Today I’m bringing you a conversation with Christian Huelsman, a public space preservationist who has, for years, been an advocate for alleys, public spaces, and urban history in Cincinnati Ohio and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Alleys are not always places that get a lot of love in the United States, especially in cities that have a legacy […]
Since 2012, Saint Paul residents have been hosting free Jane’s Walks—‘walking conversations’ that get people out exploring their neighborhoods and talking about what matters to them. Jane’s Walks are inspired by the ideas and legacy of urbanist Jane Jacobs, who fought against freeways cutting through neighborhoods and for walkable communities where people know and watch […]
One of the best ways for me to learn about different neighborhoods is to check them out through Google Maps. Their algorithm is complex enough that it shows map perimeters of Elliot Park and Downtown East, but not quite fast enough to include one for the new(er) East Town, but I digress. A few months ago, […]
Who wants to talk about granny flats some more?! By now, I hope you’ve read Bill Lindeke’s post on the subject, Max Musicant’s post on how it relates to preservation, and Alex Cecchini’s ideas on how to improve the draft ordinance. Most of Alex’s suggestions were incorporated into the new and improved draft ordinance, which is contained in […]
Minneapolis is growing. For the first time since the 1970s, the population has reached more than 400,000 people, and folks are struggling to find places to live. There’s a lot of economic pressure to demolish old homes and develop apartment buildings and condominiums to make space for these new residents. This influx of people […]