MARCY-HOLMES GEARS UP FOR NEW STADIUM OPENING: MHNA member Gene Girard asked the board to outline the neighborhood’s priorities and concerns for the next University of Minnesota Stadium Area Advisory Group (SAAG) meeting. Girard and MHNA Executive Director Melissa Bean are the Marcy-Holmes representatives to the group that also includes representatives from business associations, the neighborhoods of Prospect Park, Saint Anthony and South East Como, and the cities of Falcon Heights, Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

“Minneapolis Police should not be responsible for traffic control on game days. If they are, they should be compensated,” said board member Tom Lincoln. “By the university, not the city,” he clarified. Board members were also concerned about what city division would police parking on lawns. In the past, residents had been told that lawn parking was a housing department issue, but housing inspectors do not work on weekends, which is when the stadium events will likely take place.

The board said issuing resident parking permits and blocking off side streets to non-resident traffic on event days would help ease stress on Marcy-Holmes residents. Board members also asked that tailgating be prohibited.

Board member Paul White suggested that the university increase the price of stadium tickets to include a parking spot at the State Fair lot. The university plans to use the lot for its event-day parking and provide shuttles to the game. Girard pointed out that other universities include parking spots in the ticket price. “You can’t have an event, sell tickets and tell people to figure out parking later,” said White.

BOARD TAKES POSITION ON CENTRAL CORRIDOR LIGHT RAIL: The board entered its opposition to any route for light rail that uses Southeast Fourth Street and University Avenue Southeast through the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood. MHNA supports an alignment using the Dinkytown Trench and Bridge #9 if the Washington Avenue tunnel is not feasible.

Board members also expressed concern about the proposal that would close Washington Avenue to vehicular traffic, diverting up to 25,000 cars onto University Avenue, Fourth Street and East River Road.

BOARD SUPPORTS RYKRISP LOADING DOCK: The board agreed to support the addition of a loading dock to the RyKrisp facility at 824 Sixth Avenue SE. The new dock will allow RyKrisp to include landscaping around its building and screen trash receptacles from public view.

NEXT: Board meeting, March 18, 2008
MEETINGS: 3rd Tuesday monthly, 6 p.m. at University Lutheran Church of Hope, 601 13th Avenue SE
CONTACT: 623-7633, www.marcy-holmes.org
BORDERS: Central Ave. to 15th Ave. SE, 9th St. SE to Main St. SE

last revised: February 21, 2008

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