Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association
Minutes—Land Use Committee
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Ave. SE, Minneapolis
5:30 p.m.

Members Present: Arvonne Fraser, Bill Huntzicker, Dan Lanske, Jo Radzwill, Bo Sherman and Paul White

Guests /Presenters:
· Nazar Khan (property owner), David Graham (ESG Architects), Sulmaan Kahn (property manager), Don Gerberding and Tony Smith (Master Development) for Gopher Cleaner / Laundry site, 4th Street SE and 35W
· Clark Gassen for Florence Court, 11th Street SE and University Avenue
· David Graham (ESG Architects), Art Bartels (ESG Architects) and Don Gerberding (Master Development), Gopher Laundry Site, 4th Street SE and 35W
· Maureen Michalski, (Shafer Richardson) seeking support for affordable housing financing at East Bank Mills (Pillsbury A Mill) site.
· Bill Biermaier (Bookstore owner), 4th Street SE and 35W
· Jennna Pairolero, representing the University Alliance regarding vision & planning for the University Overlay District
· Councilmember Diane Hofstede

1. Proposal for Gopher Cleaners and Laundry Site, 4th St SE and 35W: Nazar Khan, the owner of the site, introduced himself to the Land Use committee and talked about his vision for this property. Mr. Khan acquired the property on December 31, 2007. There will be significant hazardous waste cleanup at the site due to its long term use as a dry cleaning establishment. Mr. Khan’s goal is to have a mixed use development. The developer is rethinking the design and will come back to the committee at a later time.

2. Update on Florence Court: Clark Gassen gave the committee an update on the events at Florence Court. The process of obtaining financing is coming to a close. First on the agenda will be the demolition of the large brick house on University Ave in order to use the materials in the restoration of the L-shaped building. Developer will complete the work on the historic property before proceeding on the newer building. Once the historic portion of Florence Court is complete, construction of the new building will commence.

The committee requested that the developer submit to the neighborhood an updated schedule for the redevelopment project.

3.East Bank Mills: Maureen Michalski represented Shafer Richardson in seeking support for affordable housing financing for the A-Mill project. S-R is seeking tax increment financing for the historic part of the project. The developer is seeking financing by converting some of the units into affordable rental units. S-R plans 415 residential units in the tax increment financing (TIF) district. Of those 415 residential units, the developer is proposing that approximately 85 units be affordable.

The use of water power for heating and cooling the development was also briefly discussed. Many members of the committee are excited about this possibility and are interested in the interpretative possibilities for this feature. Other members asked about the possibility of the developer using the Art Space model.

ACTION: The following motion passed the land use committee unanimously and will be brought before the Board: The Marcy-Holmes Land Use committee continues to support the East Bank Mills Redevelopment, which includes the Pillsbury A Mill building complex. The committee also supports the addition of approximately 85 units of affordable housing to the site unit mix, to be located in one or more buildings on the site. It is our understanding that the affordable units will likely be targeted to households below 50% of area median income. We support a variety of types and prices of housing, both affordable and market rate at the East Bank Mills site and are eager for the site to be redeveloped. The committee’s ultimate goal is the preservation of the Pillsbury A Mill and increased historical interpretation with the River. We also encourage the developer to explore integrating communities such as this with the Art Space model.

1. 4. Neighborhood goals and vision: This is a priority topic for discussion at an upcoming meeting.

Meeting adjourned.

Wishing all a safe and happy holiday season.

The Live Near Your Work website has added a page for rental listings. Intended for mature adult graduate students, downtown workers, university faculty and staff, the site includes helpful information, links and photos.

Rental property owners seeking those types of tenants can post their opportunities for free.

livenearyourwork.net

This project is made possible through the University District Alliance.

On December 7, 2009, Minnesota’s Federal Stimulus Funding will be available for homeowners across the state.

The stimulus funding will be in the form of an “Energy Saver Rebate” and offered through participating Minnesota Housing lenders, such as the Center for Energy and Environment, CEE. Only borrowers who access Minnesota Housing’s Fix-Up Fund loan will be eligible to apply for the rebate.

