Re: [Mpls] Where are the affordable housing advocates?

[Tav Buechler]

Chris,

Your question is "Where are the affordable housing advocates?"

There are still many of us out there.  I work for MN's largets non-profit provider of affordable housing, and we are growing to try and meet the need.  Our organization takes more of regional approach, attempting to spread throughout the metro area.

Several organizations in Mpls are making efforts to make affordable housing in Mpls. a reality.

Tavyer Buechler

Nokomis

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Today's Topics:

1. County and City flags to fly at half-staff for Nellie Johnson (Pai, Vaman M)
2. Re: Stone Arch Apts vs. Metal-Matic/Marcy Holmes/Paul Zerby (deanc)
3. RE: Kiddos & Minneapolis (Gibson, Kristi)
4. Re: Kiddos & Minneapolis (Dave Polaschek)
5. Clean Energy Now Launches Sign Campaign April 13 (Fran Guminga)
6. 2003 Elections (Mark Knapp)
7. Re: Re: Stone Arch Apts vs. Metal-Matic/Marcy Holmes/Paul Zerby (Dave Polaschek)
8. RE: 2003 Elections (David Brauer)
9. Stone Arch Apartments, Marcy Holmes, etc... (Frank Hornstein)
10. Re: Mpls Terms to end in 03? ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
11. Re: Where are the affordable housing advocates? (Chris L Beckwith)
12. Re: Observations ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
13. Rules reminder (List Manager)
14. RE: Re: Mpls Terms to end in 03? (Terrell Brown)
15. Re: Re: Stone Arch Apts vs. Metal-Matic/Marcy Holmes/Paul Zerby (WizardMarks)
16. Re: The Urban Ventures Saga Continues...... (Dave Piehl)
17. Fwd: "Terrorism" (smplsguy2002)

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Message: 1
From: "Pai, Vaman M" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 14:58:44 -0600
Subject: [Mpls] County and City flags to fly at half-staff for Nellie Johnson

In honor of Nellie Stone Johnson, well-known and beloved Minneapolis civil
rights and labor activist who died Tuesday, Hennepin County and City of
Minneapolis flags will be flown at half-staff for three days.

The flags, located on the Fifth Street side of Hennepin County Government
Center and the north tower of Minneapolis City Hall, will be lowered at 2
p.m. Saturday at the time Johnson's funeral service is scheduled. The City
Hall carillon also will be played.

Vaman Pai
Communications Department
952.365.6588 (pager)






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Message: 2
From: "deanc" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2002 21:34:47 GMT
Subject: [Mpls] Re: Stone Arch Apts vs. Metal-Matic/Marcy Holmes/Paul Zerby

Let's face it, everyone agrees that more affordable housing is needed in the
City, but when push comes to shove, it will be fought tooth and nail by
those adjacent to it when there is an actual location proposed.
Neighborhoods are generally conservative, not Republican Party Conservative,
but embracing of the status quo conservative. It's up to housing advocates
and City "leaders" to make sure the sound of the few don't dictate to the
needs of the many.

I can't wait until we start seeing plans for South Lyndale that include
housing, and perhaps even...gasp... affordable housing. That will be a fight
to behold.

Dean E. Carlson
East Harriet, Ward 10 (or 8) (or 13)



Paul Lambie writes:

