[Mpls] Hiawatha Flats

[gemgram]

David Brauer writes: "However, my views aren't that important in the current 
discussion; I think the views of the neighbors and elected and appointed 
officials matter much more."

You are so correct David.  Development should always include the residents 
of a neighborhood as much as possible.  The residents should be included in 
every step of the design process.  To not do so is both arrogant and not too 
smart.

Neighborhood folks who are intimately involved in that process not only do 
not oppose development they are willing to fight to get that development 
built. Unfortunately, we usually see a project that comes to the neighbors 
late and then attempts to stuff it down those neighbors throats.  How 
incredibly shortsighted.  Instead of valuable allies the developer creates 
enemies.  Such shortsighted developers sour the entire City against 
development and create suspicion about any development.  Neighbors really do 
want the amenities and services that more compact development can bring, 
they just want to insure it is the type they want to "Buy".  Attempting to 
stuff one school bus down their throat when they would have bought a fleet 
of mini-vans is just not too bright.

The place for higher density is logically along commercial corridors and 
transit ways.  The way to accomplish that density is citizen involvement.  A 
good example of this is the Ventura Village Neighborhood.  There the 
neighborhood residents decided that higher density would allow the critical 
mass necessary to allow for an economic base that would bring the services 
and amenities that the community wanted.  BUT, they did not want to lose the 
character of their community with its old Victorian homes and duplexes.  The 
answer for them was "low profile- high density" with in fill, accessory 
housing, carriage houses in the neighborhood, and four story mixed-use 
buildings with underground parking along the commercial corridor. Those same 
neighbors were willing to not just support that development but to lobby and 
pressure to get it done. When one compares the resulting development that is 
part of the "Miracle on Franklin" to any of the other "Neighborhood" LRT 
Station Service Areas then it is evident how successful community based 
land-use master planning can be.

Developers need to understand this and include the residents early, and then 
sign MOU's with the Neighborhood to do that development that the residents 
help design, and ONLY that development.  In exchange the developer gets 
active support for those projects from the residents.  It is as simple as 
that!  - -If developers wish to act ethically and get their projects done. 
Developers should treat neighborhood residents as if they were valued 
customers and even more valued partners. It gets present development 
accomplished and creates a fertile atmosphere for future developments.

Jim Graham,
Ventura Village

>"If as a community you do not define yourself for yourself, you will be 
>crunched into other people's fantasies of who you should be and lose the 
>whom, who you are. Death strikes more than just a body, sometimes it claims 
>a soul of a community and the body may not know that "it" is dead and thus 
>continue on for years.  But remember crickets, with even a small strike for 
>individuality the individual community may also be reborn, and thereby may 
>come resurrection for that community."<