(I don't know how you people can be so brief about something of such global
importance!!! Sorry about the length here, and that few will bother with
to read it. But if you've got 5 minutes, there's a treat waiting for you
at the end.)
Yes, it does make one "wonder about the city's association with the
developer community," particularly with Song Uppa Lan Ding Fawcett in the
news these days. And I bet there's a developer in Copenhagen or Hong Kong
who has the best idea of all. It's all very nerve-wracking, wondering what
deals are being struck without our input. (I guess our Councilman IS our
neighborhood spokesperson after all, so we'll just have to trust him, and
the Mayor, et. al., to do the right thing so we don't have to tar 'n'
feather them later. As long as they didn't say anything like "Oh, sure -
you can knock that down no problem!" they should be safe.)
But alas, here we are in Saint Small, and working on an extremely tight
schedule. In an attempt to cut our losses or avert tragedy, the City
appears to be taking a "lesser of two dozen evils" approach - that is,
doing what they can to get the property before Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe or
some other inconsiderate bastards get their mitts on it. So, that's not a
bad thing. (insert Chuck R's wisdom here) It could be more like my
fantasy, of course, but I must have saved 8 flocks of ducks by now trying
to win the damn lottery and STILL can't afford to buy the place, and
Charlize Theron and Woody Harrelson must be too immersed in Virginian
nightlife to return my calls. Latrell Sprewell could...uh, never mind...
(But what do these people DO with their money, for fuxake?! Come on, Woody
- can't you see yourself owning a brewery?! You could smoke whatever you
wanted to up on the roof! I'm calling him again right now...)
I'm not thrilled about the back room dealings either, but if I were a
wealthy, successful developer, I would've been the first person at City
Hall asking how I could be a part of this opportunity of a lifetime. I
have no qualms about my tax dollars being put to use in this case so that
we can have a louder say in what goes down at the site. A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush, and I'm not going anywhere near any bushes, or
anyone in Cen-tral Tex-as for that matter. If I want to use native stone
for a new building, it's only fair that I root for the native sons and
daughters, also. (In today's Ingrassia article he writes "the city was
considering putting up a $500,000 loan toward the project." This is half
as much as we're talking about today, for a project three orders of
magnitude less special, IMHO.)
We have a sh!tload of information on the brewery, and if you could see what
I have seen, if I could burn you a CD of my mind (great soundtrack, btw),
you too would be having visions of fit waitrons toting 5 liters in each
hand, horses on cobblestoned pedestrianways, gaslit alleys (I mean all�e),
multiple microbreweries vying for perfection, a brewery supply store, a
civic auditorium cum cinema cum theater (one screen will do, thank you very
much), a Shillelaghs Are Us shop, ad infinitum... The neighborhood's sense
of success of the redevelopment will not be measured in housing units or
dollars but in pride. Five hundred is not twice as good as 250, just as
50� is not twice as warm as 25�. There are units at the Upper Landing that
need to be filled (the Christmas decorations might have fooled me if they
weren't still up) before more need to be built. Victoria Park/River Bluff
will have hundreds more.
Having said that, others live in reality, and I need to respect that.
George Sherman (or whoever) will need "his numbers." Fortunately, he seems
to be a sensible enough man and will likely be open to Left Bank idealism.
As for real estate tax generation, any "loss" (but remember: "if you aint'
got nothin' you got nothin' to lose") due to a lower density would likely
be made up in the form of sales taxes collected from what would then be
more attractive and happenin' venues and such. Hell, I'd pay an extra 10
cents per liter in additional taxes. The focus is not to be on housing, but
on the brewery and beer. Four hundred units seems high at first, but maybe
it's not unrealistic. Maybe even more would fit, if we get creative and
innovative, who knows. The issue of height will come up, but if we build a
3-D model, there's no telling how many storeys would work on the right
spot(s). Most of us agree that it's all in the design, the scale, the
massing, and all that other archi-babble. I know, I know, "you don't
understand!" But there's a thing or two about the brewery that "they"
don't understand either. (I will add that Sherman's price range of $200k
to $240k is the most reasonable range we've heard in ages. And it's in
writing this time.)
When the preliminary design comes out any hour now, no doubt we will tear
it to shreds initially. But we will approach the designers as though they
have never been here before, never partied in the Rathskellar, never
painted catch basins, never fought GSE, never talked with a Stahlmann or a
Bremer, never crawled inside The Bottle, never snuck inside the grounds or
tunnels after dark, never drank the water, never had a Big Mouth...
