Could folks involved in this give us an update on the status? Last I read on the web site for the agenda for today's Z&P Committee meeting, the planning department did not support the zoning change from residential to commercial, and did not support a variance that would allow 23 parking spaces instead of 21.
By the way, these two properties have now made Project 504's informal Displacement Report, at nos. 4 and 5. Gregory Luce North Phillips (work) David Brauer wrote: > There is a legitimate policy discussion here but I don't know about the race > angle, Ken. > > I do know that state law requires that a supermajority of nearby property > owners (2-3rds within 100-150 feet) sign a petition supporting the zoning > change before it can even be considered. SA couldn't get such a > supermajority over on 40th & Lyndale (even though they pre-emptively tore > down the house), so they are effectively stymied. > > This house/parking lot deal was not an easy call for those of us on the > neighborhood board. I am extremely worried the houses will not be moved and > am spending countless hours assuring they will be (I'm pessimistic today, so > I'm grateful Ken is keeping the pressure on for housing preservation). There > are conflicting interests that make this - pardon the expression - not a > black and white issue. I've mentioned those before. Some people think a > parking lot will keep people from driving to the 'burbs, others, like Ken, > see it as a glide further down the slippery slope. People want neighborhood > services so they won't have to drive to the 'burbs, but fret about space > those services require if they become popular and actually used. On some > level, it's a Catch-22. > > Anyway, I think Ken's tack with the race stuff is incomplete and unfair. One > anecdotal story does not a Rondo make. The implication is that Ace Hardware > and the Kingfield Neighborhood Association wants those houses down because > there are black people in them (as the Rondo planners did). I don't know > what's in Ace's mind but they employ a Rainbow coalition of people. I know > what in my mind and Ken's implication is wrong. > > There have been newspaper stories (Ken quoted 'em), orange signs posted on > the trees in front for the committee hearings (not big enough for drivers to > see from the street, but way big enough for neighbors). The only neighbor > who testified at the Planning Commission was in support of Ace's plan. Yeah, > he was white, but I hope that doesn't disqualify him. We've had two > neighborhood board meetings now, one public meeting, email list > announcements (which I realize not everyone gets), but I can tell you > through all of it most Kingfielders - and most neighbors - have been in > support of the plan. No one, save Ken, has mentioned a racial angle. > > If Ken wants to really poll the neighbors and uncovers a racial split, > perhaps then he can make this serious charge stick. We simply don't know who > or how many minorities live near Ace and how they feel. > > Ken's fears about a slippery slope are very valid and something I worry > about too. I may live to regret all this. But "Rondoizing" based on one > anecdotal example is also regretful, and really unfair to the other parties > who, whether right or wrong, aren't racially motivated. > > I do encourage interested parties to attend TODAY'S planning commission > meeting at 1:30 at City Hall 317 and encourage council members to support > the parking lot AND the house move. Perhaps the people who move into the > houses that Lyndale Neighborhood Development Corp. are trying to save and > restore in their neighborhood will be African-American...or just human and > in need. > > David Brauer > King Field - Ward 10 > > > > > > _________________________________________________________ > 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
