Thanks to David Brauer for posting these articles, which provide additional needed context to the issues. Far from what has been labeled a 'bait and switch' on the part of Sabri Properties, it seems that a combination of things led to the change in approach to this development, including:
1. Basim Sabri's federal indictment, leading to an administrative hold on the project for nearly two years; 2. The delay causing proposed tenants in the light industrial space to lease out property elsewhere; 3. Changed market forces during the delay where light industrial space was either no longer financially viable or did not provide the revenue needed to support the project. 4. A general shift toward providing housing at the site. It seems the gist of this issue is two-fold: 1. parking problems associated with Karmel Square, greatly exacerbated by delays in providing additional parking; and 2. no love lost toward Sabri, who no doubt is controversial to some and/or many people (I for one don't know him from Adam). A significant side issue is whether it is fair that the original developer (Karmel Properties) can seek a change in the development to provide housing when developers at the time of the initial RFP (including Karmel) were told that housing could not be part of the development. That's a complicated legal question in my mind. But a federal criminal case based on an alleged 'bait and switch,' and implications that Sabri 'owns' current council members and/or planning commission staff? Really. As sophisticated as Sabri may or may not be, I doubt he foresaw his own federal indictment, the resulting delay in pursuing the project, the shift in market forces away from light industrial and toward residential use of the space, and the need and desire locally for housing at the site. I think city staff are grappling with an obviously complicated issue around this development, but no staff deserves to be seen as suborning fraud or accepting bribes simply because they may support the project or even give it a fair shake toward fruition. It's frustrating enough being a public servant in an age of remarkable nastiness--but they don't deserve derision or unsupported allegations of criminal behavior simply because someone disagrees with a particular decision or approach. Gregory Luce St. Paul 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
