> Tom Holtzleiter writes: > > This is no legend, go to the library and look the facts up. 38th was > always a main cross street-ever since it was built. It was always > intended to have more traffic to support the commercial properties > that have always been zoned there. Even as far back as the 1900's > with the trolly lines. That's not a legend-it's a fact. It's why the > comercial zoning is on that street.
AVIDOR: Trolley traffic is fundamentally different than auto traffic. Trolleys made this city great...that's why there's a statue in honor of the builder of the Twin Cities Rapid Transit Company, Thomas Lowry on Hennepin Avenue. There is wide agreement that interstates 94 and 35W were a huge mistake...and there are no statues built to honor the memory of the interstate-builders.The Urban Legend I was referring to is the one the Access Project supporters are spreading that Lake Street and the intersecton of 38th and Nicollet Avenue are blighted business districts with failed and "struggling" businesses. I'm still waiting for evidence that this is so. What are the addresses of the empty stores at 38th and Nicollet? > > > So why deprive the place of the traffic now? It is no legend, that > when the traffic was removed, many businesses dried up. We have to > deal with the traffic in the neighbourhood anyway, lets make some use > of it! I don't see much good sending it though the residential area > of 35th-36th street. There is far more evidence of struggling business and urban blight at Nicollet and 35th and Nicollet and 36th which is due in large part to the excessive traffic from the freeway exit...there is a plan to develop the empty lot at 38th Street which may depend on the Access Project moving the ramps to 38th...which of course suggests that the excessive car traffic the freeway ramps produce is not good for small business. > > > What's with you and your groups constant slam on ANY aspect of this > project? I understand Kingfield Associations opposition to the > project-and I give them a great deal of respect for it. Know why? > Because they are taking the aspects they don't like, and giving > alternatives, giving ideas-things to make it better. The Access Project is a package deal ..our only choice is to vote for it or "No Build" It's like buying any high priced item ( $150+ Million! )...saying no is not the end of the world...even if the salesman tells you it is... > > > They have done nothing but try and make it better for the last few > years, and and keep communications up. I am very grateful to them for > that. ...and so are we! There is a difference between elected and appointed citizens and unelected and unappointed , but concerned citizens. Concerned citizens are under no obligation to go to all the meetings to make an informed decision ...but for the record: STRIDE has members who HAVE been a part of the process and gone to all or most of the meetings. > > > But all I see from you is a constant barrage of everything wrong with > the world. So with all the aspects of the project I question (Flyover > ramp taking out houses), I still can't ever see myself standing with > STRIDE. Way to many accusations without fact, way to much negativity- > with nothing positive to counter balance it. ...again, the accusation that we are not "nice" ...Is saying "No" negative when it means saying no to the destruction of homes and businesses?..when it means saving the taxpayers $150+ Million? Don't we have better things to spend that money on...like schools and libraries? > > > You think Lake and Nicollet is thriving? How many businesses have > folded up there? I've lost count. Stores come and go in thriving business districts...you could say the same about Uptown....are there empty store fronts at 38th and Nicollet? I was there last night and I didn't see any. > Don't even get me started on the > guy waiting for the bus the last three and half hours... Please! Tell us about the lousy transit service on Nicollet...no argument there! > > > But is Lake and Nicollet getting by? Yes. > Thriving? I don't think so! Perhaps we need an independent observers. (Yoo-hoo! Reporters!) to investigate the condition of business on Lake and 38th and Nicollet...I suggest whoever it is speak Spanish or bring along an interpretor. > 38th street? It's doing a bit better than Lake, definately. But it > could use a boost. Why not spend the $150 Million directly to improve the business districts? > Generaly speaking, Salvation Army stores don't > show up in thriving areas. (Don't get me wrong here, I'm a huge fan > of the Salvation Army & I like the area-my house is a block away) What kind of stores (Generally speaking) exist in thriving areas? What kind of stores would you personally prefer at 38th and Nicollet? > But giving 38th the traffic it historically had so that the comercial > zoning on the street has more of a chance to make the jump from > getting by, to truely thriving, is a start. I admit, making sure the > parking remains after construction, is a real concern. Yes, after we invite all those cars into the neighborhood, we got to put them somewhere....and how many affordable homes will be demolished for that or how much money will city taxpayers be asked to pay for ramps to save the homes? > I can understand wanting to change something to make it better. I've > done quite a bit of that myself. But to take the position of what we > got is the best solution, so no build? "No Build" is like "No Buy" ...We have to say "No" to this lemon before the salesman will show us another deal...and there will be other deals. > And that IS what no build > means-leave it just like it is. I won't do that. I believe we can do > better than the interchange we got now. "Interchange"? The small businesses and homes at and near 38th and Nicollet are a part of our neighborhood and many of us would like to keep it the way it is...and it is a very positive thing to protect and preserve a neighborhood. Ken Avidor STRIDE Kingfield _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
