Unfortunately, Doug Grow bought the angle wholesale on this one and ran with that angle without dealing with a more complicated underlying story. A "tale of gentrification?" Hardly. AIBDC, for instance, has offered free space to the Free Store to keep it in the neighborhood until it finds a permanent location. Tenants in AIBDC properties include the Bruegger's commissary (providing jobs to residents), Indian Child Welfare Law Center, Chippewa Tribe, Lao Family Services, Maria's Cafe (amusingly described by Grow as an 'almost-trendy restaurant'--it's good to know I'm trying to get into the 'almost-trendy' crowd--can't wait to tell my mom), Black Mesa Coffee (owned and operated by the same person who provides class training across the street to entrepreneurs who want to start a small business here or in another neighborhood), Somali Community of Minnesota, Phillips Community Development Corporation, and so on and so on. We'll soon see Minnesota's first American Indian adoption agency here as well.
While it is problematic that Dollar King is going, I've talked at length with Theresa Carr about a commitment to bring in a similar store because of the importance of having such a store in the neighborhood for low-income residents. She is committed to that, and plenty of people will be watching to make sure AIBDC does the right thing. Carr did not share her reasons for not renewing the Dollar King lease, and I respect that as someone who understands that a landlord needs no reason in Minnesota, particularly in commercial leases. If AIBDC brings in a Starbuck's or some other such truck, then that's a real story. In the end, the story that Grow bought into is one in which AIBDC's success in the neighborhood is resented by some, with the leaders of this protest (who hardly shop at Dollar King) using the Dollar King non-renewal as payback for AIBDC's independence in the neighborhood. In other words, it was a way to embarrass Theresa Carr publicly, which worked. Not an unusual happening in Minneapolis, unfortunately. Success is a funny thing here. Gregory Luce North Phillips (work) List Manager wrote: > Doug Grow on a tale of gentrification at 13th & Franklin. > > http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/883790.html > > David Brauer > List manager > > > _________________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________ > 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 > > > _______________________________________ 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
