What University United and others are trying to do now is redirect the kind of development happening in advance of its broad acceptance in the development marketplace. Several tools have or could be employed. We saw the City use zoning to change the form of the CVS Drugstore which will be constructed at Snelling & University. We've seen direct City participation in a pedestrian-oriented library/housing project at University & Dale. Community banks along University have helped build small businesses. And occasionally, some public funds may be invested in a project to make it viable.
When transit improvements come online, the marketplace will respond more naturally. But if we can avert a few poor legendarily decisions before the marketplace is viable, we'll be a long way ahead in making the Avenue even more ripe as a destination for new development.
Given the comprehensive planning that was done, it would have been an entirely appropriate use of the City's zoning authority to block the Aldi development. It was a very disappointing decision for me. Strong encouragement should be brought now to Debbie Montgomery and the City Council to do the same for future proposals for the corner.
Bob Spaulding Downtown
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