Archives by date

Minutes of the MHNA General Meeting Tuesday Jan. 15, 2002 University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE

1. Meeting called to order at 7:18 PM. A change to the agenda was noted- NRP would be the first item. The November minutes were approved.

2. Joe Fusco spoke abut the Master Plan for the neighborhood. This Friday is the deadline for proposals from firms who would facilitate the planning. A selection committee is set to review the proposals and interview finalists. The Planning Dept. is assisting. The information session was well attended. Joe got a CURA grant to hire an intern to do research on how other communities near large institutions deal with the effects on neighborhood housing and livability. Brianne Dalnes, Augsburg College, will be our intern. She will attend the Feb. MHNA meeting.

Tom Lincoln, MHNA Board and NRP Implementation, stressed the importance of the upcoming Master Plan focus meetings. A lot of participation will be needed for the plan – it will be like when we did the original NRP Action Plan. The Master Plan sessions will include all stake holders (not just residents) so there will be meetings separate from MHNA meetings. Joe also said that at our Feb. meeting we would consider re-directing our Cops on Bikes funding to more weekend party patrols.

3. Chris Wilson informed the group that he and the other SE presidents are meeting monthly with Council Member Zerby now. Then Council Member Zerby spoke to the group. He said that there are some difficult financial times at the council now – approx. $15-20 million dollars must be cut. His assistant is Allan Bernard, who formerly worked for Lisa McDonald and is at this time chairing his neighborhood association’s meeting. Council Member Zerby hopes to keep communications open and already is looking into the 15th Ave SE lighting questions from Livability Committee. He has been in orientation for 10 days, learning the workings of the city. The committees he is on are: Executive, Ways and Means, Intergovernmental Relations, Health and Human Services, and Rules.

Ardes Johnson addressed Mr. Zerby, commending the actions of Sanitation Dept’s Susan Young and Inspections” Chad Patrow for their work on our Livability Committee. Chris Wilson asked what progress has been made on the Mayor’s plan to re-structure the MCDA/NRP/Planning Dept. Mr. Zerby replied that a consulting firm (pro bono) is looking at the situation and has been given neighborhood contact list so we may be hearing from them. He does not like the city council members serving as the MCDA commissioners. He would like to separate those roles. He also would like to see greater neighborhood participation, and ways for the affected neighborhood to get involved earlier in the process when a project is proposed. There is an ordinance in St. Paul that requires neighborhood notification as soon as a project is proposed, and he would like to see something similar in Minneapolis. He is interested in reforming some of the police practices that he finds unacceptable. He would like to see the Civilian Review Authority have the power of subpoena. He also asked that students participate in the new monthly SE presidents’ meetings, and our own Blaine Johnson has agreed to attend. Mr. Zerby is not sure using neighborhood funds for police buy back is wise. Instead, he would rather see more police hired.

4. Consultant Kim Vohs made a presentation on a proposal for Clare Apartments, on Central Ave NE, across from our border and including the old King of Clubs site. Clare Housing of St. Paul is proposing housing (“shelter and compassion”) there for persons with HIV/Aids. Part of the site was MCDA property. When they announced its availability, Clare Housing was the only applicant with a proposal. The site has some problems,such as a utilities right of way. By purchasing the bar, they added to the site and rid the neighborhood of a nuisance problem. The neighborhood would like to add some retail, perhaps a convenience store, to the apartment building. The proposal is for 28 affordable 1 bedroom and studio housing units, retail, office and a meeting space for the St. Anthony East neighborhood organization.

There are two other Clare Housing properties- one in the Kingfield neighborhood and one in Mac Groveland in St Paul. The new project will be affordable units and provide residents with a small community where they can look out for each other. Clare Housing will be officing on the first floor. There will be a 24-hr caretaker. They plan to break ground in Dec of this year. They have a $4.4 million budget, with $1.6 million in private financing and some grants from foundations. The building is on a major bus line. Nicollet Island approved the concept and deferred to the St. Anthony East neighborhood group to work out the site plan specifics. There will be some re-zoning, as the different parcels involved are zoned differently. Mr. Vohs and the architect were thanked and then they left.

