02-19-1985 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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oA •Mon., Fob. 4, 196S M!nncap{<ti5 Star and Tribune Calhbun Cootinued Irom page lA fl Lake St. at Calhoun carries more can in and out of Minneapolis than than any other nonfreeway street, averaging 34,700 a day. What's happening on the north shore titastralcs many of the problems the city Is facing In Its attempts to pre serve one of Its most attractive ameniUes — its chain of lakes: how to encourage development and best use of the land while keeping the lake as open and unspoiled as possi ble .and available to everyone. “Here's been an explosion in us- afs.** said Gary Cohen, 32. a lifelong resident of the lakes area. "Now i cat barely ride my bike around •IMout bumping into anybody. We lli-tte neighborhood ntay have got- ten selfish, wantlni; lo keep others out, but we realize the lake is a unique resource that's not just ours. It's the age-old battle of trade-offs. I'm not so naive as lo think things won't get built, but you have to look at the whole problem." Council Member Jt>an Niemiec pre dicted, "The lakes should belong to ever>'one, but they're going lo seem like less of everyone's lakes with more people living close to them. People have lo really wake up to what's happening to our lakes. Suc cess breeds success. There will only be more and more development." For example. George Sherman, of Sherman-Boosalis Companies, built and sold 83 lownhouses and duplexes two blocks from Calhoun last year. The units ranged in price from 860,000 to 8125,000. "The lake was a key marketing aspect of the proj ect." be mid. There Is a model lo follow. Although It's not exactly the same, it does give some Idea of what might happen. Loriag Park used to be an open green space, with gently sloping . shores reaching up to the edge of . downtown Minneapolis. Then the tall buildings and high-priced town- houses came In. "People have said lo me that they I feel the actual size of Coring has ' shrunk. It seems smaller now, but it's used more and much more lively," said Cornelia Einsweiler, a park planner. Council Member Barbara Carlson said she tears that the high-rise buildings could diminish the land scape on Calhoun's north shore. “This area could become the Cedar- Rlvenide for the rich," she said. But Ccuncil Vice President Tony Scallon said, "The area back from the lake Is a good place for hlgh- densHy bousing. It hopefully gets people closer into the city rather than forcing them to drive in from the suburbs." He also pointed out that most of the city's lakeshores are zoned for only single-family or duplex structures. “We’re using the 10 percent of the lakeshore to help pay for the other •0 percent," Scallon said. But other city leaders tear that the desirability of land near all the lakes srouM change xlly opinions on ton ing. Many other high-density devel opment proposals have been pro poned wUhIa blocks of the lakes, al though most have been blocked so far by the lowcr-dcnsity zoning. Jim Hdtzrr. Utc city dvvelopinCht diM-ru-r said, "Ttiv concern one has to iiavc is while this group of city officials may believe in the lakes. It's Impossible lo predict what may be done 10 years from now." Park planners as well are trying lo mana^ the inevitable change along Calhoun's north shore, trying to min imize the damage and keep the area pleasant and green. The park system received 8500.000 In stale money this year to improve Calhoun. Planners concentrated on the northern shore, the area of most use. They have recommended reducing the parking lot from 185 spots to 40. The lot now will have an entrance at a street light, making it safer, they say. They also want to take out the bath house and add green space and sepa rate bike and foot trails. Now bikers and runners must go through the parking lot. Planners also have rec ommended a bike and pedestrian underpass under Lake SL They want lo make the slope gentle enough so that handicapped people can qse it. But their attempts at change have created some serious social prob lems — two dramatic reductions, one a parking lot that blacks like to use and the other a fishing area that Hmon^t like to use. Blacks have accused the park board of racism. Danny Davis, a black spokesman and former member of the city Civil Rights Commission, said, "I’ve been here 55 years, and this Is one of the most blptaat caaes of racial prejudice Tva ever seen. They’re doing the Improvements to displace black people. I really can't understand how naive they can get to not be aware of the Impact of what they’re doing." However. Carl Griffin Jr., one of the black members of the citizens advi sory committee on the project, said, "There seems to be a premise that, by removing that much parking, black people aren't going to use the loL When It comes to getting nio new Licllities, minority people are alwnys the last In line. This is an improvement for us.” The planners said they are going to work with members of the Hmong community lo find a suitable site for their fishing.