Barb, The Asian businesspeople I referred to were the Mainland Chinese investors who were part of the original development group, before Sherman was brought in to assist with the housing portion of the development. These people were partnering with a group of Asian business people from California and Minnesota, but did not include Nicolett Avenue business people other than Hung Tran. It was at Tran's restaurant that the original plans were conceived, and where they were first drawn on the back of a place matt for Martin Sabo over cigarettes and morning coffee at the lunch counter.
Those Asian businesspeople were very much aware of the proposed off ramp from I-35 going south. It was seen as vital to make a large commercial attraction viable. I understand that the project is now more of a housing development rather than an "End Destination" commercial development, but it will still need better freeway access to be viable. At that time there was not talk of widening either I-35 or Lake Street. Widening Lake Street would probably have been viewed negatively, as there were plans for a large Chinese Dragon Gate over Nicolett at Lake Street to make it more pedestrian friendly and inviting. Friendly is not the word that comes to mind when thinking of all the lanes of traffic. Daunting would be the more appropriate word. Dean Dovolis, conceptually, even added a small carnival along the Greenway. I cannot imagine a mother with two or three young excited children in tow looking forward to crossing the number of traffic lanes that are now being proposed. By the way, I would like to commend Martin Sabo. I do not know of any politician, at any level, that is more approachable than Martin. You have to make an appointment a week ahead of time to see a City Councilperson, and God forbid you need to see the Mayor, (you have not been able to see the Mayor through the wall of staff since Don Frazer was there). Yet Martin Sabo, one of the most powerful United States Congressmen sits having coffee in our community. More importantly he is always open to see you as if he really cared. Which in Martin's case he does. Martin doesn't just act like he is glad to see you , he is. He not only acts like he is one of us at election time, Martin IS one of us all year long. Probably why we keep electing him. After a while we see through the phonies who only pretend to care when they need your vote to keep their job. So thanks Martin, you give a good name to politician. Though some of the others do not. Probably why some of them need security while Martin's only security is the good will of his constituency, which is all he needs. Jim Graham, Ventura Village ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Lickness <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: JIM GRAHAM <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 11:30 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] Answer to Peter McLaughlin's Post to smplsguy2002 > Within the last year there have been two very large > meetings with several of the Asian business owners on > Nicollet Avenue regarding the Sherman development at > Lake Street and Nicollet. Not one of them mentioned or > asked any questions about an exit ramp off 35W at Lake > Street or even brought up the issue of 35W, so it must > not be a compelling issue for most of them now. > > In a Whittier Alliance Land Use and Transportation > meeting that was widely publicized earlier this > spring, a "straw poll" was taken regarding the exit > ramp issue. One person voted in favor of the exit ramp > and around 60 or more voted against it. > > Most of the people at that meeting and the ones I talk > to in Whittier believe that the exit ramp project is > more or less just a reason to expand 35W another lane > or so. The expanded lanes on Lake Street have also > been met with opposition. We have a large population > of physically challenged people living in Horn Towers > who already have difficulty crossing Lake Street at > Nicollet. > > People expressed concern that crossing the widened > Lake Street would be like the "run for your life" > crossings on Hiawatha Avenue between East Phillips and > Longfellow. > > Although I can't speak for either Karen Clark or Linda > Berglin, I don't get the impression that either of > them are in favor of this project based on the feed > back from people they are talking to in Whittier. I > also don't believe that either Robert Lilligren or > Dean Zimmerman are cheerleaders for this project. I > know Robert has raised major issues of concern > surrounding this project. So, I don't know if the > "political will" is present to lobby in favor of this > project except at the county level. > > At this point, the legislature didn't fund the project > this year. I am sure this will be a continuing issue > for some time to come as there are very strong > opinions on both sides. Where it ends up is anyone's > guess. Stay tuned. > > Barb Lickness > Whittier > > > ===== > "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, > it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead > > __________________________________________________ > 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
