MINUTES of the MHNA General Membership Meeting
March 18, 2008
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Ave SE
1. Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by MHNA President, Arvonne Fraser.
2. The agenda was amended to move Dick Gilyard, of the University Partnership District Alliance, from board agenda to first item on general membership agenda.
3. Mr. Gilyard gave a history of the formation of the Alliance, starting with the new Gophers stadium legislation and the ensuing Impact Report (“Moving Forward Together”), which shows how neighborhoods around the University have been adversely impacted by the University, especially in terms of housing. There has been significant loss of owner occupied homes, with many speculators converting these former family homes to rental property. In some cases, the houses have been torn down and high-density rentals have been built in their place. The Impact Report suggested forming an alliance of neighborhoods, business districts, University and city partners, to address these issues. The legislature gave $750,000 to the Alliance for a demonstration project. Committees are meeting to determine what the demonstration project(s) should be.
The committees are: Resources, Early Initatives, Demonstration Project, and Visioning. A report to the legislature on the progress is due Jan 2009. The goal is a vital, safe and attractive area for all.
Mr. Gilyard prodded those present to help suggest how to achieve a sense of connectivity and what creates/unites the fabric of the district (SE Como, Marcy-Holmes, Prospect Park/East River Rd, University District, West Bank ). He showed some storyboards and talked about future marketing efforts. One concept being considered to Maintain Owner Occupancy is an “option to buy program”. Homeowners in a target area would sign an agreement to sell their home to a third party, like GMHC (Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation) when they are ready to move. GMHC would then hold the property until they could resell to an owner occupant. Homeowners signing on to the program would receive some funding to update their home to make it more livable until they are ready to sell. The Alliance has been studying other cities’ successful university neighborhood districts. Council Member Hofstede was present and said that the City is taking the Alliance initiatives seriously. MHNA has a representative (Arvonne Fraser) and an alternate (Melissa Bean) on the Alliance.
4. Steve Uland, of Xcel Energy, gave a presentation on ways to maximize energy efficiency. Insulation, newer compact fluorescent light bulbs and high-efficiency furnaces were discussed. Xcel offers a program for “night watch” outdoor lighting. Check their website, www.xcelenergy.com, or call 1-800-960-6235 for more info. They can also come out to do a $35 home energy audit.
5. The minutes from the last General Membership meeting, January 2008, were approved (Doug Carlson motion).
6. Third Ward CM Diane Hofstede reminded the group about upcoming CARE meetings and talked about foreclosures in the city. The large number on the north side is consuming city resources, so the problem affects us all. She is working on solutions with Congressman Keith Ellison. Minneapolis is dong a pilot project called Mpls Advantage, designed to bring back homeowners to designated sectors of the city with an incentive offer of $10,000. Our neighborhood is not a part of this program, but it sounds similar to what the Alliance is planning.
7. Board Actions from earlier tonight:
Grand Stay Hotel The Board agreed to adopt the Land Use committee recommendation to support the requested conditional use permits and variances provided the affected landowners agree:
• Adopted the Land Use action regarding the Grand Stay Hotel at 7th and Central. The property is currently zoned C3A – no change required.
• Conditional use permit for a shopping center. Since there is one common corridor for the retail area, the city defines it as a shopping center.
• Conditional use permit for the height (seven stories at the highest point – the existing structure). Current zoning requires 4 stories or 56 ft. w/o parapet. Hotel (new building will be 66’0”; 700 building will be 67’0” (add one floor); 708 building will be 74’0” (no change).
• Variance of 9.8 ft. for the rear yard setback (parallel to Seventh Street) from 17 ft. (required) to 7.2 ft. (planned).
• Variance of 12 ft. for the side yard setback (perpendicular to Seventh Street) from 17 ft. (required) to 5 ft. (planned).
• Variance of 0.65 for floor area ratio (FAR) from 2.7 (required) to 3.35 (planned).
•Variance of 32 parking spaces from 144 (required) to 112 (planned). This assumes a restaurant in the corner building, first floor.
The Board agreed to enter into a contract with Cuningham Architects, St Anthony Main, to continue planning for improvements to the 15th Ave corridor and produce marketing materials that will attract quality investors. This is an outcome of MHNA’s 15th Ave Task Force. The area of focus is 15th Ave SE, from 5th St SE to the railroad tracks, just past 8th St. NRP funds will be used.
The Board agreed to terms for the MHNA Revolving Loan program, which will be open for applications this spring/summer. The program, created with leftover NRP funds, is for low interest loans from $7500 to 20,000 for exterior improvements to properties four units and smaller. Once the city and CEE sign the legal papers, we will market the program. A revolving loan program means some of the funds can be returned to MHNA, helping to ensure future operations of our organization.
8. MHNA members Steve Smela and Jackie Dekker-Travis reported on the activities of the Grand Rounds Missing Link Citizens Advisory Committee. The committee is charged with recommending a route for completing Mpls Parks’ Grand Rounds parkway in NE/ SE . The chosen route starts at St Anthony Parkway to Industrial Boulevard, near the golf course in NE, and winds around Hawkins Chemical through the industrial area then jogs to 27th Ave where it meets up with Franklin Ave. This route will allow for more parks and amenities, and will cost approx $105 million. Although it will not all be done at once, it is MPRB’s highest priority for bonding at the state legislature. Some businesses will have to be relocated, but that was preferred over relocating/demolishing residences. A final decision by MPRB will be made in May. For more info see www.minneapolisparks.org/home.asp and click on the Grand Rounds icon. Steve and Jackie were thanked for attending meetings on MHNA’s behalf. They are also asking the MOPRB to look at completing the link between Main Street and East River Road, known as Option 2A.
