Residents weigh in on 2225 East Lake development

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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. Continue Reading

Sudden closing of Community Action of Minneapolis shifts energy assistance responsibility

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Minneapolis residents who received energy assistance from the nonprofit Community Action of Minneapolis were told this week that they will now be receiving their services through Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin. According to an article from the Star Tribune this week, the office of Community Action of Minneapolis was raided by employees of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Human Services and its employees laid off. This followed a state audit that showed several discrepancies in the organization’s funding and governance practices,  as well as expenses for things like spa trips, golf outings, and a car loan. In the days following the raid, all of the organization’s contracts were distributed to the Community Action Partnership of Southern Hennepin (CAPSH). “The Energy Assistance Program provides a vital safety net to thousands of low-income individuals and families and allows them to maintain affordable, continuous, and safe home energy” said CAPSH’s executive director Scott Zemke in a press release. Continue Reading

Though it feels weak, asking for help is strong

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The numbers vary from state to state but the crisis is the same: more children experience homelessness now than in previous years. Minnesota saw a nine percent increase in homeless children with their parents between 2009 and 2012, when the most recent Wilder Research survey was conducted. Continue Reading

Parking lot views can build better cities

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For most Minnesotans, a trip to the mall means getting in the car, driving through traffic, and navigating a crowded parking lot before even stepping into a store. But for residents who are moving into the new luxury apartments at One Southdale Place, a mall is just a short walk across the parking lot. These structures promote high-density, pedestrian friendly cities that strengthen community development. Continue Reading

Delivering dollars: 2014 homeowner property tax report

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In 2014, Minnesota homeowners will experience the largest property tax reduction in twelve years and will begin to benefit from the most significant reform of homestead taxation in at least three decades. The final property tax after refunds paid by the typical homeowner with a median income residing in a median value home will decline by over ten percent from 2013 to 2014 in the majority of Minnesota communities.

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Writing in (on) the streets

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Minneapolis is a city with a commitment to “community”—there is this desire to participate in community events, meet our neighbors, be outdoors together and find new ways to interact with new neighbors and different cultures. Summer typically showcases this attitude but in Kingfield we saw a post-summer example this past weekend during Nicollet Open Streets. Continue Reading

North Minneapolis residents fight out-of-state investors, poor maintenance

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If you’re a landlord in the city of Minneapolis, you already have the home field advantage when it comes to the rental game. But some North Minneapolis residents say they’re tired of out-of-state landlords playing hardball with their neighborhoods.Last month, more than 130 Minneapolis residents signed a petition demanding a moratorium on rental licenses issued by the city of Minneapolis until all Northside residencies have been inspected and brought up to code.“There is a problem in the city of Minneapolis with proper tracking of the conditions of some of the rental properties,” said north Minneapolis resident Connie Beckers in the petition. “Too many single family homes have been scooped up by investors who rent them out, don’t screen their tenants and don’t keep up with even minimal upkeep at their properties.”Data from the Minneapolis Regulatory Services shows the number of rental licenses distributed to owners with more than 10 rental licenses has risen dramatically in the city over the last decade. According to the data, monopolization of properties by single owners in the Folwell, Jordan and Hawthorne neighborhoods have more than doubled in the last five years.Beckers said that part of the problem is that there’s too much focus on rental properties. An out-of-state investor recently purchased five homes on her block, she said, bringing the number of rental properties on her block to 15, while only nine are retained by homeowners.“Most are single family homes which are often poorly cared for and maintained.” Beckers said. Continue Reading