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Do You Have Any Questions About St. Paul
Government or Politics? Please Post Them Here.
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The Friends of SARPA "Last Thursday of the Month Happy Hour will not be
at O'Gara's this month. Please see us at the meeting described below!
Thanks!Adina Overbee
SARPA-Communications/Membership
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [NeighborsUnited] IMPORTANT MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 29th. Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 12:56:41 -0500 From: Alyssa Rebensdorf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
IMPORTANT MEETING THIS WEEK!!!!!
Macalester Groveland Community Council Public Hearing on Proposed Expansion of the University of St. Thomas
Thursday, April 29th, 2004 at 7pm
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Snelling & Lincoln Avenues
I assume the meeting is in the basement meeting room. You can park in the lot north of the church and enter from the alley door and head down the stairs. There will likely be signs posted. I also assume the format will be to sign up as you come in to speak, then when your name is called, you can share your comments with the community council for three minutes.
Three minutes goes fast. As you prepare your comments, consider what it is about the expansion proposal that troubles you, what kind of change you hope for and what you're asking the Community Council to do. I would encourage us at this point to turn the table on UST at the upcoming hearings and focus our comments on what doesn't work about their proposal (remember, it is still just a proposal) and what we think will be better. Let's give our listeners our clearest statement of the problem and our best ideas for the future and insist that the decision makers act on these issues.
For example, I will argue with my last breath that the expansion proposal DOES NOT DO what UST says it does. In particular, it does not solve neighborhood parking and traffic concerns, it only makes them worse. I believe that the proposed land use must be less dense (fewer housing units on Grand, save the homes on Summit, one major building on the east block, not two, and reduce the size and height of that building). I also believe the project must be reviewed by the Community Council and the City as part of the larger scheme of projected expansion over the next 20 years, so that we as a neighborhood can hope for real solutions to the problems that plague us. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE. THE DECISION MAKERS HAVE NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO VIEW THE UST MASTER CAMPUS PLAN AND REVIEW THE CURRENT PROJECT IN LIGHT OF THAT PLAN. How would that review help us? One example is the proposed student center on the corner of Summit and Cretin. At the mediation in 2002, UST indicated that the center is slated to be the transit hub of the campus. I would argue that this project and the installation of a true transit hub, with off campus parking and shuttle service (perhaps connected with University Avenue Housing) must be undertaken now, before the land use on the current campus space become ever denser and more students are housed on campus. It will not help us to crowd more students onto campus, and get a transit hub 10-15 years from now. What can the Community Council do? Resolve to insist that the current project be delayed until the Council and the City can make a full review of the full campus expansion and work toward a proposal that ensures the long term viability of the neighborhood.
Unless we keep up the charge, we're going to get Dinkytowned, folks. Let's not let it happen. Whatever your issue, whatever your proposed solution, please bring it forth on Thursday. We are going to have to be the problem solvers and show others the way, or the steamroller will keep on moving this project through. We must work hand in hand with the Community Council, the City Council, the Heritage Preservation Commission, and ...each other!!!. Please share your concerns and ideas. SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Thanks very much. See you on Thursday.
Alyssa
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