The proposal to create a divided freeway out of Lake Street for several blocks east and west of I35W is alive and well, and potentially spreading.
The divided freeway concept, with it's 7 lanes, will destroy a whole list of businesses, and possibly prevent the Sherman proposal for Nicollet Lake from going forward due to the reduced amount of space available for businesses and affordable housing. The space on Lake in front of Nico Plating, which currently houses several businesses, will be reduced to a dead-space for snow storage. Is this considered the highest and best use for otherwise prime commercial property?? Project organizers have defended the the divided highway by saying that it's limited to four or five blocks. (apparently implying that a scourge is ok if it is limited in scope) I warned that it sets the stage for additional re-vamping of Lake into a freeway format, and Dave Jensen (PAC rep)accused me of conspiracy theories. Not suprisingly, at yesterday's meeting there was talk of eventually "beefing up" the infrastructure along the rest of Lake Street. Guess what that means? Does anyone wonder why the multi-million dollar planning stage of this project doesn't have a few thousand dollars for public notification available?? Four years ago, at the outset of the project, Sara Hernandez (the Honeywell rep) and Jana Metge worked out a thorough communication strategy for the PAC, which included flyering neighborhoods, etc. to ensure adequate input and knowlege of the project. The communication plan was not executed. Thanks to Ed Felien, Green Party candidate for Hennepin County Commission, for stopping in on the meeting - I'm impressed with his attention to the situation and grasp of the impacts; where was Peter McLaughlin? (and don't tell me "at work", the rest of us had to take time out of our workday to accomodate, so can he) David Piehl Central __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.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
