Author Archives: Eric Celeste

Trench Troubles

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A couple neighbors stopped by to talk about tree trenches over the weekend. The stench of the two trenches that are not draining properly has been noted, and some folks are also concerned about the depth of the trenches that were dug for trees.

I gave Drew McLean, our site inspector, a call today and learned that plans are afoot to shallow up the tree trenches on Lincoln Avenue. He expects that work to happen within the next two weeks. It should also address the two trenches that are not draining properly.

Drew also mentioned that questions about the trenches could be brought to a neighborhood meeting being set up by Tom Stadsklev, our project manager. That meeting will be at 6pm on Monday 9/17 at the Groveland Recreation Center. Look for details in a mailing about the project assessments that should be coming soon.

Parking permit signs are here

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In case you have not noticed, the new Area 21 parking permit signs are up. For most residents of Area 21 this just means that you no longer need permits to park in the evening or during the summer months. But for residents of Lincoln Avenue whose address is odd between 1943 and 2009 or even between 1944 and 2022, this means you need to buy a parking permit to park on the street. It is not clear when enforcement of the new parking requirements will start, but any permit you buy today will be valid through August 2013, so there is no reason to delay.

Please see the city web page on residential permit parking for instructions. Note that you will need your driver’s license showing your Lincoln Avenue address, your current vehicle insurance card, and the make, model, year, color and license plate number for the vehicle. There are alternatives if any of these present a problem for you, see the instructions or call traffic operations at 651-266-9777 for details. Permits cost $10 per vehicle.

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Parking permit signs coming soon

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Area 21 will soon get its new permit parking signs. Monica Beeman confirmed that the traffic sign folks already have our new signs in production and hope to get them up before St. Thomas begins the Fall term on 5 September. Of course, there are many priorities for the staff, from the state fair to other projects downtown, so it could be they miss that target date, but Monica is certain the new signs will be here soon.

For those of us who live on the eastern two thirds of Lincoln Avenue between Cleveland and Prior, this means we need to purchase a parking permit soon. Our addresses are already listed as part of the Area 21 parking permit zone, so we can pick those permits up any time. Please see the city web page on residential permit parking for instructions. Note that you will need your driver’s license showing your Lincoln Avenue address, your current vehicle insurance card, and the make, model, year, color and license plate number for the vehicle. There are alternatives if any of these present a problem for you, see the instructions or call traffic operations at 651-266-9777 for details. Permits cost $10 per vehicle and they will be valid though August 2013.

Rain Garden Update

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I’ve seen some puzzled faces and been a bit puzzled myself as I’ve watched the rain gardens being built as part of our Prior/Goodrich RSVP project. Today I gave Forrest Kelley from the Capitol Region Watershed District a call and asked a few questions. I thought I’d share what I learned.

There are actually two different types of rain garden being built on Lincoln as part of the RSVP project. One is the shallow depression that will be planted with native grasses and flowers, the second is a deeper tree trench.

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The tree trenches have been “maximized for water retention” (in other words, made pretty deep) in order to feed the trees that will be planted there. These tree trenches are also the rain gardens being planted with regular grass sod. Right now they make the boulevard look a bit like a mini-golf course, but that will change once the trees are planted and grow larger.

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The native plant gardens will not get sod, they will remain a dirt boulevard for now. They will probably get some soil treatment (a few inches of special soils), but the plantings won’t arrive until Spring. Forrest said a date in the spring is being worked out by CRWD and Saint Paul, and we’ll get word of what it is once it is set, but that date is likely not till next Spring.

All of the rain gardens will get the small concrete ledge in the boulevard, next to the curb cuts. These help manage erosion and give us a place to gather up soil that might otherwise get out of the garden.

Beware of Pit Bull

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Christine sent a warning that an aggressive white Pit Bull has been loose in the neighborhood.

In the last two weeks there has been an aggressive white pit bull spotted in the neighborhood. It was first spotted in front of 1997 Lincoln Ave, where the owners tried to approach it to read his tags but the dog was too scared and snarling. It was next spotted in front of 1995 Lincoln. A mother and her young daughter were walking and the dog followed them snarling and show signs of aggression as well as being too close for comfort. They sought shelter in a neighbor’s house till the dog passed.

If you see this dog please do not approach it. Call Bill Stephenson at animal control, 651-266-1100. If it is a weekend you will need to call the police. Also have talks with your children to warn them about this animal.

We believe this dog lives on Goodrich. As it has been heading in that direction. If you have any information regarding this dog please contact Christine Anderson at 612-306-0779.

Again do not approach this dog as it is showing signs of aggression towards people.

Student Rental Housing Ordinance, Letters Needed

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In the midst of the RSVP street renovation we are enduring, it can be hard to remember there are other neighborhood issues swirling. One is the student rental housing ordinance that has seen a lot of coverage in the Highland Villager lately. As described back in March, the final reading of this ordinance before City Council will be this week, on Wednesday 6/27. Here is a note from Rachel Westermeyer, a neighbor organizing around this issue:

Russ will do his final reading on the Student Housing Ordinance and it will go to a vote at the Council meeting this Wednesday. There are some letters of support, about 28 to date, but 14 against. We need to push for many more letters of support in the next two days. So, if you want this Ordinance, please, please, please write just a sentence or two saying you support the Ordinance to preserve stability and balance in our community… At the present time, Chris Tolbert is ambivalent about giving this Ordinance his backing. It would also be helpful to write the other 5 Council members as well.

