Crime reports

By Lila Bolke

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime. This rundown of police reports is from July 24–30.

Armatage

Between July 25, 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., 5539 Richmond Ct.

A 40-year-old male parked his car in front of his house. His car was left unlocked and was entered while the man slept. The unknown suspect rifled through his belongings, taking a laptop and several other items. The other items were discarded and later found in an alley across the street. These were returned to the man.

August 13, 2007
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Lane won't seek re-election

By Scott Russell

Thirteenth Ward City Council independent cites family reasons; biggest achievement might be long-term city budgeting

City Councilmember Barret Lane (13th Ward) says he will not seek another term, citing family reasons and saying it was a family decision.

"My 7-year-old came home one night and said, 'Daddy, you need a job with fewer night meetings,'" said Lane.

Lane, 41, made his announcement during a Sept. 27 interview with the Southwest Journal. The 13th Ward covers the city's Southwest corner. It includes Fulton, Linden Hills, West Calhoun, Armatage, Lynnhurst and Kenny neighborhoods.

 

October 14, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

School budgets: back to basics

By Anna Pratt

Southwest schools find creative solutions for the fifth year of budget cuts

When Minneapolis Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Marj Rolland presents her districtwide budget to the School Board, she typically sets it to music, according to a theme. Her first soundtrack was "I Can See Clearly Now" (the rain is gone).

This year, Rolland decided not to use "Chain, Chain, Chain" - meant to invoke a five-year string of district budget cuts totaling over $130 million. She figured that politicians might misinterpret to whom the "chain of fools" referred.

Instead, Rolland went music-free as she explained how Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) managed the deep cuts.

September 5, 2005
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Minneapolis legislative, congressional candidates set

By Scott Russell

The fall campaigns for the Minnesota House of Representatives' seats in the Southwest area firmed up as the July 20 filing deadline passed.

The 2004 elections include the president, U.S. Congress, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and state judicial candidates.

Six state House districts include all or parts of Southwest. All incumbents are DFL party members. All races are contested. They are:

House District 60A: Incumbent Margaret Anderson Kelliher of Bryn Mawr will face challenges from Republican Tom Gromacki of Loring Park and Sigrid Hutcheson of the Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, an Independence member. District 60A covers Bryn Mawr, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East, East Isles, Kenwood, CIDNA and parts of Lyndale and CARAG.

 

June 24, 2004
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Less SAFE? Fewer crime-prevention teams to cover neighborhoods

By Robyn Repya

In response to proposed state budget cuts, the Minneapolis Police Department sliced its Community Crime Prevention/SAFE teams in 5th Precinct (Southwest) neighborhoods from five to three -- meaning fewer civilian-officer teams covering 20 area neighborhoods.

SAFE teams serve in pairs of sworn officers and civilian crime prevention specialists (CPS) and are the primary contact for Southwest residents to the police department in responding to crime trends, assisting in block club training, providing business and home security checks and workshops and focusing on problem properties.

Citywide, 25 SAFE teams were reduced to 14.

May 15, 2003
Full Article

Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

New Southwest legislators energized, realistic

By Jim Chase

State Representatives Frank Hornstein and Paul Thissen are freshmen at the state legislature, but savvy about working the system -- and surviving being in the minority

"Did he do his Wellstone?" asked Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Kelliher -- a Bryn Mawr state representative just elected Minority Whip, the number-two House Democrat -- was talking about one of her newest colleagues, Rep. Frank Hornstein.

Indeed, Hornstein had done his Wellstone -- and his Jesse Ventura. A cheerful, outgoing man, the Southwest Minneapolis legislator does impressions for his guests and colleagues, and occasionally for visiting journalists. "I can't quite get Pawlenty," he lamented. "Not distinctive enough."

 

February 20, 2003
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Primary election roundup: Dibble defeats Roche in DFL fight

By Kevin Featherly

Scott Dibble, the freshman District 60B state representative who is hoping to make the quick leap to the Senate, easily survived a challenge from former Massachusetts Rep. Rick Roche in the Sept. 10 primary.

In an unusual state Senate primary featuring metro-wide TV ads from Roche, Dibble outpolled Roche 5,830 votes to 1,061, an 85 percent to 15 percent margin.

According to the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Roche spent $15,375 on the campaign as of Aug. 19; however, most of his TV ads accusing Dibble of favoring stadium financing aired after that date, driving his expenses higher. Dibble spent $14,778 as of Aug. 19, the latest available date for expenditures.

 

September 9, 2002
Full Article

Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
+ March 24, 9 p.m., W. 33rd St. and Harriet Ave.
Three suspects robbed and assaulted a 37-year-old man as he was walking home. The three suspects approached the victim and one of the suspects hit the victim in the head with an object. The suspects then fled the scene with several of the victim’s items. The victim needed to be treated and transported by ambulance to the hospital for a large contusion above his left eye sustained during the assault.

April 7, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
+ Oct. 3, 9:15 p.m., W. 31st St. and Bryant Ave.
Four male suspects robbed three victims, a 23-year-old woman and two others, at gunpoint. The three victims were standing at a bus stop when the suspects approached them and held a black, short-barreled revolver to the 23-year-old victim’s head and demanded their money. The victims complied, and the suspects fled the scene on foot.

November 5, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Fulton leading the way in state Energy Challenge

By Dan Haugen

A Southwest neighborhood with a reputation for eco-friendly efforts was on leading the pack as of last week in the Minnesota Energy Challenge.

