Lesley Lavery is organizing a block party for this Tuesday, 8/6. Come hang out with and meet your neighbors from 6-9pm in the middle of the block. Feel free to bring food or drink to share. And don’t forget to move your car to the alley or to Prior before the party gets started.
About 1964 Lincoln Avenue
Most of you have seen the “Custom Homes” sign up at 1964 Lincoln and know that our block is due for one of the infamous “teardowns” that many in the neighborhood are concerned about. Let’s hope it goes well and the results are not too disruptive. Custom Homes met with some neighbors earlier this week and Mike’s note below is full of useful information for those who want to know more.
Hi Neighbors!
For those who were unable to attend the meet-and-greet with the Custom Home folks, here are the documents shared with us. I found the first two images the most instructive. The first shows the footprint of the new home (in the middle) compared to the footprint of the neighboring buildings. The second is a rendering of the exterior of all four sides. There will be a detached garage in the location of the current garage and home (which will be torn down, if I remember correctly, on September 2).
Here are other points that I recall (sorry, I was not taking notes):
- Work hours will be 7-7 (although he does not expect the crews to arrive that early most days)
- Outside construction is expected to be complete by the end of November, with the remaining inside construction to take place through the winter
- The house is expected to go on the market in March 2016
- The finished square footage is ~3500 (3 levels, 1150 footprint)
- Excavators are expected to access the property via the alley (but should not be parked so as to block alley traffic), other construction vehicles will be parked on Lincoln
- The site will have an orange plastic temporary site fence
- The site is not sold at this time, although they have some potential interest. I took this to mean that they have buyers that are generally interested in a Custom Home and that consider each new project, but that no one has expressed specific interest in this property yet.
- Custom expect to sell for mid $600K’s
- Their design was approved under the prior building ordinances. The new ordinances do not go into effect until September.
Also, here is the contact information for Jason at Custom, if you have any questions or concerns (now or any time during the project):
Jason Timmers
(651)245-8146 (Mobile)
jason@customrmn.comIf anyone has any other tidbits they found interesting or memorable, feel free to share them.
Best Wishes,
Mike
Break-in on Lincoln Avenue
We learned from the Norbus yesterday that someone had broken into their home (2001) yesterday. It seems the thief broke through the front door glass and stole a number of small electronic and other items from the home.
Please be vigilant. If you noticed anything odd on Thursday afternoon (8/6), please let the Norbus know. The incident has also been reported to the police.
Cleveland Avenue Bicycle Lanes
I was able to attend the open house for the Cleveland Avenue Bicycle Lanes proposal last week. I really like this proposal, which eliminates parking on much of Cleveland in favor of bike lanes on both sides of the street. The parking on Cleveland has always made me nervous anyway, and I see more and more bicyclists and want to make sure we provide safe right-of-ways for them.
Of course, your opinion may differ, which is why I wanted to make sure to point you to the Cleveland Avenue Bicycle Lanes page on the Saint Paul website. Here you will find much of the same information shared at the open house last week. Note the contact information at the bottom of the page, make sure to let the city know what you think of the plan.
Help your neighbors help Nepal
Do you realize we have neighbors on our Lincoln Avenue block who have come here from the region and still have family there? We spoke with the Norbus this week and they tell us the situation is still desperate.
We were not sure where best to direct funds, so we asked them to suggest a couple of organizations to which we could all feel confident making donations. They suggested these two: Karuna-Shechen and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT).
Please, consider helping your neighbors help Nepal. Please go to one of these websites and make a donation today.
Karuna-Shechen says that all donations made until May 31st 2015 will be directed towards relief efforts to help earthquake victims in Nepal. Its mobile medical clinics and camps have a team of professionals on the ground trained and already helping victims of this disaster.
The FPMT says the needs include food and shelter for more than 800 monks and nuns as well as structural repairs to buildings that are no longer safe to occupy as a result of the earthquake. Their fund will also be used to offer immediate relief and support to other areas in the Himalayan region.
Thank you,
…Eric & Mary (1993 Lincoln)
Organized Trash Collection
Are you ever annoyed by the number of garbage trucks that rumble through our alleys every day? Saint Paul is considering organized trash collection. Learn more about the proposal at a community conversation tomorrow.
