Kimberly Goodman wrote: I heard MPR reporting this morning on Thursday's Morning Edition:
"The Minneapolis City Council is expected to discuss what to do about Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street. A K-Mart store has blocked Nicollet at the Lake Street intersection since 1979. A developer has an agreement with the city to reopen the street, but it expires this week. Neighbors hope the deadline will be extended." David Piehl writes: The proposed development is great - an "international village" with urban-oriented structures, affordable living space facing the greenway on upper floors, and space for a major anchor tenant as well as multiple small businesses. Unfortunately, there are two competing plans for I35W access at Lake, and the one that is favored by the task force staff significantly widens Lake Street, and makes the current Nicollet & Lake proposal unfeasible. Additionally, the favored proposal destroys enough buildings in the area that several have recently decided not to further invest until they know the future of their site - in the case of one light industrial business, this is affecting hundreds of jobs! There are multiple options that could provide adequate access at Lake, but apparently/allegedly Peter McLaughlin promised Wells Fargo a particular access configuration in exchange for their purchase of the Honeywell headquarters site. It's unfortunate that the alleged Peter McLaughlin promise to Wells Fargo could now jeopardize what is probably the most important development proposal in the area! The interesting part is that the access seems to be most desired by Wells Fargo; the market studies done by the potential anchor tenants at Nic Lake and Chicago Lake do not require additional access. That implies that this could be a political favor for Wells Fargo - has anyone checked their campaign contribution records? I do agree that changes at Lake & I35 to improve access would be positive, if done sensitively; but the massive changes proposed could be over the top. Dave Piehl __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.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
