This post is a follow up to The Benefits of High Speed Rail by guest writer Matt Sindt, a recent graduate of the Hamline University School of Law who has worked in both state and local government, serving as a staffer on both the Business, Industry and Jobs Committee, and the Economic Development and […]
It seems like you can’t get anything developed in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul without some sort of tax deal. It’s not difficult to find an example: Pillsbury A-Mill, Izzy’s, Central Corridor development, Vikings Stadium, St. Paul Saints stadium, St. Paul’s Farmer’s Market Lofts, the Pentfield Lund’s, the American Academy of Neurology and that’s just […]
[V150 train, modified TGV, conventional World speed record holder at 357.2 mph from WikiCommons] The following post is by guest writer Matt Sindt, a recent graduate of the Hamline University School of Law who has worked in both state and local government, serving as a staffer on both the Business, Industry and Jobs Committee, and the […]
[Note: Have you ever started researching something and quickly realize that you’ve got in over your head? Ordinance 1417 is exactly that … If I missed anything here, please fill me in. I’d love to get to the bottom of this issue. This is part 1 of 2.] [Above: Four scenarios for Twin Lakes redevelopment […]
Defense of the proposed Minnesota Vikings downtown stadium is typically accompanied by a handful of arguments. One of the most prominent being that of associated development. If we build it, the developers will come! Unfortunately this commonplace argument is based little in reality. “The mayor’s position is he believes that the site is really prime […]
Having a quality streetscape is beyond important, and one essential elements of this is having buildings that address the street. But, what if the street isn’t any good? Should buildings still address it? What happens when a street is just no good? The River Crossing Apartments in St. Paul are pretty good. It’s St. Paul’s largest project […]
Critics say Lake Elmo’s anti-growth bias is obvious when you look at what’s happened in neighboring cities. Those neighbors have eagerly welcomed malls, factories, offices. – from the Pioneer Press, Jan. 29, 2012, Lake Elmo: Small, and shrinking To those unfamiliar, Lake Elmo is a quaint, little town east of St. Paul. Lake Elmo provides […]
Izzy’s is expanding. Owners Jeff Sommers and Lara Hammel plan to build an ice cream factory in Minneapolis. They’ve put in an offer for a city-owned empty lot near the Guthrie Theater. If all goes according to plan, the facility will be up and running by spring 2013. [Pioneer Press, Dec. 16, 2011] Great! The […]
What are your thoughts? Is urban highway removal possible in the Twin Cities? If so, where? In the Twin Cities, skyways have worked their way into the cultural vernacular probably more than was intended by their original designers. A few connections quickly turned into a culture of second level retail that eventually pulled retail away […]
“The St. Paul City Council, acting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board, voted 4-3 on December 22 to support a complex financing package for the Penfield housing and retail development on the former Public Safety Building block at 10th and Minnesota streets.” [The Highland Villager, Jan. 11-24, 2012, p.1] [The Penfield as viewed from […]