I wrote in a while back to say that I could see significant benefits deriving from having Allina as an anchoring presence in the Sears building and now CMs Zimmerman, Lilligren and Schiff have voted in the negative. I avoided saying anything at all about the transportation aspect in my earlier comment, preferring to focus on possible economic benefits.
I agree with the mayor and the majority of the council that the Allina connection is a good thing. It's impossible not to see the robust influence of the major construction going on in West Phillips. Quite frankly the line the City Council drew in the sand about the reservation of a proposed fifth lane in the 35W corridor for some sort of mass transit (a profile specifically shared unanimously by the Hennepin County Board) is about all the meaningful parochial language there is to bring to the larger bodies who will soon decide what happens on the transportation front. There are cogent arguments against some of the proposed commuter-oriented decisions and I am confident that the south side council members, including CM Niziolek who abstained in the key vote, will be very hands-on as this enormous project unfolds. Good journey to them, whatever their partisan political flavor. As a historical note, I was in favor of the large-scale Riverplace development when many people in my vicinity on Nicollet Island and in adjacent Southeast neighborhoods were passionately opposed to this definitive commercial riverfront footprint. Many years later and with some painful memories about the failed commercial enterprises involved, we nevertheless have experienced and are continuing to see positive evolution in land use all along that riverine environment. The Gateway Project in the Central Business District (CBD) also had its detractors but look at those tall buildings that have sprouted up since the Foshay Tower was the tallest spire around! Traffic remains an intractable problem but the economic significance of these large-scale developments is undeniable. We are blessed to have several divergent voices in our current municipal leadership because large-scale development visioning is complex, unavoidable, and these days accessible to more of the public because of mediums like this discussion list. Try not to shoot the messengers: be happy that their voices are heard far more clearly than was possible in similar moments of truth in the past. Fred Markus, West Phillips --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.564 / Virus Database: 356 - Release Date: 1/19/2004 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
