Excellent Post Mark. I thought the same thing. What if CVS proposed a shoe-box right up there at the terminus of Rice Street amongst the oaks, would we hear a stink?...you betcha. When Minneapolins speak out for the good of their city they're criticized as being bad for business or too involved in other peoples' money. I say let's be involved, it's my job as a citizen to speak out against that which degrades my city.
'We don't need no stinkin' Wal-Mart (or badges for that matter.)'
Sean Ryan Caring about his designed environment in, Audubon
http://www.northoaks.com/ http://www.cvs.com/corpInfo/index.html
From: Mark Snyder[snip]
Additionally, what Vicky continues to conveniently overlook is how much
harder it's become to fix the problems of the SSB/Cherryhomes regime because
her beloved GOP "leaders" continue to shirk their responsibilities and push
them off onto the cities and counties to absorb. I believe the SW Journal
profile on Rybak's first two years noted that Rybak and council have had to
do four budgets in that span because the state keeps screwing with us.
Maybe Minneapolis could focus more on fixing it's so-called "hostile
business environment" if Pawlenty and the House would quit balancing the
state budget shortfalls caused by their short-sighted tax cuts on our backs!
> Sean Ryan writes:
>
> "CVS still resists putting doors or even windows on the streetside. Let's
> not let them run the show, make some demands and stick to our guns. We want
> more mixed use, let's make it happen!"
>
> Vicky comments:
>
> Is public money involved in the CVS Pharmacy site development? If not, it's
> none of our business what they do or don't do with private property....as
> long as they comply with zoning and code requirements.
Umm, I disagree. I think a good case could be made for ugly commercial development like CVS proposes would have a negative impact on neighboring residents. Generally speaking, people don't like to live by ugly stuff, whether it's a dilapidated house or a concrete shoebox like CVS. That hurts market values for neighboring properties. Which also hurts tax revenue for the city. Which means even if the city doesn't care what Sean Ryan or other smart folks like him think, they have a personal interest in preventing poorly-designed development from taking place.
> If you don't like CVS, or Wal-Mart, or any big box, you don't have to shop
> there, but don't force your prejudices upon others.
Interesting. Let's play a word game and rephrase: If you don't like
[affordable housing developments], you don't have to [live] there, but don't
force your prejudices upon others.
How many folks think Vicky or her neighbors in North Oaks (or pretty much any outer edge 'burb) would agree with that phrase? I'm guessing not too many. Why is it OK to be prejudiced about certain kinds of housing developments but not certain kinds of commercial developments? Or maybe somebody just needs to pay a visit to Wal-Mart and get a $2 dictionary so they can look up the word "hypocrite" and see what it means?
Mark Snyder Windom Park
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