The Crossing Wire

District 17 has great plans for the Fitzgerald Park area of downtown St. Paul: namely, the development of an actual park on the land bordered by Minnesota and Robert and 9th and 10th streets (block 10). The adopted plan by the City Council (8/16/2006) states somewhat noncommittally:

For planning purposes only, the preferred future land use on Block 10 is a full-block City park. 

Until such time as the City is able to take the necessary actions to assemble land and build a park, parcels on the block may be used for any legal use permitted under their current zoning classification, provided that the proposed use meets all applicable conditions and/or standards.  Any future use may not be denied exclusively on the basis that the vision for the block is of a public park.

At the CIB (Capital Improvement Budget) Task Force meeting last night, some District 17 folks were there requesting one million dollars to aid in the construction of the park on block 10. They believe that the development of the park in the immediate future is critical to the development of the entire area, especially in attracting outside investment. Both the Penfield and Lund's have expressed interest in developing in the Fitzgerald Park area, but according to the folks last night, that development hinges on the construction of the park land, which in turn hinges on removing the existing buildings from block 10. One building is the Pedro Luggage building, currently unoccupied and up for sale. Two others are occupied: one by Union Gospel Mission and the other--the Public Safety Annex--by the St. Paul Police. The presenters expressly said that only the Union Gospel Mission had any plans to remain on the site for the next 10 years, but even they were planning to find a new location after 10 years.

Rewind 40 minutes in the meeting. A representative from the St. Paul Police was presenting on the 6 CIB projects that the police had submitted. The first three were requesting 3.1 million dollars for repairs to the Public Safety Annex, money to replace the roofs and HVAC system, install a new elevator and create a new ADA compliant entrance to the building. The repairs to the roof are urgent; the fourth floor is unusable due to severe leaks, and I imagine the present or soon-to-be growth of mold. The building currently houses about 60 staff members, a radio repair shop for the department and (most critically) the only indoor firing range operated by the St. Paul Police. Replacing the firing range by building a new facility or retrofitting an existing building would cost far more than repairing the annex. The officer did not sound like the police were planning on vacating the building, although several of the task force members suggested that it would be wiser to build new.

How did these two organizations both working for the betterment of the city come to this point--wires crossed, fighting for the same piece of land?

Who can replace 3M?

Hopefully Eastsiders can! The community has spoken, a blog has been created, and a taskforce has been formed. Redesign principles have been meticulously outlined to guide the process.

3M has been a vital entity to a working class community. It's jobs, along with Seeger and Hamm's brewery, built and sustained this community for decades. But now, 3M is the last of the three to leave us. There is a temptation to turn belly up and moan about all that was and may never be again.

But East Siders have more grit and gumption than that. We see a great opportunity for our future in this redevelopment process. We are salivating over what used to be and could be once again. I have heard stories about strolling up and down 7th street in the old days and bumping into friends and neighbors out doing the same. Apparently there were several exceptional diners along the way where one could stop for homemade chili (hot or cold) and the best beef sandwiches of anywhere around. I've heard tales of times when jobs were plenty and secure. I've also heard about a time when double lots abounded, green space was abundant and the community had space to stretch and breathe.

I think many East Siders dream of seeing these things return. I've heard them say it over and over again at various meetings. So the task force has a huge job ahead of them. They fight the battles of job creation vs. community building and historic preservation vs. returns on investment. The struggle may be long and difficult. If you meet one of these East Side warriors, pat them on the back and encourage them with the story of your dream for our future. Who can replace 3M? East Siders can!

When the city can't afford a Rec Center...

Everywhere you turn you can hear someone saying "I just can't afford it right now." It may be a home, a car, the monthly cable bill, or even a Dilly bar that they can't afford. But I have heard it said that what people can or cannot afford is really a matter of priority. For instance, if you were to have the meager funds in my bank account it is quite possible that you would choose to spend it differently than I do. But what happens when the city "can't afford it"? Right now the city maintains it cannot afford 3 of the rec centers on the East Side. I would argue that they can. I think we would be able to afford the rec centers if the city bank account were mine to spend. And that's the rub isn't it? Technically the city bank account is mine to spend-through my representative. Unfortunately my representative and I disagree on what we can afford and the representative holds the pen to sign the check, not me. So, now the city is about to become the newest landlord on the block. They can't afford their property anymore so they will rent it out. The questions remain: Will they screen their tenants well? Will they adequately maintain the property? Will they respond to concerns or complaints? Or will they be neglectful like many of the other absentee landlords on the East Side? Stay tuned as the peanuts keep you up to date about the newest neighborhood landlord and their tenants.

East Side Signs of Spring

I have not always lived on the East Side. I will confess that I migrated here from the other side of the river. It is hard not to compare the two sides of the river. In many ways I find the people and places quite similar. However, St. Paul does have it's own uniqueness's - one of those being her harbingers of spring. On the other side of the river they must keep a watchful eye for the first red breast hopping around the backyard to know that spring has officially arrived. On the East Side my ears let me know when it is truly spring. It happened about two weeks ago now. In fact I was typing away at this very keyboard when I heard it...Vrooommazooomzooom! The first motorcycle of spring! I know, you're thinking "Motorcycles are signs of spring??". On the East Side they are! I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. Bikers will ride as late in the fall as they can without freezing off their fingers and nose and they pull those bikes back out again on the very first warm day. Not being a biker myself, I did at one time find this a slightly frustrating habit. It might not have helped that I had a bike addicted neighbor who loved to rev up at 1 a.m.! But over time I have learned that Vroomazoomzoom! means that the bikers have emerged from their winter cocoons and spring has arrived! So now each spring, here on the East Side, we wait for that first Vroomazoomzoom and when we hear it we shout "Yeah! Spring is finally here!" Is it spring yet in your neighborhood?