The Riverview Supper Club site is not just any real estate parcel waiting for development. It is located on the most significant natural water resource on the North American continent. It is located in a portion of this Great River that has been nearly denuded of natural vegetation.
To suggest that high end housing is "appropriate" for the site ignores the fact that the upper Miss River from Missouri to Minnesota has been designated an endangered river by the national advocacy group, American Rivers, at least twice in the past ten years. Upper River biologists from five upper Miss River states indicated back in 1993 that the ecosystem of the Upper Miss may be in danger of collapse. Report upon report over the years have begged river towns to pay attention to this magnificent resource and reclaim its natural features or risk losing it all. We are not just being asked to decide whether "pretty housing or something else" is appropriate. We are being given an opportunity to make the river whole again. There comes a time in each generation when we have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to those that will come after us. When city fathers and mothers of three or four generations ago made the decision to institute the park system, they took up the challenge and placed green and water amenities above tax collections. The result was actually good for both the parks AND taxes. Redevelopment of the upper river corridor is this generation's challenge. Will people two generations from now thank us for more high end housing along our Great River, or will they praise us for the foresight to put the river first? The fact that the non-city money to purchase the site for park land is already waiting in the cigar box, if only the City of Minneapolis would say they want it, is another, perhaps more practical reason for promoting a park at the site. This money will be lost if not used for this site. There is already a plethora of high end housing along the river, with more planned on the east side as well. Can't we save this one parcel for habitat enhancement, river cleansing green space, an urban retreat for north and northeast residents and a legacy for our grandchildren? Fran Guminga Bottineau, with two river front parks and the last vestiges of historic, 19th century river front housing left in the city _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
