Almost 150 people turned out April 3 to hear about proposed plans by Hennepin County to purchase and redevelop 2225 East Lake, the 6.5 acre property between the Lake Street light rail station and the YWCA. Since that time, the County has convened 2 working groups of government staff, development practitioners, and local residents to work through issues related to Sustainable development and Bike/Walk/Traffic connections within the development. Each of these groups has met once, and CNO gathered feedback from residents who participated, including Corcoran residents Jane St. Clair, Tami Traeger, John Paul, Benjamin Tsai, Billy Weber, Gerry Tyrrell, Heidi Traore, Jim Walsh, and Peggy Knapp.
Attention paid to bike/walk/traffic and transit users, connections and facilities.
“(Fixing) the Lake and Hiawatha intersection is CRUCIAL to the success of any development on this site and unacceptable in its current car-centric design.”
“I am disappointed that the office building will be only 5 stories even though CNO is OK with 6 to 10. It seems wasteful to use ground zero for Transit Oriented Development for only a 5 story building.”
“I would definitely like to see more progressive efforts to make this a pedestrian first, bike second and car last development.”
“Lots of buildings in a small space, but the Farmers Market is welcome relief.”
“I am concerned about the dwindling retail on the first floor fronting Lake Street; this is a major fault of the current program.”
Attention paid to Sustainability issues.
“The County is clearly going to low-ball this development. I have seen no evidence of leadership in bringing innovation to this site. the building is not being built to demonstrate a commitment to the values and principles the neighborhood has embraced, promoted, fought for and clearly communicate.”
“(The County) needs to do more and choose a signature issue or two to champion on the project.“
“County and developer dismissed concerns over grey water, urban gardening and farming, and pushing the envelope on sustainable design.”
“I feel most decisions are already made.”
Rating of the proposed development as a place to live.
“Need more information about pricing, and more clarity on what the public plaza will look like as this would be the outdoor space to enjoy .”
“Incredibly dense housing next to a service center that will create high levels of transient traffic each day. What a crap place to live.”
Rating of the proposed development as adding value to my neighborhood.
“The market makes this a great place.”
“I am concerned about the mix of uses leaning toward social services without service for all residents in the area to create a true mixed income neighborhood.”
“This depends on what is valued. Raising property values is not the most important consideration. The addition of a permanent community center with a home for the farmer’s market is important. Making sure we design this place for the future, with the consideration of pedestrian and bike access and reducing cars, is critical.”
“More housing options are needed, and more density at the transit hub that is Hi-Lake would help give our neighborhood a stronger, more urban-like node.”
Related stories:
- Help shape development at 2225 East Lake, Midtown Farmers Market site (Eric Gustafson, Corcoran News, 2014)
- Get involved in plans to redevelop 2225 East Lake (Eric Gustafson, Corcoran News, 2014)
- Public meeting on plan to develop Midtown Farmers Market Site (Staff, Corcoran News, 2014)
- The deal is off: Developer for 2225 East Lake is out, and it’s back to square one for the Midtown Farmers Market site (Kathleen Hoffer, Corcoran News, 2013)
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