Community Stands United!
The neighborhood turned out in large numbers despite snow, sub-zero temperature, and wind to learn about a City Staff Recommendation to sell land for a Commuter Train Layover Facility in Bassett Creek Valley and maintain the Impound Lot in the current location. The community response was clear: Neighborhood residents want jobs, quality housing, and opportunities for their families not to be a storage yard for trains and cars.
Harrison leaders, Pastor Chatman and Kari Anderson started off the meeting setting the context for the community. This included a mini-training on the "Cycle of Oppression" that has been used to justify mistreatment of communities like Harrison and North Minneapolis. (You can learn more about local history by clicking on 1935 Planning Map , and Institutionalized Racism Case Studies)
Kari Anderson shared the work that the community had done to break the cycle of oppression and create a cycle of opportunity. Kari explained that hundreds for residents have been involved. The community has done everything right by building a shared vision, partnering with the City of Minneapolis and a developer to revise the Bassett Creek Valley Masterplan, and then have our plans for redevelopment become formal City Policy in the approved City of Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan.
Beth Grosen, Senior Project Coordinator for CPED
provided a powerpoint presentation that provided updates on work done and an overview of the City Staff Recommendation. Some of the concerns included the costs of relocating the impound lot, current housing market and the potential need of Commuter Train Storage.
Harrison leaders Vicki Moore and Aron Khoury presented the findings of an Opportunity Cost Report quantifying the negative impacts that a Commuter Layover Facility and the Impound Lot will have on the community and the City. The report shows the harmful impact to the City and community to be the loss of 2,800 jobs, 500 units of housing, 10%-20% increase in land value, and tens of millions is tax revenue to the benefit of the City of Minneapolis. This will also undermine the revitalization of Glenwood Avenue North, Van White Memorial Blvd, and may make Linden Yards West unmarketable resulting in more jobs, housing, and tax base opportunities being lost.
More details will be posted later. To see more photos from that evening click Community Meeting Photos. Also read about the meeting in the Star Tribune.
Standing Room Only
Photo taken by Pat Carney
Pastor Kelly Chatman of Redeemer Lutheran Church explaining the Cycle of Oppression
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