9. Eric Heideman, SE Librarian, reminded members that the SE Library is once again open, three days a week: Tuesday & Thurs (12 –
and Sat 10 – 6. A Family Story Time is held every Sat morning at 10:30. The library is hosting special events and concerts. Southeast now has 10 public computers as well as new materials in all formats, reorganized collections for easier access, an updated facility and a new staff. http://www.mpls.lib.mn.us/southeast.asp
Check it out!
10. Several announcements about upcoming events were made, Marcy Arts Gala at the Soap Factory and fashion show benefit for the Richard Greene School at Picosa. A new service called Marcy One Call is now available. People in the neighborhood seeking local, reliable sources for yard work, home maintenance chores, house or pet sitting, car-sharing, etc can get free referrals and discounted prices. For more info contact www.projectresources.net/marcy
Meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM Melissa Bean, MHNA Executive Director
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Since MHNA General Membership didn’t meet in April or May here is an update on Board Actions and Activities: April 2008
Executive Committee:
OK’d 4 Good Neighbor Fund applications:
Clean Sweep 2009 Funding
Welcome Students Initiative
Boulevard Tree planting & stump removal
Trash/Recycling Bin placement
Decisions will be made in May.
Land Use Committee:
Approved Land Use Committee’s recommendation to support variance needed for Phoenix condominiums to add windows.
The Waves of Grain Building (801 16th Ave SE) plan is to convert a warehouse into rental housing with 28 3-4 bedroom units and 41 parking places. There are 28 spaces underground and 13 outside, making .45 per bedroom. Board voted to support this project with the caveat that this developer support and spearhead a petition to the city to improve 8th St SE from 15th Ave SE to the eats of his property, specifically with curb, gutter and pavement installed to the current city standards. The MHNA encourages the developer to follow up on his offer to participate in our 15th Ave planning process, now underway. (Note this project is just outside our official boundaries, but since there is no neighborhood organization there, we were asked for comment.)
Another item heard by the committee, 4 stories mixed use with rental above at former Gopher Cleaners site, was continued and no actions were taken until more information and committee concerns can be addressed.
Central Corridor Light Rail Train The University’s study of the “northern alignment” will be ready in mid-May. President Fraser distributed the following resolution, made by Bob Distad, concerning MHNA’s position:
RESOLUTION OF THE MARCY-HOLMES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING April 15, 2008
CONCERNING THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR LRT
WHEREAS, the Central Corridor is a significant economic development initiative for our metropolitan region and the State of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, local and county governments, community, business, labor, and other leaders have formed a historic, diverse partnership to advance the Central Corridor as the spine of a strategic regional transit plan; and
WHEREAS, the federal government will be asked to commit $455 million to Central Corridor at such time as a 50% local match is identified and that federal funding cannot be obtained without the state’s commitment; and
WHEREAS, Governor Pawlenty chose to line-item veto the funding for Central Corridor in the bonding bill; and
WHEREAS, “the University’s Board of Regents reaffirmed a 2001 resolution that the ‘northern alignment’ of the line is preferred over the current plans of running tracks at street level down Washington Avenue (Star-Tribune, Sat. April 12, 2008);
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association, Minneapolis, situated near the University and the proposed Central Corridor line, does hereby call on the Governor and the Minnesota Legislature to continue efforts to secure state funding of at least $70 million for the Central Corridor.
AND FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association does hereby call on the Governor and the Minnesota State Legislature to prevail on the Metropolitan Council to carefully consider the disastrous consequences of re-routing 25,000 vehicles and 1,500 buses into the neighborhoods surrounding the University of Minnesota, as a result of the proposed LRT Washington Avenue alignment, and to, instead, expedite development of the ‘Northern Alignment,’ to serve the University of Minnesota.
AND FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood Association does hereby call on the Governor to prevail on the Metropolitan Council to comply with NEPA, FTA Regulations, MEPA regulations, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act Of 1966, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, in its Central Corridor review process.
Motion passed with one abstention (T. Lincoln).
MAY 2008 Board actions
1. The board agreed to have MHNA act as fiscal agent for Marcy One Call, as foundation grants require a nonprofit 501© 3 status.
2. The Executive Committee approved a draft letter opposing proposed changes to the city’s ordinance for maximum occupancy levels. A proposal from CM Cam Gordon would tie occupancy rates to dwelling size, instead of zoning classification.
3. We received word that three more possible teardowns were headed for the east side of the neighborhood: 1015 7th St SE, 1113 8th St SE and 1120 8th St SE. The BZZ report we were sent by city zoning staff doesn’t list any owner, project or planner for 1120 8th St SE. The Land Use Committee is writing a letter stating our opposition to the flurry of teardowns in our neighborhood.
4. The LU Committee and MHNA Board reviewed a draft of the Alliance Demonstration Project’s pilot program boundaries, based on CURA mapping of residents over 64 years of age, homesteaded properties that haven’t sold in the past 10 years, and other criteria. The selected area is between 4th Ave SE and 8th Ave SE, from 5th St SE to both sides of 7th St SE. This program is intended to preserve home ownership by introducing an option to buy program that would ensure buyer is an owner occupant. It is the first of several improvement projects planned in the University District.
5. Board member Doug Carlson spoke about the Central Corridor Light Rail line. The Metropolitan Council plans to make a decision on the route (Washington Ave at grade or the Northern Alignment) before the facts are all in. The U does not support the Washington Ave. route, which would add thousands of cars to our neighborhood streets and eliminate much needed parking for businesses. There is also concern for the increased air pollution and stress on our historic structures. The mitigation costs have not been fully considered. It is thought that only the public can cause minds to change at this point. There may be federal laws that have been violated. MHNA Board agreed to join CM Hofstede and set up an informational meeting to discuss the two routes and gauge neighborhood sentiment. The date and time were decided. It is critical that people contact legislators, mayor and city council.