Thursday, March 26
7:00 p.m.
The Wellstone Center (West Side Room), 179 Robie Street East
Join us for our second community conversation about organized trash collection in Saint Paul this Thursday. Learn more about our project and participate in discussions about our current system of trash collection in the City of Saint Paul. Already attended our March 5 community conversation? All events are the same, so no need to attend more than one. Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Can’t attend this week? Additional community conversations will be taking place this spring at other locations throughout the city. Visit macgrove.org/trash for details.
- Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. (at the MN Humanities Center at 987 Ivy Ave E, Saint Paul)
- Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. (at Hamline University 1536 Hewitt Ave, Saint Paul)
If you haven’t yet, be sure to take our organized trash collection survey – you’ll have a chance to enter yourself in a prize drawing to win a $50 gift card to Mississippi Market or grocery store of your choice. Thanks to those who have already shared their feedback!
Questions? Contact the Macalester-Groveland Community Council at mgcc@macgrove.org or by calling 651-695-4000.
Highland Park Library Kicks Off Major Renovation Project
On Sunday, December 1, at 5 p.m., the Highland Park Library will close its doors until fall of 2014 as it embarks on a major renovation project that will result in an additional 5,000 square feet of public space, expanded spaces for teens and children, additional computer stations, a large library community room, and many other updates. Site plans can be viewed at sppl.org/renovations.
To celebrate the upcoming remodel, Highland Park Library, 1974 Ford Parkway, 651-695-3700, is hosting a Siesta Fiesta on Sunday, December 1, from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be face painting, live music, refreshments, a library scavenger hunt, and prizes galore!
Many programs and services will continue off-site while this library location is closed. Preschool storytimes, Mondays at 10:30 a.m., and book club meetings, one Wednesday a month at 6:45 p.m., will be held in the Hillcrest Rec Center; Amharic storytimes will move to Homecroft Early Learning Center; and job search assistance, Paw Pals, and Dr. Who group meetings will be held at the Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave, 651-642-0385.
[This news is courtesy of Kathy Carruth, Executive Director, Highland District Council.]
Mac Groveland Survey
Some of you filled out this survey during our block party, but for those who missed it, the Mac Groveland Community Council would really like your opinion on future priorities. Please take a moment to respond!
www.surveymonkey.com/s/macgroveplan
The MGCC is updating its 10-year Community Plan that will guide decisions for the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood and the City of Saint Paul. They need to hear from you.
Macalester-Groveland 10-year Community Plan
Our block is part of Grid 3 on the MGCC, and we have a new representative for Grid 3, Cathy Plessner. Cathy wanted to let us know about a survey the MGCC is running to seek your input on neighborhood priorities.
The Macalester Groveland Community Council (MGCC) is updating its 10-year Community Plan that will guide decisions for the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood and the City of Saint Paul. The mission of MGCC is to foster citizen participation in government and community decisions that make our neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, learn and play. MGCC is seeking community input on what to Keep, Improve, Start and Stop in our community. Please complete our survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/macgroveplan-GNO
Cathy Plessner
Grid 3 Representative
2038 Summit Avenue
651-698-2006
A new kind of bus service: BRT
In 2015, Metro Transit will introduce a new kind of bus service for the Twin Cities’ busiest urban streets, beginning with the Snelling Avenue/Ford Parkway/46th Street corridor. Bus rapid transit – or BRT – is a package of transit enhancements that adds up to a faster trip and an improved experience.
Join Metro Transit staff for an informational Open House for new bus service to connect Highland Park neighbors with Roseville, Falcon Heights, St. Paul and Minneapolis neighborhoods, including connections to the METRO Blue Line and the future METRO Green Line.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Hamline University, Klas Center, Kay Fredericks Room
1536 Hewitt Avenue, St. Paul
Monday, July 15, 2013
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Hillcrest Recreational Center, Gymnasium
1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Macalester College, Weyerhaeuser Hall, Weyerhaeuser Board Room
62 Macalester Street, St. Paul
Project staff will be available to share information on the project and gather feedback on initial plans for BRT in the Snelling Avenue/Ford Parkway/46th Street corridor.
For more information: brtprojects@metrotransit.org, metrotransit.org/snelling-brt, or look at this flyer with a map.