Re: [Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
At 11:52 PM -0500 10/21/02, Diane Wiley wrote: What happened? Last we heard was that there was a meeting with HOBT and the city... I don't have too many details, but Kathee (HOBT Ex. director) would like people to continue to contact their council person and the mayor. I guess this means that the city has not yet come through on their pledge to help HOBT. Maybe MJ can add something to this? Links here, for those coming in late: http://www.urbancreek.com/hobt/factsheet.html http://www.urbancreek.com/hobt/contact.html http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/pi.app/Ward_Selection/Address.asp Karen Cooper, in Tangletown, and grateful to John Rocker for pointing out that the $22 million being spent on a couple of downtown theaters makes this project positively thrifty in comparison ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
What happened? Last we heard was that there was a meeting with HOBT and the city... Diane Wiley, Powderhorn, long time Beastie supporter
RE: [Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
I am posting the foloowing on behalf of Kathee Foran, In the Heart of the Beast's Executive Director. MJ Mueller Seward Dear John, Thanks for your message. I've been so embroiled in my own little world over here in Phillips/Powderhorn that I've never asked myself why the city would fund the Pantages and the Shubert and not HOBT. Thanks for making me look up and take notice if you have the time and the inclination it would be great if you would call the Mayor's office and ask these questions. As to how we got to this far without securing the city portion was that we thought it was a done deal. I feel a little foolish/naive to tell you that we took the word of the Mayor and the city council members that were present (Dean Zimmermann & Gary Schiff) at the meeting we had last February, when they told us that if we could get a purchase agreement on the building that they would take care of the gap - through Empowerment Zone and MCDA programs. The public campaign asking people to support this project does seem to be having results -- we have a meeting scheduled for 8:00am tomorrow in the Mayor's office. Of course, in the meantime the clock continues to tick. Thanks again for reminding me of the larger world ... I will search out the Strib articles. Please contact me if you have any more ideas or questions. Kathee Foran Executive Director In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre Phillips From: "John Rocker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "mpls issues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 11:36:43 -0500 I'm wondering 1) why the city would fund the Pantages and the Shubert but not HOTB; and 2) how the HOTB got all the way to its closing date without securing the city funding it thought it had. According to past Strib articles, the city is spending $12M for the restorations of the Pantages and surrounding Stimson Building; and the city spent $4-5M moving the Shubert even though Artspace has yet to secure the remainder of its financing. [Note: the Strib also wrote that the MCDA is spending $6M to renovate the Stimson Building, which it plans to sell to Historic Theatre Group for $3.5M.] On the face of it, the HOTB sounds like a project the city would support: The theater wants the city to contribute only $500,000 (about 25% of total project costs); the project appears to have the remainder of it financing in place; the project has neighborhood support; the project is located in a place where revitalization has been occurring but is still fragile and needs strong anchors; etc. So, I want to know what went wrong. Why did HOBT think it had financing? What reason does the city give for not financing it? John Rocker Calhoun ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _ Unlimited Internet access for only $21.95/month. Try MSN! http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/2monthsfree.asp ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
RE: [Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
I'm wondering 1) why the city would fund the Pantages and the Shubert but not HOTB; and 2) how the HOTB got all the way to its closing date without securing the city funding it thought it had. According to past Strib articles, the city is spending $12M for the restorations of the Pantages and surrounding Stimson Building; and the city spent $4-5M moving the Shubert even though Artspace has yet to secure the remainder of its financing. [Note: the Strib also wrote that the MCDA is spending $6M to renovate the Stimson Building, which it plans to sell to Historic Theatre Group for $3.5M.] On the face of it, the HOTB sounds like a project the city would support: The theater wants the city to contribute only $500,000 (about 25% of total project costs); the project appears to have the remainder of it financing in place; the project has neighborhood support; the project is located in a place where revitalization has been occurring but is still fragile and needs strong anchors; etc. So, I want to know what went wrong. Why did HOBT think it had financing? What reason does the city give for not financing it? John Rocker Calhoun ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Re: [Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
