The City of Mpls. is proposing to dispense major public parking land to a private property owner on West Broadway. The City of Mpls.'s CPED, with Eric Hanson of CPED as City rep, proposes to make a deal with the private property owner at 927 West Broadway regarding two City lots that are currently the sum total public offstreet parking behind the 901-927 block of West Broadway.
Mpls's CPED, and Eric Hanson, propose that the highest public-good for this publicly held parking area, is to sell one parking lot, and lease the other adjacent parking lot, to the owner of 927 West Broadway for the practically exclusive use of his proposed new tenant; the Henn. County Probation Dept. That building, on the western corner of the block, has approximately 45 feet of West Bro frontage. The full frontage length of the block is about 330 feet. The building, which represents about 15% of the land on the block, would essentially (with some lease language exceptions on the leased lot) require and control all the adjacent, offstreet parking. To reiterate and explain this matter further: The City holds/owns, for the highest public good, the sole two offstreet parking lots behind the whole 901-927 West Broadway block. These two lots, to the South, behind the storefronts, go from one end of the block to the other; parallel to, and south of, the alley. This is a block of West Bro (southside of street) that has half a dozen buildings on it; shoulder to shoulder, and with little available parking. These half a dozen buildings have many businesses and many residential occupants, and they have ALL, historically, relied on this PUBLIC parking area. The huge new "Sports Dome" building, and business that just opened at 901 West Bro, for example, will need access to parking during business hours, and beyond, to succeed. It is a RETAIL use; with apartments above. I believe City/CPED policy should not virtually eliminate "Sports Dome"s fair access to public parking it rightfully anticipated. The other buildings on the block are occupied by many existing, independent small businesses, too. Again, the proposed use at 927 West Bro. is as a County probation office. Although needed and welcome to site itself on the Avenue, it is neither "neighborhood" nor "business". I do not think this office development proposal, with it's stated need for near total dominance of what has been public parking deserves support. The downside to the whole block and all other stakeholders is total. Losing most all off street public parking access in favor of a non-business use may be dismally bad public policy. My belief is that we must preserve the current, FULL public access to these publicly held parking lots. It is essential, for existing stakeholders' parking needs that I speak up clearly, now. Further, it is essential that someone be a voice for the parking needs of future stakeholders on this block. Future businesses and stakeholders that we have not yet met; but we know will be coming here. It is right and prudent to preserve access to this adjacent public parking to all stakeholders. It is the right way to create and maintain a vital West Broadway. We must plan for the short term, medium term, and long term parking needs of the block when we deal out land held in the public trust. CPED, Eric Hanson, City Civic Leaders: Please model the best policy for the public good: Do not assign the whole commercial block's off street parking to one smaller stakeholder with his non-retail proposed use. Keep this publicly held parking accessible to all, including the public. Keep it public. Keith Reitman Property owner on this great Avenue but not near this block 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
