[Mpls] Re: Hiawatha Line & Development

[Tim Bonham]

I can confirm that this is at least partially true.
         A few years ago, I spent several months trying to buy a patch of 
land on the NW corner of 42nd St & Hiawatha.  Got lots of run-around, 
required visits to the DOT building and looking at their actual blueprints, 
etc.  Finally gave up on it.  I've since been told that they plan on 
holding onto this parcel, in case they ever add a station at 42nd 
street.  I don't know how accurate that it.  (But a station there would 
certainly be a good idea!)

I've also heard that much of that 'developable land' is in rather small 
parcels, often oddly shaped.  So many of them may need city variances 
before they could be used for building your average house & garage.

Tim Bonham, Ward 12, Standish-Ericsson

>I had heard recently that a lot of the developable land around Hiawatha 
>Avenue (on the west side) is still right-of-way owned by MnDOT, who 
>refuses to let go of it.
>
>Does anybody know if that's true?
>
>And, further, if it is true, what does that mean to the Hiawatha Line?
>
>--Jeff Rosenberg
>Cedar-Riverside
>. . . where MnDOT has us fenced in on three sides.