 Affordable housing in the Central Corridor
Various stakeholders have been meeting over the past couple years to discuss the potential threat to housing affordability posed by the construction of the Central Corridor light rail project. In recent months, I have been engaged in an important dialogue with corridor stakeholders including the Healthy Corridor for All group (HCA) about the best ways to ensure that the corridor will remain an affordable place to live. The HCA effort started with a thorough analysis of current conditions and trends in the neighborhoods that border University Avenue. Some troubling statistics emerged. . . .CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING.
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Cossetta's vote redux
Many of you had strong feelings about the recent Housing and Redevelopment Authority Vote (5-2) to grant a waiver to the City's Living Wage Ordinance to Cossetta's for a major expansion of their restaurant and grocery on W. 7th Street. I have received a great deal of positive feedback on my vote against the waiver, but I still wanted to take a minute to explain the issues surrounding that vote.
The Cossetta's project was first put forward as part of the Rebuild St. Paul slate of development projects proposed by the Mayor last summer. At the time, mine was the sole vote against the package, although not because of concerns about the Cossetta's project. My initial opposition to Rebuild St. Paul stemmed from concern about the City using heavy public subsidies on two proposed housing projects downtown, the Lofts at Farmers Market and the Penfield, projects that would be City-owned market-rate apartment buildings with no affordable units. . . CLICK HERE TO KEEP READING
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Proposed redistricting based on new census data
The Charter Commission is responsible for the redistricting of city council ward boundaries. The following options are being considered:
Map A Map B Map C Please note that Maps A and C propose changes to the Ward 4 boundaries. Map A affects Mac Groveland, and Map C moves part of the Hamline Midway part of Ward 4 to Ward 1, and also affects Mac Grove. To comment on these proposals, you can email Bill Johnson (bill.johnson@ci.stpaul.mn.us) or testify at one of these public hearings: Monday, May 16, 6:00 PM -- Jimmy Lee Recreation Center Monday, May 23, 4:30 PM -- Room 220, City Hall - 15 Kellogg Boulevard West |
 Sustainable Saint Paul award for Green Building goes to the Lyric at Carleton Place
The Lyric is a market-rate apartment project on University Avenue and an early demonstration that quality sustainable housing along the Central Corridor Light Rail line is important. The building consumes approximately 22% less energy per year than an average multi-family apartment building of the same size. The sustainable design strategies implemented resulted in a 15% electrical demand savings and over 37% natural gas demand savings per year. The Lyric is another showcase green building on the Energy Innovation Corridor. |