So, please consider emailing Russ Stark and Chris Tolbert with your support of the rental ordinance. Other council emails can be found on their official website.

By the way, for those of you not regularly following these issues, a recent effort to block a five-story apartment building at Grand and Finn failed. This new building, really a de-facto dorm, will have a significant impact on that part of Grand. If you would like to join neighbors who are putting up signs to “Preserve Neighborhood Balance” you can contact Kelly MacGregor who has the signs on the front porch of 2128 Lincoln Avenue for $5 each.

RSVP Public Art Meeting, 5/22

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Regina Flanagan, Public Art Ordinance Administrator for Saint Paul, has invited residents of the Prior/Goodrich RSVP project to a meeting with artist-in-residence Marcus Young at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Avenue, on 5/22 at 6:30pm.

Here’s the invitation:

Hello Neighborhood Residents:

You have contacted me via email or phone or we have spoken about public art at the orientation meeting last Fall for the Residential Street Vitality Program (RSVP) and you expressed interest in meeting with the artist-team that will be working on the projects for your neighborhood. Here’s your opportunity! I am pleased to report that the team has been assembled and is just starting their work. (The following notice will also be broadcast through the District Council and I request that you share it with your neighbors, too. We are hoping for a good turnout and a lively conversation. Thanks.)

We invite residents in the Davern Jefferson I and II and Prior/Goodrich (District 14 – Macalester Groveland Community Council) RSVP project areas to a get-together to talk about public art opportunities for their neighborhoods.

Please join the design team – Marcus Young, City Artist in Residence, and artists Matt Olson, Brad Kaspari and Lisa Elias – on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1935 St. Clair Avenue (corner of Prior and St. Clair), Saint Paul, MN 55105.

In 2009, an ordinance was passed by the City setting aside one percent for public art because it strengthens public places and enhances and promotes Saint Paul’s identity as a livable and creative city and a desirable place to live, work and visit. This is the pilot year for integrating art into RSVP projects.

Marcus Young has been City Artist in Residence since 2006 and has created the popular Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk program which has touched all corners of the city, wherever sidewalks are being repaired or replaced.

The design team is just beginning their process and want to get to know the neighborhoods better. The team also wants to give residents a glimpse into how they are starting to think about public art. Like with Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk, the artists are exploring how art can be integrated systemically into street reconstruction. Later in their design process, the team will follow-up with a celebratory event that presents their design ideas.

We hope you can join us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regina M. Flanagan, RLA, MA
Public Art Ordinance Administrator
City of Saint Paul
Offices of Financial Services
10th Floor, City Hall Annex
Saint Paul, MN 55102
P: 651-266-9159
Regina.Flanagan@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Position funded by Public Art Saint Paul

Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Student Rental Housing Ordinance

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David Redmond writes, “this is legislation that may affect our block more than any other issue in the near future.”

The Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Student Rental Housing Ordinance will be held Friday, May 4, at 8:30 AM City Hall Conference Center Room 40 15 Kellogg Boulevard West. This is the first of two opportunities for public comment. The second will be at the final hearing before the City Council on June 20.

The proposed ordinance would prevent the establishment of new student rental occupancy of single family homes and duplexes within 150 feet of an existing student rental of a single family home or duplex in an area surrounding the University of St. Thomas.

Student Rental Housing Ordinance Recommendation Released

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David Redmond writes with news that City Staff have released their recommendation for the proposed Student Rental Housing Ordinance. This was heard in a closed meeting of the Neighborhood Committee of the Planning Commission and forwarded to the Planning Commission for study. Essentially the recommendation is for no new conversions of single family homes to student rentals within 150 feet of existing student rentals.

Note that the only opportunities for public hearing would be 5/4 at the Planning Commission and 6/20 at the City Council.

The timeline for the full process is as follows:

  • 3 August 2011 (Done): Student Housing Moratorium bridge resolution approved by City Council
  • 23 March 2012 (Done): Agenda sent to Neighborhood Committee of the Planning Commission with proposed new ordinance
  • 28 March 2012 (Done): Discussion of proposed ordinance at Neighborhood Committee
  • 6 April 2012: Planning Commission releases proposed ordinance for public hearing
  • 4 May 2012: Public Hearing at the Planning Commission
  • 9 May 2012: Discussion at Neighborhood Committee (to review comments made at public hearing)
  • 8 May 2012: PC consideration of Neighborhood Committee recommendation
  • 6 June 2012: First City Council reading of proposed ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission
  • 13 June 2012: Second City Council reading of proposed ordinance
  • 20 June 2012: Third City Council reading of proposed ordinance and public hearing
  • 27 June 2012: Fourth and final City Council reading of proposed ordinance
  • 3 July 2012: Legal Ledger Publication
  • 3 August 2012: Ordinance effective date
  • 2 August 2012: Expiration of Moratorium

David also shared these three documents:

Area 21 Parking Permit Petition Passes City Council (barely)

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A number of neighbors stood up tonight in support of the Area 21 parking permit changes. This was important, since a number also rose to oppose the change. Thanks to everyone who wrote emails and spoke up, your voice was critical. In fact, the petition only barely passed, on a 4-3 vote of the council. Russ Stark supported the petition and Chris Tolbert opposed it.

The next step for the neighborhood is the RSVP construction. We don’t expect to see signs for the new permit until after that construction is complete, some time in the fall of this year.