What’s with the blue tanks in Minneapolis?
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While the chromium leaching from saturated bedrock still discolors torrential rain yellow, and a potential developer gave up, active neighbors appear to trust the parties who are getting
Some surprises in Northside air quality sampling results
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Naphthalene detected near Webber Park, methylene chloride near Broadway and the city limits, benzene at many Northside locations. These chemical findings are some of the May 2014 results of an air quality study underway.
48 acres of Minneapolis riverfront up for development
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With the City of Minneapolis getting out of the shipping business at this year’s end, development staff are gearing up to offer the Upper Harbor site to businesses in partnership with parks, hoping they’ll hire Northside residents. And one private developer asked them to think about long-term leasing instead, since “nothing is forever.”
Central Avenue train switchover hits delays
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The rumors are true, the “shoo-fly” project to take trains around the railroad viaduct between 14th and 18th avenues on Central is three to four weeks behind schedule. And it’s due to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) having issues with getting materials in to build their part of the solution.Jeff Lohaus, a metal artist in the Northrup King Building with a “ringside seat” at the end of the dock next to the tracks, said, “They finished building the bed for the rail bypass about mid-June and since then there are only a few guys working just a few hours on just some days. Other days no one comes at all.”The latest word from the railroad is that the track is all laid. They say they are now trying to schedule a window of time to have the track not in use so that they can disconnect the old tracks, put in the switchover pieces (that are now sitting on the triangular lot at 14th and Central) and be ready for the next train to use the new track.Meanwhile, some Central Avenue businesses report that their loyal local customers are still finding them despite the closed road, but their drive-by traffic is down as predicted. And neighbors are seeing, also predicted, that traffic on the “informal detour” streets such as Monroe and Fillmore (where the buses run) is up and sometimes impatient.Bobbie Dahlke, public relations representative for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, responsible for replacing the bridge, said “we don’t want to throw our partners under the bus.” MNDOT’s contractor completed building the earth mound onto which the railroad would need to construct their new temporary rails. Continue Reading
Northeast Minneapolis residents, unhappy with pace of riverfront park development, ask: How long is temporary?
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What the park board staff see as an internal operations matter, some neighborhood activists see as a slide backwards from progress toward continuous parkland along the river. Anyone hoping to influence the outcome will have just a couple of weeks to write letters and attend a public hearing anticipated July 16.
North Minneapolis YMCA named for Harold Mezile, mentor
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“Seeing a man that looked different, and had a background like mine,” solidified her commitment to the YMCA, said Stacy Guilfoyle, a youth support specialist. Having a person of color at the top had profound effects “on many of us from that era.”
Wirth Co-op reports progress on site, developer partner
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To get enough members, there needs to be a location. To get a location, there need to be enough members.
Parkway bridge closes a year early
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Thanks to drivers of big vehicles who ignored the three-ton load limit signs, the St. Anthony Parkway Bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Northtown yard, a bridge which is due to be replaced next year, is now closed to traffic.
St. Anthony West neighbors choosing to chemically treat ash trees
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The chemical is called TREE-äge with an umlaut over the a, pronounced like “triage,” the process of deciding who of those injured in disaster or war will survive even if they wait for attention, those for whom who immediate attention could make the difference, and who can not be saved.
Minneapolis council member Blong Yang, on 100 days in office: “Don’t lose faith in government”
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Fifth Ward Council Member Blong Yang told NorthNews the most surprising aspect of his new job is how much hard work it is. He said there are lots of meetings with developers and business people, though he is, at 100 days in office, getting a chance to tackle the agendas on which he ran, and hoping to hear more from resident constituents.