I am working on a project ....... that will
continue the amazing transformation of the Mpls riverfront from industrial and
railroad uses to one of the most desirable urban neighborhoods in the
country.........
Railroads were once the lifeblood of the city
........ Now... they do not need to be on the river.......the industrial
uses that need them -- can be farther from the water.....Reclaiming the
river as a vital part of the residential fabric of the city is exciting
and long overdue.
- Phil Carlson, Brooklyn Park
I would love to see our central city riverfront developed
along the lines you are talking about. However, Winona still has
active business and industrial rail shippers spread out along
most of its riverfront, many of which also utilize river shipping. If and
when any development space opens up, I doubt that Winona could
imagine it transformed into a desirable urban neighborhood. The
integration of commercial / industrial activity with upscale housing would be
too difficult of a planning and engineering challenge. And anyway, our
conventional wisdom is that the central city is where you put
"affordable" housing.
I was surprised that the editor of Big River
magazine, based in Winona, was among those advocating for a riverfront
main rail line relocation at last week's DM&E meeting. If
that route would not replace the switching sidings there now, but be
in addition to them, then his building, Jefferson's Pub, The Americinn,
the HBCI building, among others, would have to go. In any case, I'll bet
raising the money for this would take more than extending the
half cent lake dredging sales tax.
