Jeff, why would you say the immigrant businesses are scared of gentrification. The business owners on Nicollet who I know very well are thrilled at the prospect of reopening Nicollet and the development plans there. (O.K. maybe not the couple businesses that will be displaced by the development, but, even they are not fighting it)
When I was running for office, I hosted a meeting with all the business owners on South Nicollet to review the proposed development plan. They jumped for joy over the micro commercial spaces that will flank the "big box" stores. In fact, after the meeting, many of them "got in line" to be considered for lease of those spaces.
Those businesses embraced the view that the "International Marketplace" designation we chose for our destiny on Nicollet could only get better with the development at Nicollet and Lake. They also saw the much needed parking ramps as a major attraction.
Nicollet is inandated with cars coming there to shop at the ethnic markets and eat at the ethnic restaurants. Parking is a major issue. As much as you may want these people to ride their bikes, that will probably not happen. Many of these people are coming from points beyond to do their weekly grocery shopping at these ethnic stores. Granted, Nicollet also has significant pedestrian and bicycle traffic. But, parking is and will be a major issue. The new development helps that.
The off ramps and 35W expansion were not a part of the discussion and did not become a part of the discussion until the expansionaires dragged Sherman into it. The expansionaires "hooked" their project to the Nicollet and Lake Development as a way to get buy in from the neighborhood. That ploy didn't work.
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
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