>
> What a surprise to see a city leader standing in the
> way of more housing! I'm shocked! Okay, now I'll
> dispense with the sarcasm. But seriously, how many
> people in this city who constantly complain that the
> city needs desperately to do something about the
> "affordable" housing crisis are going to be in favor
> of telling the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association
> and Councilmember Paul Zerby that this project is
> going to happen regardless of their opinions on the
> matter?
>
> Does anyone see a relationship between the growing
> power of neighborhood organizations and the inability
> to move forward with redevelopment in the city of
> Minneapolis? We like to chastise suburban
> municipalities (and rightfully so) for using their
> zoning and development approval powers to weed out
> more moderately priced housing developments by
> requiring minimum square footage, minimum garage
> requirements, maximum units per acre, single-family
> only zoning, etc. However, who are we, citizens of
> Minneapolis, to preach to others when we don't
> practice what we preach?
>
> Again, the price of housing, like other commodities,
> is a function of supply and demand. In order to make
> this commodity more affordable throughout the
> metropolitan area (and in the city of Minneapolis in
> particular) we need to increase the supply more
> quickly than we increase demand. Politicians and
> bureaucrats, as well as quasi-governmental agencies,
> i.e. neighborhood organizations, are exacerbating the
> "affordable" housing crisis rather than addressing, or
> simply getting of the way and letting the market
> address the problem.
>
> Admittedly, I do not have all the specific information
> about the details of this project, but it does not
> seem like a unique situation. I welcome any comments
> from anyone who would like to tell me why the
> "neighborhood" should have any say into whether this
> housing development occurs or not. I use the term
> neighborhood loosely, because the people who speak on
> behalf of the neighborhood are certainly a small
> minority of the neighborhood population who are
> politically active and have the time to attend
> neighborhood meetings.
>
> I do not know Councilmember Zerby. He may be a swell
> guy, but it would appear that he would rather pander
> to some of his constituents rather than welcome some
> new ones into some badly needed housing conveniently
> located near existing transportation and jobs.
>
> Paul Lambie
> Lowry Hill
>
>
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Message: 3
From: "Gibson, Kristi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [Mpls] Kiddos & Minneapolis
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 16:44:05 -0600

Yes, it's a true fact. In 1893 the Minneapolis Public Library became one of
the first in the country to establish a special children's room. Since that
time, the library has been dedicated to providing quality children's
literature and reaching out to promote reading and library use. Generations
of children have learned to love books and reading through the efforts of
Minneapolis Public Library staff.

The Children's section in the new library (to open in 2006) will feature
child-focused design, a welcoming presence for families, and lots of "wow."
We hope to also have a world-class planetarium as part of the building
(pending legislative support).

For more info, please see the "New Buildings" section of our website at
www.mplib.org

Kristi Gibson
Public Affairs Coordinator
Minneapolis Public Library


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 12:34 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [Mpls] Kiddos & Minneapolis

Praise for the D.T. library Children's Department reminds me of something I
once heard: That Minneapolis created the first children's department in a
public library.
Is this true? If so, can we expect a children's section in the new
building
that builds upon, rather than retreats from, this historic accomplishment?
Any help out there?

Steve Jevning
Leonardo's Basement in Kingfield,
Close to Hosmer Library and close to Nicollet Mall, great choices

_______________________________________
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Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Message: 4
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Kiddos & Minneapolis
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 18:33:28 -0600
From: Dave Polaschek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Minneapolis Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Gregory Luce wrote:

>others have fondly talked about looking out over the city from the Foshay
>Tower, but that's dwarfed now and not sure if there is an observation
>portion open anymore. Anyone know of others? Last time I tried to go up
>into the IDS there seemed to be a security issue and it was highly
>discouraged. Hey, how about a TIF district to build a "skyscaper" just for
>kids? :>)

The Foshay is open in the "summer months", which seems to mean May to
October. There's an admission cost, but it was under $5.

It's actually got some pretty good views. If you're interested in a small
sampling of what you can see, I have some pictures from when a friend
visisted town last summer at

(there are a few pictures from other locations too, but it should be
pretty obvious which are taken from the top of the Foshay).

Dave Polaschek
Marcy-Holmes

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Message: 5
From: "Fran Guminga" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mpls Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 19:31:57 -0600
Subject: [Mpls] Clean Energy Now Launches Sign Campaign April 13

Volunteers needed to help out April 13Just to make sure this is appropriate
for Mpls Issues, note that the Xcel Riverside coal burning plant is in Mpls.
If you want a sign but can't make the event, see the contact at the end of
the message.

CLEAN ENERGY NOW

Join the fight to clean up dirty, coalburning power plants!

Attend our Lawn Sign Launch

Saturday, April 13th, 11 am
Harriet Island, Pedestrian Gateway


Come join us for free refreshments--

Speakers include representatives from the Sierra Club; Minnesotans for an
Energy Efficient Economy; Representatives Mariani, Kahn, Hausman; Senator
Anderson, and (possibly) Senator Wellstone.