The “Energy Saver Rebate” offers a 35% rebate for all qualifying energy improvements, with a maximum rebate of $10,000. These qualifying improvements include windows, doors, insulation, water heater, heating and cooling. Improvements must meet certain energy efficiency criteria to be eligible for the rebate. The Fix-Up Fund has a maximum loan amount of $35,000 and a maximum term of 20 years with an interest rate of 5.99%* as of Nov. 22, 2009.

More information on the “Energy Saver Rebate”, the fix-up fund loan and other home improvement loans can be found at mncee.org.

*subject to change

Lost a pet or found a stray? Flyering the area can help, but so can a visit to the MN Animal Humane Society’s website.

Now owners have a new way to track down the family pet, just by going online.

http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/node/2285

The Animal Humane Society set up a lost and found site for pets six weeks ago. On the first day, over 100 owners posted pictures of their lost animals. Those who find an animal can go on the site and post a picture and description. Take a look at the Animal Humane Society Online Lost & Found Bulletin Board.

Recently a resident was reunited with her pet that had wandered from the Marcy School area to Mariucci Arena, all due to this site.

Community fund-raising project seeks to raise $100,000 for Chute Square Park improvements.

A $100,000 fundraising project for improvements at Chute Square Park was approved by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners at its December 2, 2009 regular meeting.

The Friends of Chute Park (FCP), homeowners in the new Cobalt Condominiums, propose replacing benches and picnic tables, introducing electrical power and lights in the park, replacing asphalt pathways through the park and creating two 12 ft. x 12 ft. entry plazas along University Ave.

Planning Process
Read the rest of this entry »

Board (and general membership) meeting:

Tuesday January 19th, 2010.

The MHNA Board will not be meeting in December.

The next board (and general membership) meeting will be Tuesday January 19th, 2010.

A public hearing on the Florence Court development will be held Monday December 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm in room 317 City Hall.

For agenda and staff report see:
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/agencies/planning -commission/

A public hearing on the Florence Court development will be held Monday December 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm in room 317 City Hall.

For agenda and staff report see:
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/agencies/planning -commission/

We still have them and they make great gifts!

Hiding in Plain Sight by Penny Petersen, the history book about our neighborhood, is $15 a copy.

Call the office to pick up yours today! 612-623-7633

Please call 911 when you see suspicious or illegal activity.

Recently, we have run into several occasions where neighbors have witnessed illegal activity and we hear about it through other neighbors the next day, or several weeks later. Please call 911 to have officers dispatched to stop or avert illegal activity.

For more information about 911, please go to:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/docs/When_and_how_911-311.pdf

The end of the year is a time for contributing to your favorite causes and we hope MHNA is on your list. Remember we’re counting on your tax deductible donations to help keep our office open next year.

Send a check to the MHNA office, or give online with a credit card at:
givemn.org

We really appreciate your past support.

The Safety & Livability meeting for December is cancelled in honor of a busy holiday season.

The January meeting will be held on Thursday the 7th, 6:30pm in the basement of the First Congregationalist Church.

Please have a safe and festive December. Happy New Year too!

There will be no MHNA Land Use Committee meeting in December.

We will resume on Tuesday January 12th at 5:30 pm, University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Ave SE.

History, Culture and Secrets of the Minneapolis Riverfront

<strong>Wednesday, December 2, 2009</strong>
11:15 am
DoubleTree Park Place Hotel  1500 Park Place Blvd, St. Louis Park

Take this unique opportunity to hear award-winning Minnesota writer Linda Mack share highlights of her recently completed oral history of the rebirth of the Minneapolis riverfront.

<a href=”http://sensibleland.org/calendar.cfm”>Register online</a>

<a href=”http://sensibleland.org/associations/1493/files/SLUC%20Registration%20Form%202009-12%20v1%20(4).pdf”>Download .pdf registration form</a>

<a href=”http://sensibleland.org/associations/1493/files/sluc%20policies.pdf”>Cancellation policies</a>

$25/full-time student, $38/member, $48/nonmember, $10 additional at the door.
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A lively center of commerce and river life in the last half of the 19th century, by the 1970s the Minneapolis riverfront became a collection of decrepit buildings and a tangle of railroad tracks. Some thought the riverfront had run its full lifecycle, but a re-birth was just around the corner. In the four decades since, the Minneapolis riverfront has blossomed into a city neighborhood boasting history, cultural offerings and new lofts in century-old buildings. How did this transformation occur? Ms. Mack has tracked this re-development as architecture columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and, more recently, as head of an oral history project that included 27 interviews with riverfront movers and shakers. The interviews discuss the social, industrial, architectural and political history of the Minneapolis riverfront, the many and often conflicting plans for its redevelopment and the actions taken to create the successful urban district that exists. At this Sensible Land Use Coalition event, her narrative will offer new insights–and some great stories — about this incredible riverfront revival. End the year with an uplifting program about the incredible changes that has polished this jewel in our midst.

