Hi Folks:
There have been several responses on CNIA-chat and Minneapolis Issues to
Matthea's post on the 4th and Lake building:
Jennifer Gahnstrom:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnia-chat/message/665
Matthea Smith- I agree with you that the corner of Lake & 4th looks great.
The new businesses started by recent immigrants have really helped the
neighborhood. I think much of the work Basim Sabri has done is good for
Central although I have strong disagreement with his tactics. He shouldn't
(in
my opinion) be a spokesperson for those businesses, we need to connect with
them directly.
EY: That's rather important. Robert Schmid (below) responds in detail to
Matthea's points about the 4th and Lake Building. Part of the problem with
Motel Central -- and the way that was dealt with was that Sabri was
reporting at meetings about the Motel that he had purchase agreements with
property owners who would have to sell -- and then it turned out that he
was blowing hot air on that. Sabri to his credit reaches out to immigrant
communities. That doesn't mean he represents immigrant communities.
Wizard Marks wrote in Minneapolis Issues:
>> CNIA spent almost a million dollars on that
> corner and it had drug dealers living upstairs
> and they never got the storefront rented out, so
> it was a terrible eye sore.
$1.2 million in public money. The walls still oozed water at
the end, there were lights in the theater, but no
switchplates to turn them off or on (handy in a theater),
much of the rehab was substandard and had to be redone.
WizardMarks, Central
WizardMarks
>
EY: Robert Schmid's post on cnia chat (below) addresses Wizard's and
Matthea's points.
Robert Schmid:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnia-chat/message/668
Yes, Basim does good work. Do I believe he does it for anyone but himself?
No. (I believe I said the same thing in City Pages)
>CNIA spent almost a million dollars on that
>corner and it had drug dealers living upstairs
>and they never got the storefront rented out, so
>it was a terrible eye sore.
Yep, it was failed experiment complicated by choosing a developed who (was
not of color or an immigrant) who ran out on the project and committed to
contracts without consulting the partner CNDA. The same can be said of
Urban Ventures attempts at 3rd & Lake. Development by committee is slow
and difficult at best. CNDA, a corporation formed by CNIA to manage the
4th & Lake project was supposed to be a partner to ensure that the
developer gave the neighborhood what they want. It didn't work that way.
>I don't know what Basim committed to CNIA, but he
>DID follow through in occupying that corner in a
To follow through as originally envisioned - to keep the theatre and put in
a family restaurant. The restaurant is there but he evicted or drove out
the theater. I'm sure that he has followed the MCDA contract to the
letter. But the theater will forever be a sore point.
>I personally DO believe that there are people
>that are getting very nervous about the minority
>developers that are "taking over" the inner city.
> Lake Street has turned into many Latino
>businesses, much of this thanks to Basim Sabri.
That is history repeating itself. When the group in power abandons a place
and a minority group sees an opportunity and makes it work, the group in
power gets nervous, stupid and jealous. History has shown that these
idiots will be buried sooner or later.
>I have seen Mortenson and Krause just a couple of
>developers (that are not of color, and not
>immigrant) in the city, handling several projects
>at the same time and I haven't heard the concern
>or seen the scrutiny I am seeing over Basim.
Do Mortenson and Krause get involved with the neighborhood as directly as
Basim? I've never heard of them. Do they lobby Board Members like Basim
does? Do they stack meetings with their employees? Maybe Basim should try
their tactics. Move in quietly, do the job and move on. He wouldn't be
any more or less popular.
-------------------------------------------
EY: He might work better with folks in Central if he would work towards
finding win/win solutions.
Council Member Herron calls meeting with CNIA Leaders:
Jennifer Gahnstrom's account of this meeting is available on cnia-chat at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnia-chat/message/658
Attendance:
Current Board Members: Zachary Metoyer, Steve Wash, Pauline Thomas,
Valerie Metoyer, Jean Hartle, Thomas Ross, Maxi Turner newly elected Board
Members: Basim Sabri, Maleta North, Cheryl Robinson, Patricia Ordillas,
Darren Honkala, Art Erickson, Anisa Hashi
others: Bob Miller, Bob Cooper, Maxi Turner, Ali Abdifatah and Ahmed ____
from Somali Community Services, Ralph Bruins and myself
Summary of meeting: Bob Miller and Bob Cooper laid out what actions were
necessary to get the MCDA Citizen Participation contract and to get NRP
funds "unfrozen". Bob Miller explained that the Disclaimer to the State
Auditor sent by Zachary Metoyer made it necessary to freeze NRP funds since
it said, in effect, that CNIA was unable to track its finances. Much
depends on the results of the State Audit which should be back by June.
Folks can join cnia-chat by going to:
http://www.egroups.com/group/cnia-chat/join/
Folks can read the cnia-chat archives at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnia-chat/messages/
Folks can find documents related to the CNIA as well as proposed bylaws and
articles of incorporation for a new Central Neighborhood Association by
going to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cnia-chat/files/
Eva Young
Central
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