As a resident of northeast Minneapolis (Audubon) I receive the
neighborhood newspaper every 2 weeks. The most interesting article from
this week was regarding the loss of 2 homes to "redevelopment" in St.
Anthony Village (SAV). This is not to be confused with the one on the
river, this is a very small inner ring suburb tucked between Columbia
Heights, New Brighton and Roseville just beyond the Minneapolis border. The
article detailed the history of a family and their homestead just off of
Silver Lake Road. What is unfortunate is that S.A.V. recently bought out the
property and plans to raze the home for a new fire station. SAV plans to
demolish the circa 1950s station just off of highway 88 to make room for
some bland, I mean *brand* new commercial developments. The problem I have
with the project is the lack of overall understanding of the area history
and significance as a rural outpost of Minneapolis. SAV is plagued by 1950s
era politics and silly ideals of being a 'big suburban city' while they
whittle away at the very bones of the city and their past. To me it seems
all to familiar to the decisions that were once made in 'idyllic' New
Brighton. New Brighton was once a quant farming community surrounded by
stockyards serving the growing metropolitan area. Their mistake was
'redeveloping' their downtown into what today is nothing more than a stop
sign on a suburban street. They effectively demolished their history only
to make a mockery of it every year at 'Stockyard Days'. Perhaps my bleeding
heart preservationist instincts are talking, but shouldn't we save our past
even if we are a 'growing suburban community.' Just a reandom late night
thought
-Sean Ryan
Audubon
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