[Mpls] Cub/ LRT
In the case of a possible Cub, I suggested putting parking behind or below the store. In this case, you're right, there presently is not the land value to afford burying the parking. Having the parking screened as well as possible from pedestrians was my point. However, as was suggested to me off-list, a smaller co-op/ grocer would be more appropriate for the neighborhood. Being located closer to the stop would be preferable. However, I take issue with the contention that apartments could not coexist with a grocery- or any number of uses- on the ground floor. I can think of dozens of examples in other cities of very large grocery stores forming the base of apartment buildings. Once again, screening becomes important- in this case the delivery trucks need to be screened. I would find having a 24 hour grocery downstairs to be a tremendous convenience, in fact. If rail, or any transit (including just busses), is to be truly effective, Minneapolis needs to incorporate these sorts of mixes on the same site. This will be the best way to expand the tax base, as well. Land is scarce, fitting more uses on available land makes the best use of that land. In areas where the investment in rail has already been made, this concentration of use seems appropriate. Some of Minnapolis' most attractive neighborhoods have these mixed use centers- proper design is key to making them work. Matt Mason NYC __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Hiawatha LRT/ Cub/ Traffic Enforcement
I was wondering whether anyone could provide more information on the proposed Cub store near Hiawatha on 46th St? Is the company even trying to make it transit friendly to the impending nearby rail stop? They could put parking behind/below the store or add multiple housing units above the store. This kind of big-box store is not generally very pedestrian-friendly, but it could provide an amenity for new and existing residents using the rail line. It should be done in an urban manner which blends in to the streetscape rather than dominates it (like the Lunds in Uptown- lots of windows on the street). Can the neighbors/ Planning Dept. stop it if it isn't done right? In a similar vein, has the City been progressing with getting new housing/ mixed use development rolling around other stations (particularly the more "urban" and undeveloped ones- Lake, Franklin, DT East)? The line is only about a year away from opening and any development would take about that long. I would think the city would want as many new residents living around the stations as possible as soon as possible to boost ridership. How about the old shopping center adjacent to the Lake St. stop? I would think that this would be ripe for a medium-to-high density residential and retail development. What is holding this up (admission: the last I saw the site was over Christmas, maybe something *is* happening)? Finally, I would like to agree with Mr. Atherton's idea for raising money by enforcing traffic laws. As a pedestrian in Minneapolis, I was constantly nervous of the drivers' aggresive behavior even in Uptown. Similarly aggressive traffic enforcement would create a culture more respectful to pedestrians...and make a bit more money for the City- often from suburban (and otherly urban) users, too. Matt Mason NYC __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://platinum.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Lynrail
Ok, I just wanted to follow up a bit on my previous post concerning a SW LRT line following Lyndale Ave. into Downtown: First, I think Minneapolitans should oppose the route that goes through Kenwood not on the grounds of disturbing the peace for an upper-income neighborhood, but because this route adds little transit amenity for Minneapolitans. Kenwood would not provide either a rich (pardon the unintended pun) source of either trip generators or ridership, whereas Uptown and Lyndale Ave. does. In addition, bike trails should not be destroyed as they provide both an amenity and a commuting compliment to other forms of transit. The article (http://swjournal.com/display/inn_opinion/opinion04.txt) mentioned that rail would either have to replace parking or a lane of traffic. One lane of traffic could be replaced, providing for One driving lane in each direction as well as a left-turn lane. The parking lane would remain for local businesses (as would the sidelots and sidestreets). Finally, yes, the present state government will make it difficult to build new rail. Effort should concentrate on building healthy mixed-use pedestrian environments around the new Hiawatha line to ensure its success. But Hennepin County is studying the Southwest line now for future investment. It would be encouraging to see them make a transit decision that really emphasises present urban assets and begins to build a transit system. This should not simply be a commuter line for the suburbs. No Pawlenty, Mulnau, and Krinkie will not be likely to be building many new rail lines soon, but who knows? Perhaps Pawlenty could become the proverbial "Nixon in China," breaking down the partisan stalemate over transit... Matt Mason NYC __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
[Mpls] Lyndale Ave. Light Rail
The Southwest Journal Online had an article talking about a rivlary between Lyndale Ave.-area residents and Kenwood residents concerning the route of a possible (with Pawlenty?) Southwest Corridor light rail line. The contention is that neither neighborhood actually wants the line. This really confuses me. As the article says, the line would stop in Uptown at Hennepin. Presumably, the line would stop at Lyndale near Lake (at the Greenway) and somewhere else along Lyndale (Franklin, perhaps?). This seems like an absolutely IDEAL corridor for light rail. I lived along Lyndale during the length of my college years and observed a high bus ridership in the area. I would have loved to have had an express route both to Downtown and Uptown. Densities are high in this area to support the line and stores and restaurants along the line could benefit from increased pedestrian presence and from the increased access of suburbanites to their businesses the line would provide. Businesses would not need to provide as much parking, relying instead on transit ridership (avoiding another astounding planning slip-up from the SWJ concerning the redevelopment of the Embers site on Hennepin). It seems like there are often complaints about insufficient transit options in Minneapolis, but whenever a proposal is made it seems opposition pops out of the woodwork. Do these opponents have suburban envy? This line seems like a remarkable benefit for the Wedge and Whittier neighborhoods that could increase transit use and provide an excellant urban amenity. Matt Mason (enjoying the amenity of proximity to the C,E,F,1, and 2 trains) New York City __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
Fwd: Re: [Mpls] Fun Neighborhood Places to Eat in Minneapolis
> > I just wanted to give a quick mention to Dulono's on > Lake by Lyndale. I used to live down the alley and > loved the late night availability of both good > greasy > pizza and various other diner options and the > atmosphere that seemed dropped from the deep south > into uptown. > > matt > nyc > > > __ > Do You Yahoo!? > Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free > http://sbc.yahoo.com > __ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com ___ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