Live music by the Eddies!

Learn about key legislation and activities which will influence our air and
water quality for generations to come!

Pick up a Clean Energy Now lawn sign ($2 suggested donation)

Clean Energy Now is a coalition of concerned neighborhood and environmental
groups working to clean up the Metro-area coalburning plants. 75% of
Minnesota�s electricity comes from coal, the dirtiest of all fuels. Cleaning
up Minnesota�s coal-fired plants would reduce pollution equivalent to that
emitted by 2/3 of all the cars registered in Minnesota!

Coal-fired plants are the single largest source of air pollution in the
United States, emitting toxins like mercury, which poisons air, land, and
lakes, and can cause brain damage in fetuses -- and in young children who
eat fish caught in those lakes.

Other pollutants from coalburning plants include nitrogen oxides, which
cause smog and acid rain; sulphur dioxide, which also causes acid rain and
generates particulate matter -- a source of asthma, strokes, and heart
attacks; and carbon dioxide, which causes global warming that may trigger an
increase in disastrous floods, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Tell your legislators that over thirty years of exemption from modern clean
air standards is enough!

Public health should not be sacrificed for private profit!

To order a sign if you can't attend, contact
Andrea Kiepe
Energy Program Organizer
Clean Water Action Alliance
326 Hennepin Avenue E.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 623-3666 phone
(612) 623-3354 fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Fran Guminga
Bottineau





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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 17:40:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Mark Knapp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Mpls] 2003 Elections

The legislation by Rep. Phyllis Kahn (HF 2593) has prompted questions
in my mind.

Does anyone know whether the Minnesota courts will require 2003
municipal elections for Minneapolis in the wake of redistricting?
What is the history with the courts on this issue?

Mark Knapp
Lyndale



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Message: 7
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Stone Arch Apts vs. Metal-Matic/Marcy Holmes/Paul Zerby
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 20:17:49 -0600
From: Dave Polaschek <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Minneapolis Issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Paul Lambie wrote:

>Admittedly, I do not have all the specific information
>about the details of this project, but it does not
>seem like a unique situation. I welcome any comments
>from anyone who would like to tell me why the
>"neighborhood" should have any say into whether this
>housing development occurs or not. I use the term
>neighborhood loosely, because the people who speak on
>behalf of the neighborhood are certainly a small
>minority of the neighborhood population who are
>politically active and have the time to attend
>neighborhood meetings.

I guess I'm one of that "small minority", since I'm on the board of the
Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association.

The reason I feel qualified to speak about this area is that I've lived
(as a renter) in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood for 17 of the past 20
years. I regularly walk or bike past the proposed Stone Arch Apartments
area and have an idea what it's like. I wouldn't feel qualified to say
what should be a given block in Lowry Hill might be, but I think I have
an idea of what's in Marcy-Holmes.

I started out thinking that the project wasn't such a bad idea, since it
would turn some currently unused land into housing. It would probably
encourage MetalMatic to eventually leave, opening up even more space for
housing. But the more I've heard about the Stone Arch Apartments
proposal, the less I like it.

We've got a large student population in this neighborhood. Turns out
students aren't eligible for affordable housing. The rest of the
apartments will be priced out of reach of most students. So no real help
for the students in the project.

The lot is sandwiched between two sets of railroad tracks, one mostly
unused (except to park an occasional empty freight car), and one still in
regular use by ADM. Across the in-use tracks is MetalMatic, which has
heavy truck traffic during all three shifts. Across the unused tracks and
SE Main St. is the University of Minnesota steam plant, which gets noise
complaints from people living on the other side of MetalMatic (2-3 blocks
away). That's not surprising, since I can hear it from 6 blocks away.

The project area is polluted and would require cleanup. I haven't heard
of any results of studies of the pollution on-site, but simply walking
past you can see that the ground is contaminated with oil. There are
spots where the weeds won't grow, even though there's no traffic on them.

In the last plan we saw, the windows on the building won't open. That's
to cut down on noise. Beyond that, there won't be any outdoor areas for
tenant uses (other than parking). Affordable housing usually means
families with children. Any kids would have to cross two streets to use
the park which has no play equipment.

