[Mpls] Jordan Neighborhood at the epicenter of Northside advancement/ Now what...?

[Dyna]

On Thursday, January 1, 2004, at 11:34 PM, PennBroKeith@cs.com wrote:

> 1/ The redesign of Lowry Avenue within the Henn. County Works Project, 
> there.
>
>    A /  Proposed reduction of traffic lanes; from 4 to 2.  B /  
> Proposed net
> loss of on-street parking. C / Proposed demolition of substantial 
> number of
> existing houses, duplexes, and commercial buildings for street 
> widening. D/
> Proposed use of Lowry as a BRT route (Bus Rapid Transit Corridor).

	Take a look at the condition of the Lowry bridge over the Mississippi 
River- "pavement" falling in the river, etc.. Then note that it's way 
overdue for repainting. That says that plans are in the works to 
replace that bridge. I suspect that Congressman Sabo is using his well 
known skills at obtaining funding for this project. Then consider the 
way large infrastructure projects like this become "christmas trees" as 
other related projects are attached. A bridge needs approaches, and on 
the west side they'll probably grow all the way across the Northside. 
Then watch some townhouses and condos along the river get hung on this 
"christmas tree" as well. I fully expect to see a glowing press release 
from all the politicos involved announcing this couple hundred million 
dollar project well before election day.

> 2/  The redesign of West Broadway within the West Broadway Repaving 
> District.
> The district is from Girard (Fremont?) to the West City Limits.

	In these times of diminishing state aid I suspect the county would 
rather not be maintaining two parallel roads a mile apart. Perhaps the 
county will do a "turnback" and give Broadway back to the city, 
throwing in a fresh couple inch "cap" of pavement  to sweeten the deal.

>     A/  Major contention being the County's goal of moving suburban 
> based
> commuter traffic quickly, versus the local neighborhoods' goal of 
> cultivating,
> and maintaining, a pedestrian friendly, and safe, "Mainstreet" .

	Also the Republican congressman from the next district over's desire 
to feed a large order for new buses to the bus plant in his district...

>  B / The
> possible diminished potential if a portion of BRT is diverted away 
> from West
> Broadway to Lowry. Please consider the possible losses to both the 
> Avenue (which is
> the main Commuter Corridor of the Northside) and to local users of 
> public
> transit. C/ Lack of substantial new commercial residential development 
> proposals
> compared to the other major corridors of the City.

	Again, political pork wins out over good planning- unlike the Broadway 
route, Lowry has no access to I-94 and the future Northstar Commuter 
Rail station at Central Avenue.

> 3/ 26th Avenue (enough said)

	Probably DOA, despite the 26th Avenue bikeway being the cheapest of 
these projects. Congressman Sabo has a good record of obtaining bikeway 
funding, but I suspect along the river bikeways will be funded long 
before the 26th Street crosstown route.

> 4/  Keeping up with the Jones's.
>
>     A / Specifically, Creating a modern live/ work/ shop/ , etc., 
> environment
> for the 21st Century similar to what we see all around us, beyond our
> neighborhood. That is, high density/ mixed use developments attractive 
> to a redefined
> "Diversity" . The scenario is Americans of diverse ethnic, and national
> backgrounds, Yuppie families and singles with substantial disposable 
> incomes,
> graying seniors with potential 'assisted living' needs, and all others.

	Again, the Northside goes to the back of the funding line, while the 
southside and downtown get the 29th street bikeway, new Guthrie 
Theatre, etc.. We're being thrown a few scraps (Lowry) while the the 
real meal (renewing Broadway) is denied us.

		cheated again in Hawthorne,

			Dyna Sluyter