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MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
Tuesday Feb. 21, 2006
Univ. Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE, Minneapolis

1. Meeting called to order by President Brian Biele at 7:40 pm. A motion to approve the agenda (A Fraser) was passed.
2. The minutes of the last meeting were approved (B. Sherman motion).
3. Carol Oosterhius (rhymes with “toaster mice”) our new Crime Prevention Specialist was introduced. She has been with the police department for 15 years. She brought info about some upcoming Block Club training, which helps neighbors watch out for each other. She urged people to use the new 311 for non-emergencies. Keep calling 911 to report crimes in progress – including noisy parties. A Citizen’s Academy will be held in the fall – residents can learn how police officers make the decisions they do. Applications are due in August. Police & Community meetings are held monthly at the Second Precinct Station, 1911 Central Ave NE. For more info, contact Carol at 673-2874.
4. Ben Heywood, Executive Director of the Soap Factory Art Gallery, on Second Street & 5th Ave SE, updated the group on their activities. They received $5000 from our NRP to help pay for a feasibility study on the possible redevelopment of their building. The study cost $55,000 and was funded by the McKnight and Andy Warhol foundations as well as our NRP. The gallery has been there since 1995.The building (formerly Purity Soap Co. built in the 1880s) was donated by Pillsbury to the nonprofit gallery. It is the only surviving Victorian warehouse space in Minneapolis, although it is does not have historic designation. It is set up to support and promote work of emerging artists. At 12,000 square feet, it is the third largest gallery in the Twin Cities. They also offer performances, film and spoken word. They receive funding from foundations and are considered “major players” on the national stage. They have one full time employee and three part timers.The building is not without problems. When they got it, it was vacant, stripped, and it’s still unheated. They have spent $200,000 on improvements so far. They still need sprinklers, an elevator, air conditioning and heat, insulation, and windows replaced. In 2-3 years the building will be surrounded by luxury condos and in that new context they feel a need to “sharpen up their act”. They worked with local architect Julie Snow to create several options for the future. The most basic plan, doing the above-mentioned improvements, would cost $2 million. The second plan would retain the gallery on first floor give over the two top floors to for-profit, creative entities, possible adding a small cabaret theater and restaurant. They want to make this a destination. The third scheme would add six stories of rentable office space. They are not interested in adding more residential to the area.Soap Factory owns 1/4 of 5th Ave SE, a vacated street. They are working with Schafer Richardson to create a “public benefit” on 5th Ave between Second and Main. The next step- their board needs to settle on a design and begin raising the $2 million needed. They hope to be finished by the end of 2007. Presently they have very little parking, but street parking is available for events. Check the website for more info: www.soapfactory.org

   On their calendar – the 5th Annual Marcy Arts Gala, Sat May 6th, held at the Soap Factory.

5. CM Diane Hofstede spoke about the A-Mill vote at city council’s zoning & planning committee. She complimented our own Jo Radzwill and Arvonne Fraser for doing an outstanding job presenting MHNA’s viewpoint at the hearing. The A Mill and the Red Tile Elevator are promised as the first phase. The plans have to go back to HPC for some building material reviews. The Noisy Party Ordinance changes are now in effect and will be reviewed again in a year. . The Third Ward Summit is set for Sat March 4th. Neighborhoods will do presentations and attendees will brainstorm on issues in the ward and city. A question was asked about two pit bulls in the neighborhood that attacked a dog on a leash last summer along 4th St SE. CM Hofstede will follow up. Another question concerned parking along University Ave – especially where people park all the way to corners making it hard to see if it is safe to take a left turn from the avenues. Since it is a county road, she will contact Hennepin County Comm. McLaughlin.
6. Jeff Miller of HKGi made a presentation on the three areas of the neighborhood that was part of the supplemental master plan. Display boards showing possible concepts for these areas were on easels and people were encouraged to look at them and ask questions. These plans, and the master plan, are not binding, but are an indication to developers that we will work with them if they follow this direction. They also summarized comments from the recent “Developers Roundtables”. Land prices here are high so that is something of a barrier to assembling land. In order to offset the prices, there needs to be a certain “intensity” (density). Neighborhood amenities are necessary to attract certain types of development. The enhancement of our public spaces is important in attracting developers. They’ll be back at our April meeting with more plans.
7. Student Liaison Matt Hill reported that he is working on a spring project encouraging students to reach out to permanent residents. He is using restorative justice participants to distribute flyers. He left forms on the back table if people have issues for him to address.
8. The Gophers Stadium EIS final comments are due Feb 27. You can review the document online, at the MHNA office, or at SE Library
9. Meeting adjourned at 9 pm, but folks stayed longer to look at the display boards

Melissa Bean, MHNA Executive Director