,without being that condescending, of course. It'll kinda be like having
foreign exchange students come to live with you - they mean well and want
to please you and to succeed, but they just don't have a clue about some of
your local customs, experiences, traditions, philosophies, and
expectations. You can't just let these kids come into your house and take
advantage of all your stuff. It is my duty as a citizen to enlighten
foreigners, be they from Minneapolis or Uruguay, with our Saint Paul
wavelength of light, and I intend on shining on, as dimly as my
illuminations may be.
Nobody wants to fight - this is Dove Country after all - but we must hold
our ground, quite literally. The resolve of our great neighborhood is
being tested. But make no mistake, we will show the world that we will pass
the test. But rather than go it alone, we will seek inter-neighborhood
support and liberate the Tower. Failure is not an option, but if somehow
we do fail, Prince and his ilk won't be the only ones to know what it
sounds like when doves cry, and the Great Valley will flood with our tears.
Look out below!
As for Historic Designation, it's almost just a matter of cobbling a few
more things together, typing away for a while, and BOOM! National
Registration! So, if I were the developer, I would approach the "infilling
process" under the assumption that anything built within the period of
historic significance should be kept on the plan. If you don't know what
those buildings are you need to ask. If, after exhausting all attempts at
making "the numbers" with those buildings in place, then and only then can
we discuss going forward without historic designation status. Everyone is
aware that this status is somewhat of a double-edged sword, but there is
really no compelling reason that Schmidt's could not be developed as though
it were already designated. Look at Mill City. Look at Irvine Park. Look
at CSPS Hall. Are these nationally registered places economically unviable
or a pain in the ass? I think not. From pecuniary and societal points of
view, they are all wonderful successes. And how about those tax credits,
eh? Ka-ching.
Other than my wife, my house, my dog, my truck, my job, and a reason to go
on, I have nothing to lose by doing my best to ensure something of
international renown is produced. I owe it to the Germans. We all owe it
to the brewers, and to the City. I'm no politician, nor economist, nor
architect, but I am an American who hangs out and sleeps with them, and I'm
at the top of the Org Chart with y'all, damn it. Besides, with the NHL
strike, I don't have much else going on...
What was the question?
AMH
"Schmidt Happens" Project
Left Bank Consultants (We're FREE! And all our meetings include good
beer!)
Brewerytown, USA
PS I just got this delayed message from Tim E:
"Anyone care to comment on how the city can best cooperate with
developers to make sure that key development sites are developed with
the long term interests of the city in mind?"
I wish you had said "...how developers can best cooperate with the city..."
We can't let the developers hold the conch all the time, can we?! John M
is experienced and wise and unselfish enough to realize that "It will be
important that the City keep the neighborhood and public in
general involved from the start." This is also helpful in preventing
revolutions, uprisings, and insurgencies. Well, "the start" hath started.
Lift up your voices; lift them up unto the Mayor! Together we will reach
paradise and all that awaits us there!
(Hey - whatever it takes...)
(Just kidding. About the treat, that is.)
Andrew M. Hine
Corporate Research Materials Laboratory
3M Center 201-1W-28
St. Paul MN
55144-1000
USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (651) 733-1070
Fax: (651) 737-5335
Lab 201-W110
M Charles Swope
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
m> To
Sent by: John Birrenbach
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, St Paul
forum.org Discuss <[email protected]>
cc
02/10/2005 08:24 Subject
AM [StPaul] GSE Sale
The city is going to lend local developer Sherman
Assoc. and Kraus-Anderson $1 million to help them win
the bidding for the Schmidt Brewery/GSE property on
West 7th.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/10859884.htm
There is also the possibility of further help in the
form of tax increment financing later on.
The rationale for this, and it may be correct, is that
this will give the city better control over the design
of what's built on the site. The Sherman/Kraus plan is
for housing with some small retail, a coffee shop
being mentioned.
But is anyone worried about the city financing one
bidder against another? It's understandable that the
city is concerned about what happens to the site. But
how do we know that Sherman/Kraus has the best design?
Isn't it possible that another bidder might have a
decent plan as well. And isn't the city just
increasing the amount of money that will be paid for
the property? That money will go to pay the bills of
the people who tormented the neighborhood for so long.
I'm not saying that this is a terrible thing to do. I
don't know. I'm just raising some questions and
hoping someone more knowledgable or insightful can
answer them. Again, I understand the city's
motivation. I just wonder about the city's association
with the developer community.
Charlie Swope
Ward 1
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