5. Janet Wheelock, chaplain of the University Episcopal Center, and Noah Bly, of the Cuningham Group, made a presentation on a new Episcopal Center and apartments, to be located at their current site, 317 17th Ave SE. This is just outside of our neighborhood, but it is not within any official neighborhood’s boundaries. The center has been there for 50 years and it has been primarily a ministry of students and faculty. The current building was designed to be a single use church, but as campus ministry needs are changing, that building will no longer suffice. Their proposal is for a 10,000 square foot new interfaith sanctuary and affordable housing for 10 -12 students who are interested in a religious practice residence on the first floor, and market rate student housing in the upper floors. They have purchased the vacant Presbyterian building next door. Both will be razed to make way for the new center. They propose one level of underground parking with 48 stalls. They expect approx 175 residents. The chapel will be built for a capacity of 100 people. The chapel will have fine acoustics and will be will be a flexible sacred space.

A question was asked about the outside of the chapel – it doesn’t seem to say “church” as shown in the drawing. Rev. Wheelock replied that they will do some kind of signage with religious symbols, and there will be a marketing effort. The project would be managed by the Dunbar group that did University Village, Great Lakes Mgmt. They would need a setback variance and a conditional use permit. They would like it to be ready for occupancy next fall. The presenters were thanked and then they left.

6. The MHNA membership discussed the Clare Apts proposal. A motion to approve it in concept and defer the details of the site plan and design to the resident neighborhood organization passed unanimously.

7. The membership discussed the Episcopal Center proposal. The city is now requiring student housing to provide parking at a ratio of .5 spaces per bed. Their plan does not meet this requirement. It was suggested they should re-visit that part of the plan. There are no visitor parking spaces provided – where do worshippers park? Perhaps something could be worked out with the nearby ramp. There were several comments about the look of the building – that it appears to be a housing project with a church tacked on, instead of the other way around. People liked the mixed use concept, did not object to the density because of its proximity to the university, but wanted a re-designed chapel. It was felt that the proposal was a creative use of an underutilized site. The following motion (J Zelesnikar) was passed unanimously: We would like them to return to our next meeting with a solution to visitor parking; an increased number of resident parking spaces to meet the city’s .5 spaces per bed; and a re-designed chapel that more clearly conveys their “place of refreshment” and “community outreach” intentions.

8. New Livability Committee chair Ardes Johnson spoke about the committee’s work. She thanked the “old timers” who served on the previous Livability Committee and helped the new one get started: Rod Ecklund, Joyce Anderson, Elsie Charlton, Delores Link. Ardes informed the group that there is now a Livability link on the website that lists city ordinances for things like shoveling and trash. She also thanked U of MN’s Jan Morlock for attending as well as Inspector Chad Patrow. The group is planning a brochure on ordinances and codes to distribute to residents. Communication is their biggest challenge- how to convey expectations to a transient population. She has so far had good experience door knocking. They are working on increasing the lighting on 15th Ave SE – right now it is only on one side of the street. They are focusing on 15th Ave SE, as it is a gateway to the neighborhood. One of the eyesores they went after is the constant leaving of trash carts at curbside on 15th. Susan Young, of Public Works, instituted a Tag and Tow program there and it has worked beautifully. On the Marcy-Holmes website you can report garbage cart problem addresses. Another positive step the committee has taken is the adoption of city litter containers. There are eight new ones and they really work. The fraternities and sororities have been contacted about additional adoptions. The city provides the bags, they just need a sponsor to monitor and empty them. It was suggested we add some kind of signage ( do your part to keep Marcy-Holmes clean). Regis Gaudet asked about monitoring snow shoveling, and Ardes said volunteers are needed. She wants this to be a neighborhood that people want to walk in and the committee is a way to improve that experience and help make this a lovely neighborhood. A motion was passed to send letters of commendation to their supervisors about Susan Young and Chad Patrow. The New Livability Committee meets monthly – next one is Feb. 4 at 4:00 in the library at Univ. Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE.

9. Misc. announcements: The people in charge of bikeways have chosen the Bridge 9 connection to St. Paul campus as the first priority This will be good for our neighborhood. More bike news – connecting of the 5th St. route – signage has been funded. When 15th Ave is rebuilt, better bike lanes will be included.

SE Como’s Environmental Coordinator is looking for MHNA reps on numerous committees. Please contact the office to learn more.

