i have no desire to wade into that
> morass with these comments. i know there is history
> and bad blood all around. let me speak solely to the
> issue of the proposed hotel.
>
> First a disclaimer. I know Basim Sabri fairly well. I
> want to say quite well but that might imply we have
> socialized in the past, something i would not mind
> doing, would even enjoy, doing in the future.
>
> I first met Basim years ago and i'm sure even he does
> not recall the circumstances. I was a waiter at The
> Lotus rest. in Uptown and Basim and his brothers were
> frequent patrons. They were wild; my first inclination
> was to distance myself. More recently I have come to
> embrace him.
>
> Basim sometimes I think has played a little hard and
> fast with the rules though never I believe in any
> malicious or evil way. You have to understand the ways
> of the Middle East I think to truly understand him and
> especially the people who think of themselves as
> Palestinians. It's always a little hard to keep up
> with him and it's easy to get the feeling he might be
> pulling one over on you. Believe me I've feared as
> much myself.
>
> But enough of Basim.
>
> I walked this afternoon around the blocks from Lake to
> 32nd and from 2nd to 3rd avenues after running into
> Basim at the 8th ward convention. I asked him "what's
> up with this hotel?" He gave me his thumbnail sketch
> and I took it from there.
>
> There are no trees on the six lots where he proposes
> to build save two, i recall, scrawny ones of little
> aesthetic value. The Roundup building, though no great
> shakes right now has potential but only if development
> happens behind it. Across the alley from Basim's six
> lots are three multiple dwelings in disrepair and with
> unshoveled walks. One structure looks like it has been
> worked on. South on third is a boarded apartment
> building appearing to have eight units on two floors
> and four at "garden level".
>
> At the south end of the block on the alley lives a
> nice man named Mansoor and his sister and
> brother-in-law I believe. I talked a bit with him.
> When I asked what he thougt about a hotel his first
> reaction was to dislike the idea. Then as we talked he
> began to wonder if the value of the house would
> appreciate. I said yes but then so would property
> taxes. I told him I thought a hotel may improve the
> neighborhood/block.
>
> On Second Av just south of the proposed development
> are two or three houses, one in the process right now
> of being rehabbed.
>
> What can I say about the Healy Block that has not
> already been said or written. I did happen to talk to
> two men who recently purchased the house on the corner
> of 2nd and 32nd. Street. One's name was Brian; the
> other I sadly have forgotten. They are open to the
> idea of a Hotel. Italked with them. I told them it
> might be a good thing. I also talked about Basim from
> my perspective.
>
> It was their impression that the design of the hotel
> would be nice looking. Now we can argue about what is
> nice looking and people could say any motor hotel as
> we use to call them is inherently ugly. This one will
> have 67 units with first floor retail I'm told.
>
> All in all I believe it might not be just a good thing
> for that block and neighborhood but a great thing.
> First off these people are talking about a minimum $6
> million investment. Nobody investing that kind of
> money wants to live in a declining neighborhood. They
> will be a catalyst.
>
> They need a zoning variance to go ahead with the
> project. If I lived in Central and was a part of CNIA
> you can bet your last dollar I would be talking to
> them. I think as a part of the deal the neighborhood
> ought to figure out a way to rehab some properties
> including the boarded up apartment house and get some
> good affordable housing run on a non-profit basis
> There's a way to do something good here and I believe
> it should be explored.
>
> Enough for now. Running out of time at the library and
> I want to post today.
> Let's talk more
>
> Tim Connolly
> Ward 7
>
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