Hi, thanks for posting! It is indeed critical that the city council and mayor hear from the citizens on this. Please, folks, call or write your councilperson, and let them know you support an expanded Heart of the Beast presence and new commercial space helping to anchor the corner of Bloomington and Lake. The theater's Executive Director has written a Fact Sheet on buying and re-purposing 1508 Lake which you can read here: http://www.urbancreek.com/hobt/factsheet.html Kindly, Karen Cooper [I'm a new list member, too] Fuller At 2:47 PM -0500 10/15/02, MJ Mueller wrote: >Dear List, > >The following was sent out by Powderhorn Park Neighborhood >Association. Although it addresses residents of Powderhorn Park etc. >I believe it to be a Minneapolis issue, so I am posting it here. I >urge your support of this project. Thanks. > >MJ Mueller >Seward > >Attention Artists, Residents, Business and Property Owners of the >Powderhorn Park, Phillips and surrounding neighborhoods: >The much anticipated Neighborhood Multi-Cultural Arts Center is in jeopardy! > >Planning for the Center, which would revitalize the vacant building >at 1508 East Lake Street (the former Antiques Minnesota building), >has been a collaborative effort of In the Heart of the Beast Theatre >(HOBT), Midtown Phillips neighborhood, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood >Association (PPNA), and the California Building Company. > >The Issue: >With the terms of a purchase agreement (between HOBT and the current >owner) coming due, expected financial help from the city of >Minneapolis has not materialized, and could kill the deal. > >Background: >Two years ago, Heart of the Beast Theatre requested assistance from >PPNA to assess potential reuse options for the former Antiques >Minnesota building at 1508 East Lake Street. > >Of first concern was HOBTs need for permanent shop space (they >currently use the theater space as a shop between productions, >removing and replacing the seats each time!). A dedicated shop would >mean a dedicated theater, providing a regional performance space for >non-HOBT use as well. The balance of the 1508 building was to be >built-out as additional retail space for artists and expansion space >for the Mercado Central. > >With PPNAs help, the California Building Company (a for-profit, >arts-based property management and developer located on California >Street in Minneapo-lis) was identified as an appropriate development >partner for the project. With HOBT, they entered into a purchase >agreement for the property earlier this year with a tentative >closing date of 4 October 2002. > >>From the beginning of the project, it was known that the project had a >funding gap of about $600,000. Fortunately, Minneapolis officials >(including the Mayor and Councilmember from the 6th, 8th and 9th >Wards) were very eager about the proposal and indicated that the >city would do what was necessary to make this project happen. And >the Midtown Phillips neighborhood committed $100,000 of their NRP >funds to the projects funding needs. > >Currently: >However, recent discussions with city staff and officials have taken >on an unex-pected, and decidedly cooler, tone: MCDA has indicated >that their staff report will recommend against any further city >funding (HOBT had requested a grant from a fund specifically >restricted to non-profit organizations). > >Through his attorney, current owner Selwin Ortega has made it known >last week that he plans to exercise his 30-day non-performance >clause of the purchase agreement, terminating the sale of the >building (and adjacent parking lot) to HOBT. He further suggested >that he plans to convert the structure to a food-product warehouse >for his Las Americas grocery stores, having recently sold his Fourth >& Lake properties for this purpose to the Urban Ventures >organization. Recent experience suggests that there is virtually no >neighborhood support for such a proposal. > >In contrast, enthusiasm for the Art Center is nearly unanimous, with >PPNA, East Phillips, Midtown Phillips, Lake Street Council, and the >Bloomington-Cedar-Lake Commercial Association all on record in >strong support of HOBT (exemplified by Midtown Phillips $100,000 >contribution). > >What We Ask You To Do: >Say Something Now! >Very simply, call or write to the Mayor and your Councilmember in >support of the Neighborhood Art Center. Letters have the greatest >impact with elected officials (as compared to e-mail), because its >generally recognized as an indicator of extreme concern when someone >takes the time to pull out pen and paper. And a letter expressed in >your own words is particularly powerful. So use the information in >this message, but refrain from word-for-word copies as much as >possible. Ive attached a copy of PPNAs letter to the Mayor for >your information and to serve as inspiration for what you might say. >Send your letter to: >Mayor R.T. Rybak >Minneapolis Ci
