"First of all, and most importantly, Sherman Associates, Inc. has no desire to go forth with this proposed project without the neighborhoods' support. We are an organization that works with neighborhoods on a matter of principal and practicality. We have no desire to force unwanted projects on neighborhoods. To do so would require us to break one of our company's most important goals, which is to revitalize the city in ways that are appealing, suiting and practical for its citizens. Furthermore, acting against the wishes of the neighborhoods would only create innumerous difficulties and barriers, which would make a project impossible to develop."
-- Allison Brueggemann, Assistant Project Manager, Sherman Associates,
writing on Minneapolis Issues forum, Monday, 11 Nov 2002, in regards to
Sherman's proposed Cub Foods development on Central Avenue.
Sherman Associates would do well to reflect on the above statement in relation to their River Run project. Even in advance of last week's Community Development Committee meeting of the City Council, Sherman and its landowner associate for River Run were already serving notice on the city that they would be pursuing legal action if their proposal is rejected. This despite the stated opposition of the impacted neighborhood, Sheridan, three other neighborhood groups in northeast Minneapolis, and the Above the Falls Citizen Advisory Committee.
Despite this legal intimidation, the project suffered a blow at last
week's CD committee meeting. Third Ward CM Don Samuels, subjected to
heavy lobbying from the developers, the MCDA/Planning Department, and
some affordable housing advocacy groups, nevertheless stated that he
would "stand with the neighborhood" and oppose the project.
I've been ambivalent on how I viewed Don Samuels since his election. Sometimes he seemed good, and others not so good. But I am very glad to read this. Somebody has to stand up to bully developers in this city, finally. More importantly, he's representing his constituencies as they believe, instead of selling them down the river, as too often happens.
And what can I say about Sherman Associates? Without knowing much at all about this project, that they threaten legal action even before a meeting to discuss their proposal speaks very poorly of them. They deserve a thumbs down on that basis alone.
Chris Johnson Fulton
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