Eye on U May 2008
The new Gophers’ stadium is beginning to take shape…
New Gophers’ stadium beginning to take shape
The TCF Bank Stadium is beginning to look like a real stadium these days. The structure reached its full height in April, according to a construction update from the University of Minnesota, and work on the steel portion of the structure — 97 percent of which is made from recycled steel — will continue through August. This fall, work on the cast stone and brick portion will begin. The 50,000-seat, $288.5 million project is expected to be ready for the kickoff of the season on Sept. 12, 2009.
U Alliance selects home ownership demonstration project
The 17-member steering committee of the new University District Partnership Alliance — composed of representatives from the city, the University of Minnesota and the neighborhood that surround it — selected in April a demonstration project intended to preserve, maintain, and increase home ownership. The model project specifically targets the Marcy-Holmes and Southeast Como neighborhoods.
The alliance was created as part of the Legislature’s financing for the new TCF Bank Gopher football stadium, to assess and report on the impact of the university on the surrounding community. The district’s five neighborhoods include Cedar-Riverside, Southeast Como, Marcy-Holmes, Prospect Park and the university.
The goal of the demonstration project is to restore home ownership confidence and investment in the neighborhoods, reflecting one of the challenges stressed in the study “Moving Forward Together — U of M Minneapolis Area Neighborhood Impact Report,” published and delivered to the Legislature in 2007.
That study cites positive and negatives impacts of the university but raises concerns about a decline in the neighborhoods. According to a separate report from the alliance steering committee, university neighborhoods “have experienced a startling reduction in homeownership in the last several years.” The year 2007 alone saw 142 conversions from homestead to non-homestead — a one-year increase of 64 percent. By comparison, there were only 224 conversions between 2000 and 2006.
“The loss of homeownership is accompanied by physical housing deterioration,” the alliance report states. “Home ownership can be preserved and regenerated if we help people plan the transitions from their current homes and assist them with the sale of the homes to new homesteaders.”
The demonstration project calls for an “option to buy” and assistance for homeowners who would contract with an alliance agency. The goal is to have 20 options in place by Nov. 1. Single family and duplex properties would be eligible.
The project also calls for a “Live Where You Work” campaign to market homes to university and other area workers who would like to live near their work places.
The project would offer homebuyer assistance and the possible development of alternative housing for current residents who would like to continue living in the community after selling their homes to new homeowners. A website would provide information, and a program coordinator would be hired.
The alliance’s main partner in the project will be the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, a nonprofit housing developer that operates a Senior Housing Regeneration project in several Ramsey County suburbs. Southeast Seniors would also be a partner.
The Legislature in 2007 appropriated $750,000 for a demonstration project; the alliance will likely seek further funding beyond the $730,000 budgeted specifically for the home ownership project. The alliance set a goal of June 1 to begin operations and is required to send a report on the project to the Legislature in January 2009.
Another project proposing improvements along Cedar Avenue on the West Bank was referred to a planning committee.
For alliance information, visit www.community.umn.edu/alliance.
Beautiful U Day event highlights West Bank greening, ReUse Center
University students, faculty, and staff members celebrated the 10th anniversary of the university’s Beautiful U Day on April 17 at various campus events. The day marks the university’s commitment to campus beautification and sustainability, according to a university announcement.
University President Robert Bruininks and Vice President of University Services Kathleen O’Brien led the kick-off event at the University ReUse Center, 883 29th Ave. SE., where used-but-usable university furniture and supplies are for sale to the public on Thursdays, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Other events included a ceremonial jack-hammering of concrete at the east entrance of the Humphrey Institute on the West Bank campus. It marked the beginning of a project wherein 10,000 square feet between the institute and Ferguson Hall will be converted from “hard, non-permeable surface to green, sustainable plantings,” according to the announcement.
The university also gave away 10,000 compact florescent light bulbs to those attending events.
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last revised: May 15, 2008