Assessing a Listening Session

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Billed as a listening session, the Central Corridor meeting was actually a post-it-note brainstorming session geared to members of the business community and property owners around the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Saint Paul. It was not about discussing the pros and cons of the light rail line, and it was not a question and answer session. Rather, it was to collect information and data that will compiled into a report that will be given, unedited, to city and county officials, to the Met Council and to the non-profit organizations that are part of the partnership. Karri Plowman, Director of the Central Corridor Partnership, said the theory behind doing the brainstorming session is to, “ask people on the street and in the community what they want.”
The Central Corridor Partnership is made up of business, community, and government organizations. Formed in 2004, its purpose is to make sure that the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project is funded and constructed on time and on budget. Continue Reading

North End, South Como in St. Paul looking to renew neighborhoods

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The North End/South Como community in Saint Paul has struggled with a disproportionate number of houses and commercial buildings gone vacant, businesses leaving the community, and quality of life issues. In October, the District 6 Planning Council hired CultureBrokers to conduct an analysis of the neighborhood and come up with a community conditions report. Project briefings will be held on the following dates:Tuesday, November 18 – 6:30 p.m. at Abetto’s, 560 Como AvenueMonday, November 24 – 7:30 a.m. at North End Elementary School, 27 Geranium For more information, call the District 6 Planning Council office at 651-488-4485
Lisa Tabor, from CultureBrokers spoke at the October 28 meeting of the District 6 Land Use Committee. She said that her company will gather resources by collecting demographic information and conducting personal interviews with people in the community. Residents will be involved in coming up with an action plan to create a sustainable community. Continue Reading

Vacant home tour draws home-buyers

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No community has been left untouched by the nationwide mortgage crisis. In the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of Saint Paul, community leaders work to save the vacant homes, rather than demolish them. The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council held its second vacant home tour on Sunday, October 26. The weather was typically Minnesota not-so-nice with brisk winds, rain, and a little snow. In spite of that, 150 people turned out to tour the eight homes that were on the tour. Continue Reading

St. Paul PeeWee Baseball team–then and now

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Then, they were in sixth grade and played PeeWee baseball in 1955 at Scheffer playground in Saint Paul. Now, 53 years later they still get together every couple of months or so for breakfast at the Coffee Cup on Rice Street. Dick Miller, Jay Allen, Jerry Sinna and John Brodrick attended the old Scheffer grade school, while Bill Braeker and Derrill Lambert went to St. Adalbert’s. All lived near the playground and came together to play under the late Coach Joe Sullivan. Continue Reading

Vacant homes featured in tour

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In May, 300 people came to the vacant home tour that was sponsored by the District 4 Dayton’s Bluff Community Council on the East Side of Saint Paul. Since then eight of the buildings on the tour have been sold, according to Karin DuPaul, community organizer for District 4. Daytons Bluff Fall Vacant Home TourSunday, October 26, 20081:00 to 5:00 p.m.Building on that success, District 4 is sponsoring a one-day tour of eight homes on Sunday, October 26 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Maps with home information and locations can be picked up at the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council office at 798 East 7th Street at the beginning of the tour. The District Council has more information. Du Paul says, “ We find vacant home tours a good way to get houses sold and good people into the neighborhood.’
Mary Thoemke, a lifelong resident of Saint Paul, is a free lance writer for the Twin Cities Daily Planet. Continue Reading

Engaging a changing community

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The biggest challenge for the East Side is the number of vacant buildings and foreclosed homes. Chuck Repke, Executive Director of District 2, who also directs the North East Neighborhoods Development Corporation (NENDC), is concerned about “the impact on our families.” He says, “We need buyers.”About the Greater East Side
Located in the Northeast corner of Saint Paul , the Greater East Side District 2 Planning Council represents ten different neighborhoods – Beaver Lake Heights, East Phalen, Frost Lake, Hayden Heights, Hazel Park, Hillcrest, Lincoln Park, Parkway/Greenbrier, Phalen Village, and Prosperity Heights. Its boundaries are Larpenteur Avenue to McKnight Road to Minnehaha Avenue to Johnson Pkwy and the old Burlington Northern berm to the west. Although the first settlers arrived in the 1850s , other parts of the area were not developed until the post World War II housing boom. One of the oldest neighborhoods is Hazel Park, named for the dense hazel shrubbery that was there. Continue Reading

A treat for all seasons

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It’s fall and there’s a chill in the air, but that doesn’t stop North Enders from stopping by Dar’s Double Scoop Ice Cream Shop at 1046 Rice Street at Cook in Saint Paul . In the spirit of the season, owner Kevin Barrett is now offering pumpkin ice cream along with the 44 other flavors. Barrett says “Every night is a good night for ice cream.”
Erica Whitaker is a regular at Dar’s. She lives in the neighborhood and stops in on her way home from work at Regions Hospital. She says she grew up in Missouri, and can only find her favorite Black Walnut ice cream at Dar’s. Continue Reading

Facing Race: A new conversation on race and racism in St. Paul

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Facing Race: A new conversation on Race and Racismby Mary Thoemke, TC Daily PlanetFacing the issue of race is not an easy thing to do. Talking about race and racism can be the first step in breaking down long-held barriers to understanding . In an effort to begin a new conversation, the Payne Phalen District 5 Planning Council invites the community to join them in a dialogue: Facing Race – We’re all in this together. Facing Race will be held on Thursday, October 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. at First Covenant Church at 1280 Arcade Street . Continue Reading

Halloween House – “It’s just so much fun”

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Every holiday is special at Monica Muckala’s house in the North End neighborhood of Saint Paul. So special, in fact, that she decorates the whole house, inside and out, for every holiday, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Valentine’s Day, St. Urho’s Day (Muckala’s late husband, Russell, was Finnish), St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter. Continue Reading