[Mpls] Future of the Riverview Supper Club site

[Clsartell]

An important development story was curiously missing among the several that were listed a few weeks ago and I'd like to correct that, as it deserves attention.

At its October 9th meeting, the Minneapolis Planning Commission approved rezoning for JADT Development Group's (JADT) proposal to build 72 condominiums and 30 town homes at the Riverview Supper Club site at 2319 West River Road.

This decision is a departure from the planned for Skyline Park presented as the vision in the Upper River Master Plan (Plan). The Plan touts this space for its views of the downtown skyline captured by the Mississippi River and determines it as the perfect gathering place for bringing people to the river's edge. It also serves the existing river neighborhoods by extending the shoreline to reconnect them and facilitate the important goal of providing public access to the Mississippi River. The Plan called for the entire seven acres of the Riverview site to become parkland and open space. If JADT's proposal is implemented, this will mean a loss of four acres resulting in more of an extension of the parkway and trails along the river rather than the park planned and hoped for by the communities.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Metro Greenway Program recently approved an allocation of up to $500,000 toward acquisition of the site. This is based upon protection of the entire site. JADT's housing proposal would compromise the site considerably. In addition to the Metro Greenways grant, Congress has allocated $850,000 to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) for the Riverview site. Together, $1.35 million is difficult to ignore in creating a significant amenity for the north Minneapolis neighborhoods that are virtually cut off from the river by Interstate 94.

Preserving this site as park and open space will maintain the relative harmony of existing uses currently in place and as the riverfront is developed. Implementation of JADT's proposal will result in incompatible land uses being directly adjacent to one another, resulting in unnecessary and almost certain tension between residents and businesses. The same evening that the Planning Commission approved JADT's application to rezone the Riverview site to allow for housing, it also approved a conditional use permit and site plan review for Broadway Resource Recovery's recycling facility to be sited directly west of JADT's proposed housing development also resulting in incompatible land uses adjacent to one another.

JADT's proposal is an amendment to the Plan approved by the City Council in June 2000 and has not had broad-based public review or participation. The Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA) has worked with various interest groups to develop a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to review and guide implementation of projects that fall within the Plan. The MCDA is waiting on final approval from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to get the CAC up and running as anticipated for the start of next year. Regardless, neighborhood and river advocates do not believe this should absolve JADT, or any potential developer, from engaging the greater community to review and participate in river developments until the CAC is in place.

One week after receiving the Planning Commission's approval, JADT's application to rezone the Riverview site also went before the City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee. The Zoning and Planning Committee moved to continue this item to its November 13th meeting to allow for adequate notification of a public hearing so interested groups or individuals may attend and testify. (November 13 - City Hall, Room 132 at 1:30 p.m.)

The decision on JADT's proposal will set the precedent for how seriously the city views the vision of the Plan and the importance of the stakeholder process for implementing projects in the upper river corridor.  The Riverview site is one of the single largest blocks of land available for green space, park or public purpose that facilitates access to the river. This is one area of the Plan that all could agree to - including the city. Should this opportunity be lost, there is little hope that it can ever be recaptured.

Candy Sartell
Lind Bohanon