Ardes Johnson has volunteered to be our rep on the DBA. We still need someone for Old St. Anthony Assoc and the North Star Rail Line Task Force.

State Senator Larry Pogemiller is hosting community meetings at Van Cleve Park Sat Jan 19 and Sat Feb. 22 at 9 am. All invited.

The final version of the Historic Mills District Plan can be viewed at MCDA’s website (www.mcda.org click on what’s new at top. then go to bottom and select Update to the Historic Mills …)

Free Community Garden workshops are being offered at Brackett Park on six Saturdays in Feb. Call the office for details.

More news on the Marcy ABC/Auction, Benefit, Concert Sat March 16. Musicians will be Johnny Hanson and the Ranchtones, Cafe Accordion and Machinery Hill. Tickets can be reserved at 692-0719 or at marcyarts@mpls.k12.mn.us A list of artists whose work will be auctioned should be available soon. This will be a fun event, with proceeds going to the arts programming at Marcy Open School.

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 PM. Melissa Bean, staff

---

News of the Jan 15, 2002 MHNA Board meeting

1. Misc. updates – Before she left office, Council Member Campbell obtained a special council permit to allow the drive through for a new McDonald’s. The Planning Commission had continued the item, as they did not think it was proper to alter the zoning text for one business, but that became moot after the special council permit was issued. However, this does not exempt McDonald’s from site plan review process. “The design considerations are still very much alive,” according to Ted Tucker, Planning Commissioner, who was also present tonight. We already made our comments after the Z & P Committee met with Mr. Choate. Additional comments can still be made, as the Planning Commission will not be hearing this again until Feb. 11.

Stone Arch Apts. – Their financing is underway, despite our last letter of non support to Steve Cramer at MCDA. There is some talk of lawsuits still to come. The developers are getting $500,000 for site clean up, seeking $24 million in Housing Revenue Bonds. The TIF District is not yet set up, but it is forthcoming. The developer has $8 million in equity for the project. The complex must remain affordable for the length of the bonds, 20-30 years. The developer has signed an agreement to re-dedicate the vacated street after vacation. All this from a meeting with Paul Zerby and aide, Allan Bernard. A monthly meeting of SE neighborhood presidents and 2nd ward council person has been scheduled.

Lupient – Mpls. Police Dept. substation will open in Feb. Nearly all the new businesses will open by end of Feb. There is still at least one retail space open. A spa is going in, according to signs.

Dams & Permits – Dave Polaschek reported that the Main St. plant paperwork is now at FERC. A new project, the St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectric Corp. has applied for a license to generate power at the Lower Falls. This would be a smaller plant. Dave restated that what we want most is access to the river. The plans are still preliminary, but there is talk of a low flat building with an observation deck.

Development- Tom Lincoln mentioned an upcoming meeting with the U of MN and a planning group from Toronto that has been hired to look at the Dinkydome block. This is likely to occur soon, as the GrandMarc developers from Atlanta are planning some kind of development there. The U’s study will identify the most pressing needs for the block from the U’s perspective. They are expected to be housing, parking. retail and perhaps office. We will know more in Feb.

There are some openings on the Planning Commission, including the one occupied by Ted Tucker. Ted affirmed that he was interested in re-appointment, so a motion (C+D Polaschek) was passed to send a letter of recommendation .

At 7:00 the board recessed to make way for a Public Hearing on beer and wine license for Da Afghan Express in Dinkytown.

---

Licensing Department’s Linda Roberts convened the hearing and introduced the owner, Gafar Lakanwal. The restaurant has been in operation since Oct. 2000. The owners have another Da Afghan in Bloomington, in business for 13 years. The Bloomington restaurant serves wine and strong beer. The DBA is in support of the license. He has received many letters of support. The restaurant is open from 11 am to 10 pm. The license costs approximately $3,000. It is not transferrable if it changes ownership or they move. The license requires a food to beverage mix of 60/40. He does not anticipate serving hard liquor, and Ms Roberts said that the site is not zoned for hard liquor. There was some question about that, and she agreed to get back to us. When the group was asked if there was anymore who wanted to speak against the application, no one came forward. The public hearing ended at 7:17 and the board meeting re-convened and immediately adjourned.Melissa Bean, MHNA Staff