Is I-35 expansion another Rondo? By: Isaac Peterson, III Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 3/20/2003
Some residents oppose tearing up the neighborhood for the convenience of suburban commuters Do the urban planning and economic development policies used in planning the I-35 and Lake Street expansions in South Minneapolis contribute to racial injustice in Minneapolis? Do those plans alleviate problems for African Americans and others of color, or add to them? We have previously reported on the dimensions of the planned expansions of Lake Street and I-35, and who is involved in making those plans (Spokesman-Recorder November 7 and 14, 2002). The plans, as described, would widen Lake Street, add a �flyover� ramp that would increase access to Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Wells Fargo facility formerly owned by Honeywell, and add areas planners claim will beautify the area (called �mitigation� and �enhancement.�). But will expanding access to that area be beneficial to residents in the long run? The debate still rages. Supporters of the project claim that it will help �revitalize� the area, while opponents say that the area is already being revitalized by residents and new businesses started primarily by people of color. http://www.spokesman-recorder.com Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ 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
