As a nearby resident of Grand Avenue in Saint Paul, I am witnessing how overdevelopment can kill an area. Grand Avenue has become so congested on Friday nights and Saturdays, I no longer attempt to drive across Grand, except at lights. The parking situation in the surrounding neighborhood becomes worse and worse, as Grand Avenue customers use residential streets, (even thou they are permit parking only) as parking lots for Grand Avenue bars and restaurants. Many of my friends, who used to shop on Grand now refuse to come here, and smaller locally owned shops are being forced out as only large chains can afford the higher rents of the bigger projects. There is a such a thing as "over-development" and it appears that this project may have been such a development. Congrats to Mayor Rybeck, (I haven't agreed with much he's done recently) and the City Council panel for having the courage to say no. Dann Dobson Summit Hill - Saint Paul
Terrell Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Two lines in the Strib story that caught my attention: " The council members and Mayor R.T. Rybak took pains to praise Ackerberg's work in the city and his vision, but they sent him away defeated and uncertain of his next step with the site he controls." and " Rybak, who is seeking reelection, also recently came out against the proposal." Minneapolis may have the distinction of being the only city in the country with a mayor who is against development. Here we have a proposal that required no city subsidy and increase the tax base of the city. Then the Mayor, who likes to cry about how poor the city is and how it can't afford things like police services, coming out against more revenue coming into the city's coffers. What's wrong with this picture? It wasn't all that long ago that members of the Council would defer to the member in whose ward a project is located (yes, they all like to stick their fingers into the 7th ward), and yes the Councilmember from the 10th was a supporter of the projects. Looks like it's time to find some folks who might engage their brains to occupy some offices at City Hall. Terrell Brown Loring Park __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
