Star Tribune
Minneapolis Park Board unveils first completed phase of Graco Park
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board unveiled the completed first phase of Graco Park on Wednesday, marking the opening of the riverfront park on property associated with a nearly decade-long legal battle between the Park Board and a neighboring manufacturer.
The 9-acre park sits just north of Plymouth Avenue N. along the east side of the Mississippi River. The land had been a lumber yard for Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., just south of the manufacturer Graco Inc.’s campus.
The new park pays homage to the lumber yard history by placing wooden beams along the paths, with a mixture of beams used as light posts and others that are decorative. The park adds a gravel beach, though the access to the water has not been opened yet and is separated by a black linen barrier. The first phase marks completion of the new bicycle path through the park. The planned stretch of bike path under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge has yet to be built, and until then, bicycle riders still have to cross at the intersection of Plymouth and Sibley Street.
Another new feature is geo-thermal heating technology that’s been added below the pathways, intended to melt the ice in winter.
Park Board Superintendent Al Bangoura called the initial opening a “milestone” as he spoke to a small crowd at the opening ceremony.
“If we’re going to have a truly equitable park system, residents of northeast and north Minneapolis must be able to enjoy thoughtfully designed access to the Mississippi Riverfront, like residents in South and Southwest enjoy the riverfront, creek and lakes in their neighborhoods,” Bangoura said.
The Park Board bought the land in 2010. In 2000, Graco granted the Park Board an easement on its adjacent property to build a trail. But when a decade went by without construction starting on the trail, Graco claimed the city had released the company from its commitment to provide the easement. Graco wanted to purchase a small portion of the property for the park, which was 11 acres in total, in exchange for the easement.
A legal settlement in 2018 granted the easement and allowed Graco to buy a 2.2 acre parcel. The agreement required the park to be named Graco Park. Sheahan said there are no plans yet for the empty 2.2-acre parcel.
Star Tribune
Burning wood and trash might qualify as carbon free under 2040 climate law, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission rules
The commission drew hundreds of public comments, including input from electric utilities, state lawmakers, local elected officials, environmental nonprofits, Gov. Tim Walz’s pollution regulators, North Dakota’s governor, the forestry and paper industry and labor unions.
Wind, solar and nuclear power drew broad support as the PUC considered the issue. Wood and garbage burning were more controversial.
A dozen environmental organizations and some DFL lawmakers wanted the PUC to decide any electric plant that emits carbon at the point of generation — such as incinerating wood and garbage — would not be considered carbon free.
The state’s biggest electric utilities, as well as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the state Department of Commerce, said the law should take other factors into consideration.
They backed a “life-cycle analysis” of net emissions. Supporters of wood burning argue it can be carbon neutral, since wood would emit greenhouse gases as it decomposes or if it burned in a wildfire.
Do not pass the State Capitol dome, do not collect $200. Yes, Monopoly board games fans of St. Paul, you’re in luck.
Monopoly is set to release a special St. Paul edition of its classic board game next June.And for anyone who ever had an opinion about Minnesota’s second largest city, the game’s makers are seeking input on what businesses, restaurants and landmarks to include in the game.
Tim Barney, in charge of creating the city editions for Monopoly, says public involvement is essential to creating an authentic city-themed game.
“We really want the public to get involved,” Barney said. “If you live here, you used to live here, you like to visit. Whatever it is, if you’ve got a strong opinion about what makes St. Paul perfect, then that’s what we want to include.”
So instead of Park Place or Pennsylvania Avenue, the James J. Hill House or the St. Paul Hotel could take its place. It’s that type of local favorite that Barney and his team are looking for.
Jack Stransky, co-owner of Midway Book Store, said it’d be cool if businesses like his could be featured in the game.
“I think it’s cool,” Stransky said of the game. “If we get in it, it’s free advertising for us. We can’t deny that.”
Stransky hopes some lesser-known St. Paul staples might be included.
Star Tribune
In a first, Destination Medical Center rejects funding for proposed Rochester apartment project
Affordable housing rents are based on an area’s median household income, with lower rent caps for people making less than the median income — in Rochester, about $118,000 for a family of four. DMC officials are looking for rental units with caps for residents who make half to 80% of that amount, while Quaye and R&R Properties want to set rents slightly higher to cater to Mayo Clinic workers.
Quaye said she and her staff were frustrated by DMC’s process. She pointed out that R&R Properties’ funding request changed to $6 million last month after resizing a federal housing loan for the project, and later offered to cap the rent of 18 units at 110% of the area median income.
The board unanimously voted against funding the project, arguing it would take up too much of DMC’s project budget when larger apartment projects had received less money.
“In this case … I think it sets a precedent that could be very dangerous,” DMC Board Member R.T. Rybak said. “I want to look at a far lower level of subsidy that would be sustainable for the many other housing projects we have to be part of.”
But members also noted it was important to work with the developer. The property along 2nd Avenue is “critical” to the Discovery Walk corridor as it takes shape over the next few years.
Rochester is facing a growing housing crisis. A 2020 housing study found the city needed about 14,000 new housing units — a mix of multi-family, single-family, townhomes and condo developments — to keep up with the city’s expected population increase. Demand will be compounded as Mayo Clinic’s $5 billion downtown expansion gets underway over the next few years.
