[Mpls] This Week in The Minneapolis Observer

[Craig Cox]

T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R
A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan
www.mplsobserver.com
Vol. 2, No. 45
June 30, 2003

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THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER:
* New Coalition Seeks to Stop Guthrie Demolition
* Wells Fargo Attacked for Alleged Predatory Lending Practices
* Cub Foods Set to Lease Northside Target Space
* Ordinance Would Limit City Immigration Enforcement
* Who Ya Gonna Call? Mold Busters?
* Surveying the Surveillance Downtown
Plus: Gay pride, circa 1973; Al Sharpton on the Target controversy; Library Board cracks down; the urge to transplant; and signs of a shifting political tide.

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NEW COALITION SEEKS TO STOP GUTHRIE DEMOLITION
Just when you thought the Guthrie's move had become inevitable, a new group is moving to stop it.

The Historic Guthrie Preservation Coalition has hired a Connecticut-based consultant to study possible alternatives to demolishing the theater, which the neighboring Walker Art Center wants to use for garden space. As Scott Russell reports in the Southwest Journal (http://www.swjournal.com), the group is looking for potential tenants outside the Twin Cities to take over the space. The coalition, which includes SavetheGuthrie.org, the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, hopes to convince the Walker to save the 1960s-era theater for its marvelous acoustics and intimate concert setting--an argument that so far has not swayed officials there or on the city council.

"The overall thrust is to build the kind of public support that will convince the Walker that the Walker itself is better off preserving what I think is one of their most important pieces of art, rather than destroying it," said coalition member and former city council member Dore Mead.

Walker Art Center administrative director Ann Bitter said the museum has worked closely with neighborhood coalitions and is not likely to be swayed by the reuse argument. "Our intention is to go forward with demoing the Guthrie and developing our garden. If in the meantime they come up with another use, we of course would look at it," she said. But, she added, "I can't see us changing our minds on this subject."

WELLS FARGO ATTACKED FOR ALLEGED PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES
Citing abusive lending practices, a national advocate for low-income families has launched a campaign against Wells Fargo Mortgage.

CUB FOODS SET TO LEASE NORTHSIDE TARGET SPACE
Target officials have announced that they have reached terms with a Cub Foods franchisee to lease the former Target store on West Broadway in North Minneapolis.

ORDINANCE WOULD LIMIT CITY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
In a move challenging the priorities of the U.S. Justice Department, the city council's Health and Human Services Committee last week approved an ordinance that would limit the involvement of the city in immigration law enforcement.

WHO YA GONNA CALL? MOLD BUSTERS
A Minneapolis nonprofit has developed a new set of inspection standards to help the construction industry fight mold-related damage claims.

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The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2003 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription.
Editor: Craig Cox
Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker
Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow
Equine consultant and coffee shop correspondent: Nora Cox
Perspective: Martin Cox
Thanks to: Sarah Farley, Sue Herridge, Betty Tisel

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