I am passing along an excerpt from my veto letter for Karmel Plaza. The net effect of the veto will be to send this back to the council for more discussion, which I hope will focus on two important goals this project delivers: creating affordable housing options along transit corridors and increasing home ownership among communities of color:
September 9, 2004 Minneapolis City Council Paul Ostrow, President 350 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55415 Council President Paul Ostrow and Members of the City Council, This is to inform you that I have vetoed two actions by the Council: the denial to add the Industrial Living Overlay District to permit a mixed-use, light industrial development with retail, restaurant, dwelling units above and below grade parking at 206 Elroy Street and 2920 - 28 Pillsbury Avenue; and granting the appeal of the Planning Commission decision regarding the conditional use permit and site plan for this same property. The Planning Commission and City staff both recommended that the City move forward with this mixed-use project. The project will have 33,000 square feet of commercial space, more than 170 parking spaces both above and below-grade, and will increase our tax base over the previously proposed uses of this site. My veto allows us to continue to discuss ways to make this project successful. That is important because this project represents many of the values I believe we should be bringing to discussions of development in Minneapolis and the region. It fosters transit-oriented development and helps close the significant homeownership gap for communities of color. On the first point: The area between the Midtown Greenway and Lake Street offers what I believe to be one of the best opportunities we have in the city for transit-oriented development. This is why I have supported increased housing development along the corridor and why I am a strong advocate of increased transit options in the area, including the proposed street car in the corridor itself and a bus rapid-transit system intended to intersect Lake Street. The proposed project will further these goals at a key site that has had neither transit orientation nor Greenway orientation. I am aware of the fact that the Midtown Greenway Association has raised some questions about the project's siting in relation to the Greenway and believe my action can provide the opportunity to work with the group and the developer to improve this. On the second point: Affordable homeownership is an important goal for the city, especially for communities of color, and even more important for new arrival communities. This challenge is most acute for immigrants whose faith prohibits them from paying interest on loans. I am obviously aware of the fact that developments cannot be built specifically for one population, but substantial work is taking place all across the country on marketing and mortgage programs like this that focus on helping specific communities of color. Toward that end I strongly applaud the developer's stated intention to work with the Islamic community to create financing options to help them own their own units in this project. My action sends a strong signal to the development community that we put a high value on closing the homeownership gap for communities of color and are willing to encourage any developer willing to make the extra effort to ensure all residents of our city have an opportunity to build equity. I also want to make it very clear that my continued support for this project depends in large part on the developer making an even stronger commitment to this goal than we currently see, and ensuring that this program is offered in the most equitable way. I have used my veto very rarely and take this action only because I place such a high value on the goals of creating walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods, and increasing homeownership for communities of color. I know these are goals that many of you share, including those of you who have not supported the project. You have raised other concerns that are important and I will continue to work with all of you to find a way we can address these challenges together. I look forward to working with members of the Council, the neighborhood, and developer as you reconsider this important project, which will create homeownership opportunities between the Midtown Greenway and Lake Street and increase the tax base of the city. Sincerely, R.T. Rybak Mayor REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
