I donât often post twice in one day, but the juxtaposition of Jackie
Crosbyâs story in
yesterdayâs Strib about St. Paulâs willingness to use taxpayer money for
redevelopment
with Laura Yuenâs article today about Martin Lubellâs struggles at the
Renaissance Box
building provide some interesting quotes that will hopefully let us recognize
that the
Cityâs redevelopment efforts need a soul in addition to business sense.
>From the Strib:
"Unfortunately, there's not a black-and-white test for when the city gets
involved," said
Council Member Jay Benanav, who is chair of the city's Housing and
Redevelopment
Authority (HRA). "We look at a number of factors: What benefit is there to the
city? Do
we need more housing? What kind? Would it happen without the city's
participation?
But sometimes the city's decision is more than economics and increasing the tax
baseâ
Sometimes it's about intangibles -- a social benefit or quality-of-life benefit
-- and a lot of
times it depends on how much money we have."
>From the Pioneer Press today:
Lubell's mission has been to offer something special and imaginative in
downtown's
North Quadrant, now an urban canyon of new residential buildings. But the
goateed, half-
French former techie who ends his cell phone conversations with "Ciao, ciao,"
admits his
emotional approach to business might be part of the reason he's suffering.
Lubell has his supporters. His creativity is needed downtown, said resident Bob
Spaulding. As new housing projects crop up, the Wacouta Commons area is finally
enjoying a growing number of residents. But folks are realizing that "what's
missing in
large parts is the glue that holds it all together," said Spaulding, who
regularly meets at
Renaissance Box with his downtown neighborhood committee. As people are moving
and the dust is settling, the concern is that we seem to be at great risk of
losing this
community center,"
"What if it did work?" Lubell said. "Wouldn't that be 10 times more amazing
than just
having another condominium?"
This one ought to be a no-brainer for the City. The North Quadrant is new and
wonderful, but it would benefit greatly with the heart and soul that Martinâs
building
offers.
Diane Gerth
West End
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