[Mpls] Re: Parking on 50th Street

[Sueherr]

I too, have noticed the signs and have started hearing about this from neighbors who are very concerned. (the Southwest Journal's cover story was on this subject last week). I have been told that both Patina and Caribou (on 50th and Bryant) are considering a move, although I did not hear that directly from the business managers/owners.  The situation on this little node is especially acute, since last year the folks on Aldrich Avenue made their street a one-way going the opposite  way off of 50th.  So, in other words, prospective customers driving on 50th cannot turn off and park on Aldrich without going all the way around the block. If one side of 50th is also off limits, that leaves Bryant Avenue for convenient parking.

I live on Bryant Avenue and the block pretty much fills up as it is with shoppers on a given Saturday or Sunday.. I don't mind it at all - consider it a small price to pay to live within spitting distance of such charming local businesses. But if it becomes the ONLY place for shoppers to park, then the average walk to get to the businesses could be a block and a half - or more.    WHile that doesn't sound too burdensome on a nice day like today, consider struggling to La Mac dry cleaners on a cold winter day with an armful of laundry and having to walk that far. 

These places aren't "destination" shops.. they rely on some modicum of convenience for the shoppers.

While this has taken most of the neighborhood by surprise, I have heard that it is a process that has been underway for quite some time.. I'm sure I was notified by my friendly Lynnhurst neighborhood list serv about the meetings, and just didn't realize what was going on.

Perhaps Barret Lane would care to comment - give us the background on why this is happening, and the research that they have done to assess impact on local businesses, as well as the safety/calming traffic speed rationale that I assume is behind this.   Perhaps Peter Nussbaum - who is, I understand a Lynnhurst representative on the task force that studied this -  would care to comment.  I would be glad to hear more background on this issue.

And I would be very sorry to see my corner go the way of 50th and Xerxes and lose several of the fine businesses that have made it such a wonderful place to live.

Susan Herridge
Lynnhurst