FREE workshop from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization on Winter Parking Lot & Sidewalk Maintenance.

This workshop is appropriate for Snow Removal Contractors, Landscapers, Property Managers, City Staff, and Snow Plow Drivers (the focus is on commercial application versus homeowner/residential). It is a great way for people to learn how to save money by applying less sand and salt and help the environment at the same time!
When and Where:

Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Saint Anthony City Hall
3301 Silver Lake Road
Saint Anthony, MN 55418
More…
Learn how to keep our parking lots and sidewalks safe while saving money and protecting our lakes and rivers. Many local lakes and streams have elevated levels of chloride, a common ingredient in road salt. In some cases, the chloride contamination is high enough to impact or even kill fish and other aquatic life. Winter snow and ice practices have been identified as the primary source of this chloride. This workshop will present information on how you can mitigate the effects of de-icing materials on the environment, without compromising safety or effectiveness.

The topics covered will include:

· cost/benefits of de-icing strategies
· different types of de-icing materials
· the latest recommendations for application rates
· “Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual”

Workshop participants will receive a copy of the “Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual,” a clipboard with an application rate chart, and a complementary lunch. Participants will also have the option of receiving Level One Certification in Snow & Ice Control Best Practices from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Certified practitioners are listed on the agency’s website:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/roadsalt.html

This can be a great marketing tool!

This workshop is free (and lunch is included!), but registration is required by December 1st. Priority will be given to individuals/companies that are located within the watershed boundaries (view map at: http://www.mwmo.org/map.pdf). To register, complete the last page of the attached brochure and mail or fax it to:

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Attn: Erica
1224 Marshall Street NE Suite 201
Minneapolis, MN 55413 Fax: 612-465-8785
Questions? Contact Erica Sniegowski, 612-465-8780 ext. 206, esniegowski@mwmo.org

FREE workshop from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization on Winter Parking Lot & Sidewalk Maintenance.

This workshop is free (and lunch is included!), but registration is required by December 1st. Priority will be given to individuals/companies that are located within the watershed boundaries (view map at: http://www.mwmo.org/map.pdf).

This workshop is appropriate for Snow Removal Contractors, Landscapers, Property Managers, City Staff, and Snow Plow Drivers (the focus is on commercial application versus homeowner/residential). It is a great way for people to learn how to save money by applying less sand and salt and help the environment at the same time!
When and Where:

Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Saint Anthony City Hall
3301 Silver Lake Road
Saint Anthony, MN 55418
More…
Learn how to keep our parking lots and sidewalks safe while saving money and protecting our lakes and rivers. Many local lakes and streams have elevated levels of chloride, a common ingredient in road salt. In some cases, the chloride contamination is high enough to impact or even kill fish and other aquatic life. Winter snow and ice practices have been identified as the primary source of this chloride. This workshop will present information on how you can mitigate the effects of de-icing materials on the environment, without compromising safety or effectiveness.

The topics covered will include:

· cost/benefits of de-icing strategies
· different types of de-icing materials
· the latest recommendations for application rates
· “Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual”

Workshop participants will receive a copy of the “Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual,” a clipboard with an application rate chart, and a complementary lunch. Participants will also have the option of receiving Level One Certification in Snow & Ice Control Best Practices from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Certified practitioners are listed on the agency’s website:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/roadsalt.html

This can be a great marketing tool!

To register, complete the last page of the attached brochure and mail or fax it to:

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Attn: Erica
1224 Marshall Street NE Suite 201
Minneapolis, MN 55413 Fax: 612-465-8785
Questions? Contact Erica Sniegowski, 612-465-8780 ext. 206, esniegowski@mwmo.org