A neighbor responds to John Kremer's comments regarding the MIA expansion proposal.
1. Process: I am the Chair of the Whittier Alliance�s Transportation and strenuously disagree with John Kremer�s assertion that the residents on Stevens Avenue were not adequately noticed regarding the MIAs plans. The MIA presented a plan view in April at a meeting attended by a number of Stevens Avenue residents, including John Kremer. Over forty people attended the meeting, including Councilmembers Dean Zimmerman and Robert Lilligren, and State Senator Linda Berglin (I-35W issues were also on the agenda, which is why they were there). Linda Mack from the Strib came in order to see the MIA�s plan. So the word got out in the community. Another Whittier Alliance meeting was held in July. Notice was sent to 750 people, and in addition, each resident on Stevens Avenue was sent a post card. I had several telephone conversations with concerned Stevens Avenue residents before the meeting. I explained the process to them, and encouraged them to participate. A notice was also published on the back page of the Whittier Globe. At the July meeting, the MIA had at least eight staffers and consultants available to answer questions. Everyone from the transportation consultant (Mike Monihan) to the construction person to the architect to the arborist was there. Contrary to John�s comments, the question and answer period was extended numerous times to allow everyone to ask questions. There was enough time to allow people to ask multiple questions. Further, residents received mailed notice from the City of Minneapolis for the HPC and Planning Commission meetings. I received two notices and live on the east side of the MIA. Further, notice was posted on stakes all around the MIA site. In the meantime, the press covered the story. The Strib published a story by Linda Mack on July 12, and the SW Journal also ran an MIA story. All this occurred well before the HPC and Planning Commission met. In sum, a lot of people worked very hard to get notice out and to give people an opportunity to comment on the proposal. So it is grossly unfair and inaccurate to accuse the Whittier Alliance and/or the City of Minneapolis of not giving the neighbors adequate notice and opportunity to comment. 2. Scale/Design: Reasonable people can disagree about design issues, but I like it. As for the setbacks, I live on the 3rd Avenue side of the MIA and you don't hear me complaining about the Children�s Theatre�s similar expansion footprint. I think the footprint is reasonable and that there is ample precedent for the design. Take a walk down 3rd Avenue from the MIA to downtown and you will see that the neighborhood is dominated by multi-story apartment buildings built right up to the sidewalk. The commercial building at 26th and Stevens � one of the most beautiful in the neighborhood � is tall and built right up to the sidewalk. There are residential towers, commercial buildings, church steeples, etc. of similar height just around the corner from the MIA. Further, Stevens Avenue residences are densely clustered, and uniformly have their sun blocked by their neighbors homes to the south. This is life in the inner city. 3. Parking: John Kremer stated that the zoning code would require the MIA to supply 1700 parking spaces. If that analysis is correct, I demand that the MIA get a parking variance. I don�t want the MIA, the Childrens Theatre, or MCAD to acquire any more land to supply parking for the campus. Councilmember Dean Zimmerman likes to say that what the zoning code needs is a �parking maximum.� He�s right. Further, as John Kremer knows, but irresponsibly omitted, two years ago the MIA purchased and demolished the Rodeway Inn Site and built a large surface parking lot on the site. Because of this acquisition, there currently is TOO MUCH parking available for the campus. The Rodeway Inn lot largely sits empty. I doubt the lower lot has ever been filled. If Stevens Avenue residents don�t want MIA patrons and staff parking in front of their homes, perhaps a residential permit system could be worked out. But I personally think that there�s enough parking to go around, and that occasionally looking for parking is part of urban life. Those of us who live on the 3rd Avenue side of the MIA bear the brunt of the traffic and parking impacts that the campus brings to us. Personally, I rather like seeing happy children walk from their buses or cars, and people in tuxedos and dresses go to events. If I wanted to live on a car free street that kept all strangers out, I�d move to a cul de sac in the burbs. 4. Summary. I think the MIA is a great neighbor, and I love living by them. It's my point of reference when I tell people where I live, and I'm proud of that. I�m exited about the expansion, and think that the proposed changes will improve the neighborhood. Perhaps some detailed design issues need to be worked (loading dock configuration, etc.), but I think the overall plan is a winner. Change can be scary, but I really believe that it will be good in this case. Dave Harstad Whittier __________________________________________________ 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
