Re: [Mpls] Future of the Riverview Supper Club site

[Clsartell]

I'm not certain if you wanted me to answer your financial questions regarding the Riverview site, whether they were rhetorical questions or if you were simply musing out loud. In any case I can't give sound answers to them because I, along with many others, have been asking the same questions about any number of admirable developments over the course of many years. Does the city have the sufficient revenues or political will? History on the north side points to the fact there's never enough money to "do it right" the first time around. Many of us are irritated with being put on the spot to answer questions our elected officials should be answering and vindicating promises they should be honoring. Ask our elected officials why this keeps happening. Why do these opportunities slip past the city without nary a hiccup?

To your second comment that "Placing a park at the Riverview site will not necessarily make the site more accessible, however, as the freeway and surrounding industry will still be there." How will it not be accessible? I was just out at the site a week ago this past Saturday. There are at least two ways in - 22nd Avenue North to West River Road or Broadway Avenue (Broadway crosses I-94!) to West River Road. There was no industry to speak of blocking access to the site. There's no reason a park couldn't be planned at this site. And it would be compatible with current uses and during transition as the riverfront is developed. It's a beautiful area along the Mississippi with its views of the Grain Belt Brewery across the river and the downtown skyline appears to almost "sit" on the Broadway Avenue bridge. It would appear that the area is already accessible without the park as a draw as further south near Broadway Pizza, Aquatennial events and water-ski shows are currently held there annually. I encourage folks to go out, walk around, see the view and get a feel for the site. And remember while you're there, yes housing is a worthy goal but there is plenty of housing already built into the Plan, so is it fair to ignore the existing neighborhoods in their desire for significant connections to the river?

And finally, perhaps you were joking when you suggested that you "ought to agitate to have I-94 shutdown." Keep the faith and look to Portland, Oregon for inspiration. In the 60's and 70's, Portland's love of nature resurfaced and a massive cleanup of the Willamette was undertaken. Portlanders decided they didn't like the way the city had grown - an expressway called Harbor Drive impeded access to the scenic Willamette River. The Portland Development Commission did what the locals wanted. The freeway was torn up and replaced with Tom McCall Waterfront Park - one in a grand network of parks that are a part of the "Emerald Necklace." Three years ago, when in Portland, I made a point to go there. It was a Saturday, dreary and drizzly but hundreds of people were out enjoying the fresh air market where people sell their artwork, food and enjoy music. Understandably, providing a public park would seem a more attainable goal than tearing up Interstate 94 but everyone's entitled to dream!

Imagine the possibilities of a large-scale public park at the Riverview site. And as a very good friend recently told me, "We need to challenge ourselves to be visionaries; to champion the cause of parks and open space and to follow in the footsteps of the Minneapolis Park system planners of old. It took more courage for them then to call for the preservation of open space when there was open space everywhere."

Anyone who is willing to help us preserve the Riverview site as a public park, please feel free to e-mail me. We welcome and encourage your participation.

Candy Sartell
Lind Bohanon