I'd like to see more affordable housing in the neighborhood. One of these
years I'd like to be able to afford to buy my own home in Marcy-Holmes,
rather than renting. But I don't think that affordable housing should be
dumped in industrial areas.

As for this particular site, I believe that it will be a great location
for housing one day. If MetalMatic leaves, and ADM quits using the tracks
that divide those blocks in half, it'll be a good site for housing. When
it's cleaned up and the proposed white-water park is put in across SE
Main St. from the site, it'll be a great location. But that's not the
current reality, and none of those things may come to pass.

Dave Polaschek
Marcy-Holmes

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Message: 8
From: "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mpls list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [Mpls] 2003 Elections
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 20:33:11 -0600

Mark Knapp writes:

> Does anyone know whether the Minnesota courts will require 2003
> municipal elections for Minneapolis in the wake of redistricting?
> What is the history with the courts on this issue?

I don't know if the courts have ever ordered early elections...however,
it is interesting to note that the new precinct lines legally go into
effect Sept. 10 - I assume in time for the legislative primary.

I was told today that the city council cannot change the ward map
approved by the redistricting commission - they vote to establish the
legal precinct lines that are first used in that Sept. 10 election.
(Remember, right now the Commission's map is tentative; the final map is
scheduled to be approved on April 12 at high noon.)

Here's a weird question: what if a council member had to quit - a la
Brian Herron - after Sept. 10? Would a replacement be selected/elected
from the old ward - and wouldn't that be weird? Would you have to vote
in your old precinct?

Again, this doesn't answer Mark's question about the courts, but when
you consider there are three more years until the elections catch up
with the map, something seems out of whack.

Personally, I favor a change - not necessarily this cycle - so that the
city does it "state Senate style"...four-year terms with one extra
election every 20 years to reflect Census results. We'll let *someone
else* decided whether 2003 is needed, but then it would go 2005, 2009,
2013 (the new Census lines are drawn in 2012), 2017, 2021, 2023 (first
2-year term) and 2025 (second 2-year term) then back on track for 2029.

That ought to get me to retirement, but the pattern repeats every 20
years. The council and mayor would still be elected together - there
would just be one extra council election every 20 years.

That's just the first of many reforms I would make. While I believe we
need some Independence and Republican Party representation on the
Redistricting Commission, giving those parties two guaranteed members
(via the Charter Commission's "major party" requirement) and the Greens
none (they got theirs from one of two council appointments) is
ridiculous. I don't have a mechanism for ensuring this yet, but clearly,
while no party should have a majority, council non-factors should not
have 4 of 9 seats and truly independent (non-party-affiliated) people
need at least one seat at the table.

The next reform, I suppose.

David Brauer
Kingfield - Ward 10 until...


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Message: 9
From: "Frank Hornstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 20:32:46 -0600
Subject: [Mpls] Stone Arch Apartments, Marcy Holmes, etc...


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Kudos to Dean Carlson and Paul Lambie for their excellent posts regarding=
the Stone Arch apartments and the need for a more constructive response =
to the city's affordable housing crisis from some Minneapolis neighborhoo=
d organizations.

The Metropolitan Council through its Tax-Base Revitalization Account is h=
elping to fund the site clean-up for this project. From our regional pers=
pective, Stone Arch is a model for smart growth as it utilizes vacant urb=
an land for redevelopment purposes. It is especially significant that thi=
s redevelopment is located on a formerly polluted "brownfield" site and i=
ncludes approximately 100 units of affordable housing near transit and ot=
her amenities. =20

There will be close to one million people moving into the region over the=
next thirty years. We need to assure that smart developments such as Sto=
ne Arch can proceed. The region, including Minneapolis, can ill-afford to=
reject the affordable housing and transit infrastructure that are needed=
to accommodate this growth in a way that preserves the environment, and =
assures shelter for people at all income levels.

Frank Hornstein
Metropolitan Council Member, District 6
(Still in) Ward 13

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Kudos to Dean =
Carlson and Paul Lambie for their excellent posts regarding the Stone Arc=
h apartments and the need for a more constructive response to the city's =
affordable housing crisis from some Minneapolis neighborhood organiz=

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