35W BRIDGE UPDATE: Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Project Engineer John Chigio updated the board on progress with the new 35W bridge. MnDOT has removed all the debris and hopes to have the new bridge completed by December 24, 2008. The bridge will be able to accommodate the future addition of light rail, express busses and a pedestrian walkway.

In the wake of the bridge collapse, MnDOT proposed several changes in traffic flow, notably temporary exits off 35W onto East Hennepin Avenue, that NIEBNA and other neighborhoods opposed. MnDOT Traffic Engineer Kevin Gutknecht reported that MnDOT has no current plans to pursue this or any additional traffic flow projects in the area.

FIREBARN SITE DEVELOPMENT: The Minneapolis firm Hunt Associates is considering developing the lot on the corner of 2nd Street Northeast and 1st Avenue Northeast. At Hunt Associates’ request, NIEBNA held an informational meeting on October 16 for residents to offer their input. Based on the feedback from that meeting, the board passed the following resolution:

The NIEBNA board supports a development on the site as long as it meets the applicable zoning, Pedestrian Oriented District (POD) overlay, and Historic Preservation District (HPD) requirements. The site is governed by a Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement between Minneapolis and Hunt Associates, which requires that the site be developed into an attractively landscaped surface parking lot. The board would support necessary changes to the PUD to accommodate a different plan. Hunt Associates would need to provide complete details of proposed uses, tenants, and building designs before the board would consider supporting any requests for variances, conditional use permits, or changes in the POD or HPD requirements.

CRIME PREVENTION: Second Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Carol Oosterhuis discussed a police initiative directed at helping condominium associations deal with issues specific to condos. The Minneapolis Police Department sponsored a meeting for association boards earlier this year which was sparsely attended. Oosterhuis and board members theorized that poor attendance was likely due to lack of publicity rather than lack of interest since many East Bank and Nicollet Island residents live in condos. NIEBNA will be working with Oosterhuis to organize a special meeting with local housing associations.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM (NRP) UPDATE: Liz Wielinski from the Columbia Park neighborhood asked the board for a letter of support for continued NRP funding. The board agreed to consider the matter via an email vote.

NIEBNA completed its NRP Phase I, but never pursued Phase II funds. The board sited the expense and difficulty of applying for and administering public funds and the restrictions on the use of the money (70 percent must be used for housing) as the reasons for this decision. Board member Barry Clegg asked that the perilous state of NRP funding be put on the agenda for the January meeting for discussion and actions.

CROWN HYDRO: Crown Hydro made a proposal to the Park Board for leasing land on the west side of St. Anthony Falls in early November. The Park Board has taken the matter under advisement. NIEBNA will discuss the matter more fully at its January meeting.

NEXT: January 21, 2008
MEETINGS: 3rd Monday bimonthly, 6:30 p.m., location TBA
CONTACT: Victor Grambsch, pvictor@eudaemonics.com
BORDERS: Apex of Central and Hennepin avenues to Mississippi River, Nicollet Island

last revised: November 28, 2007

• Login or register to post comments