J. Free wrote: >>>>I've heard this point raised by a few different posters here, and I wonder what I'm missing. I have several friends who reside on the Island, and it never occurred to me that they were in any way, any more "privileged", than anyone else who exercises a modicum of social responsibility. Many of them are more than a wee bit concerned about how this issue is playing itself out, and how the proposed use of land there will interfere with the safe, eco-friendly community they have worked hard to try and maintain. Can someone please explain to me why this reference keeps coming up in this discussion?
<<< Barry says: Are we folks who live on Nicollet Island lucky to live there? You bet - it's wonderful! But John Derus and some others who are pushing for the DeLaSalle athletic complex, instead of engaging in a rational discussion about what is really a Park and land use issue, have bashed the neighbors instead, calling us a "gated community," implying that we don't pay taxes (we do - a lot, on land we don't own) and that we got something for nothing. I signed my land lease in 1991 - paying $500 to lease the land for about 92 years. Sounds like a sweet deal, doesn't it? At the time, the Park Board estimated the value of the lot at $20,000 - probably about right. In 1991, the East Bank didn't have all the swish condos it has now, it had a couple of residential towers, depressed retail and mostly abandoned, polluted industrial properties. The Island itself was a recovering slum, having recently been completely condemned by the Park Board, the houses were either falling down or in the process of being restored - so $20,000 was about right. In order to qualify for the deal, I had to restore my house at my own expense - up to Historical Preservation Commission standards. It cost about $200,000 - my contractor estimated that it would have cost $30 - 40K less to build the house new rather than restore it (again - sounds cheap in today's housing market, but at the time it was a big stretch). I have a copy of a letter written in the 70's from Charlie Nelson of the Historical Society, saying my house was too battered to be saved, couldn't be economically restored and should be torn down. Fortunately, it wasn't. I was the second person selected to restore my house, the first backed out after getiing estimates from contractors. Phyllis Kahn was also the second person selected to restore her house - the first backed out for the same reason. In the second lottery for her house, Phyllis and Don Kahn were the ONLY applicant. Friends told us all we were nuts. So, what seems in hindsight like a great deal was a very iffy deal at the time - we had to pay more than market value to fix up houses that nobody wanted on land we didn't own. Sure the houses are worth a lot more now, but he lease provides that if we sell, we have to split the profits with the Park Board and the MCDA. The 20 structures on the Island north of the tracks are actually 44 housing units - many are dulexes or 4-plexes. 22 of the units are affordable cooperative housing units. There are also 2 condo building south of the tracks (Grove Street Flats and West Island). We are just a regular neighborhood in what is now a very neat place. So while we are indeed lucky to live there, bashing Island residents as freeloaders is the shabby tactic of those who can't justify a bad proposal on its questionable merits and are trying to divert attention from a serious discussion of the real issues. Barry Clegg Nicollet Island __________________________________________________ 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