[Mpls] 1508 Lake Street Revitalization
Dear List, The following was sent out by Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. Although it addresses residents of Powderhorn Park etc. I believe it to be a Minneapolis issue, so I am posting it here. I urge your support of this project. Thanks. MJ Mueller Seward Attention Artists, Residents, Business and Property Owners of the Powderhorn Park, Phillips and surrounding neighborhoods: The much anticipated Neighborhood Multi-Cultural Arts Center is in jeopardy! Planning for the Center, which would revitalize the vacant building at 1508 East Lake Street (the former Antiques Minnesota building), has been a collaborative effort of In the Heart of the Beast Theatre (HOBT), Midtown Phillips neighborhood, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA), and the California Building Company. The Issue: With the terms of a purchase agreement (between HOBT and the current owner) coming due, expected financial help from the city of Minneapolis has not materialized, and could kill the deal. Background: Two years ago, Heart of the Beast Theatre requested assistance from PPNA to assess potential reuse options for the former Antiques Minnesota building at 1508 East Lake Street. Of first concern was HOBTs need for permanent shop space (they currently use the theater space as a shop between productions, removing and replacing the seats each time!). A dedicated shop would mean a dedicated theater, providing a regional performance space for non-HOBT use as well. The balance of the 1508 building was to be built-out as additional retail space for artists and expansion space for the Mercado Central. With PPNAs help, the California Building Company (a for-profit, arts-based property management and developer located on California Street in Minneapo-lis) was identified as an appropriate development partner for the project. With HOBT, they entered into a purchase agreement for the property earlier this year with a tentative closing date of 4 October 2002. >From the beginning of the project, it was known that the project had a funding gap of about $600,000. Fortunately, Minneapolis officials (including the Mayor and Councilmember from the 6th, 8th and 9th Wards) were very eager about the proposal and indicated that the city would do what was necessary to make this project happen. And the Midtown Phillips neighborhood committed $100,000 of their NRP funds to the projects funding needs. Currently: However, recent discussions with city staff and officials have taken on an unex-pected, and decidedly cooler, tone: MCDA has indicated that their staff report will recommend against any further city funding (HOBT had requested a grant from a fund specifically restricted to non-profit organizations). Through his attorney, current owner Selwin Ortega has made it known last week that he plans to exercise his 30-day non-performance clause of the purchase agreement, terminating the sale of the building (and adjacent parking lot) to HOBT. He further suggested that he plans to convert the structure to a food-product warehouse for his Las Americas grocery stores, having recently sold his Fourth & Lake properties for this purpose to the Urban Ventures organization. Recent experience suggests that there is virtually no neighborhood support for such a proposal. In contrast, enthusiasm for the Art Center is nearly unanimous, with PPNA, East Phillips, Midtown Phillips, Lake Street Council, and the Bloomington-Cedar-Lake Commercial Association all on record in strong support of HOBT (exemplified by Midtown Phillips $100,000 contribution). What We Ask You To Do: Say Something Now! Very simply, call or write to the Mayor and your Councilmember in support of the Neighborhood Art Center. Letters have the greatest impact with elected officials (as compared to e-mail), because its generally recognized as an indicator of extreme concern when someone takes the time to pull out pen and paper. And a letter expressed in your own words is particularly powerful. So use the information in this message, but refrain from word-for-word copies as much as possible. Ive attached a copy of PPNAs letter to the Mayor for your information and to serve as inspiration for what you might say. Send your letter to: Mayor R.T. Rybak Minneapolis City Hall 350 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.673.2100 (City Councilmembers Name) Minneapolis City Hall 350 South Fifth Street, Room 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.673.22(Ward number) For example, Dean Zimmermann is 673.2206 (6th Ward) E-mail is (FirstName.SecondName)@ci.minneapolis.mn.us For example, [EMAIL PROTECTED] The project is located in Ward 6 (Councilmember Dean Zimmermann), but borders on Ward 9 (Councilmember Gary Schiff). We can appreciate the many demands for your time dont let our preference for a letter keep you from sending an e-mail or making a phone call. In any case, dont hesitate! The 30-day clock began last week. The sooner we make