Fulton residents had pledged to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by about 18 percent for an annual total of about 85,492 pounds.

A month after the Center for Energy and Environment launched the website, Minneapolis had pledged to save 7 million pounds of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.

The site estimates how much carbon dioxide a household is responsible for based on the size of home, modes of transportation and other factors. It then calculates how much would be saved by pledging to take small steps and simple actions to make a difference.

December 4, 2006
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

MPD hires new 5th Precinct crime prevention specialist

By Jake Weyer

The Minneapolis Police Department has hired Kingfield resident Sarah Mahmud as a crime prevention specialist for the 5th Precinct's first sector, which includes the Cedar Isles Dean, Kenwood, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East, East Isles, Whittier, Steven's Square and Loring Heights neighborhoods.

Mahmud started Sept. 18, replacing Jennifer Waisanen, who now works in North Minneapolis.

Civilian crime prevention specialists work with neighborhoods to inform them of crime trends, reduce fear of crime, enhance community cooperation with police and improve the quality of life in Minneapolis.

Mahmud said she is looking forward to being a resource for the third sector community of the 5th Precinct.

“I want to become as involved as I possibly can,” she said.

September 25, 2006
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Griesling

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
Feb. 26, 5:49 p.m., W. Lake St. and Girard Ave.
Police officers stopped a vehicle for having illegally tinted windows. The officers found that the passengers, two 26-year-old men, had warrants out for their arrest. The passenger allegedly had an unidentified narcotic in his possession. Hennepin County Jail refused to book the suspect due to an unknown medical reason and he needed to be transported to Hennepin County Medical Center.

March 24, 2008
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

City could hook ladder truck

By Scott Russell

Fire Station 27, 5410 Nicollet Ave. S., could lose a fire truck and three firefighters in 2004, part of a plan the Minneapolis Fire Department said would more efficiently use resources.

The Minneapolis Fire Department's union, Local 82, opposes the move, saying it would increase response time and reduce services to some Southwest

neighborhoods.

Assistant Fire Chief Uly Seal said the ladder truck at Station 27 and another truck at Station 15, 27th and Johnson Street N.E., have the fewest calls in the system. The department is considering a plan to eliminate those trucks and move personnel to higher-demand areas around the city, Seal said.

"We are not eliminating positions, we are distributing those personnel to different rigs," he said.

 

September 9, 2002
Full Article

Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Crime report

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG

Between May 14, noon, and May 19, 6:11 a.m., 3000 block of Colfax Ave.

A 31-year-old man had his vehicle stolen from the front of his residence by an unknown suspect. The victim said that the vehicle had been locked and he still has the keys.



+ May 17, 1:40 a.m., W. 31st St. and Hennepin Ave.

An unknown suspect robbed two 28-year-old women at gunpoint.

June 2, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Parks update

By Cristof Traudes

Pedestrian bridge on track for repairs

LYNNHURST — Fixing up the closed pedestrian bridge over Minnehaha Creek has been put on the fast track.

At a May 8 neighborhood meeting, City Council Member Betsy Hodges (13th Ward) brought with her the news that money had been found for a feasibility study, the first step in repairing the bridge.

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board had closed the 230-foot, 78-year-old structure by Bryant Avenue in early April after neighborhood residents raised concerns about its stability. At an April 29 public information meeting, members of the city’s bridge department told about 50 neighborhood residents that repairing the structure would cost at least $200,000.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Community schools, but with less room for anyone else

By Dylan Thomas

Southwest space crunch leads to tough choices

LYNNHURST — When requests for seats in Minneapolis Public Schools’ kindergarten classes jumped 16 percent in this spring, the district heralded the good news.

For a district that has struggled with declining enrollment, it was. But for two groups of families in Southwest, it wasn’t.

With Burroughs and Lake Harriet community schools already bursting at the seams, the spike in kindergarten requests — combined with several other trends — forced some difficult decisions.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

East Calhoun

Sept 16, 3:28 a.m., 3300 block of Irving Ave.

A 59-year-old man had his vehicle stolen from in front of his residence. The vehicle had been left unlocked at the time of the theft. A neighbor believes he witnessed the crime but was unable to describe the suspect.

October 8, 2007
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Southwest block clubs win Building Blocks awards

By Sarah McKenzie

The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) has awarded three block clubs in the Southwest area with a 2006 Building Blocks award, which recognizes the city's most effective block clubs.

The Whittier neighborhood's Stevens and 1st Avenue Block Club, Kingfield's Van Nest Avenue Block Club and Lynnhurst's 5000 Block of Aldrich Avenue South Block Club will be recognized at a special awards ceremony March 20.

The Stevens 1st Avenue Block Club, led by residents Kevin Gavin and Barbara Betz, has been around for about 30 years. MPD credits the group's collaboration with police and a crime prevention specialist with putting a dent in crime in the area.

March 12, 2007
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

New zip code lowers auto insurance rates

By Bob Gilbert

When the U.S. Postal service changed the zip codes of several Southwest homes from 55409 to 55419, some residents fumed about the hassle of having to get new stationery and checks.

What they didn't expect was a financial windfall: lower car insurance rates.

David Raymond, who lives on the 4800 block of Fremont Avenue South, saw the cost of insuring his 1999 Dodge Caravan and his 2004 Toyota Corolla cut by 26 percent per year -- a $520 annual savings, even though nothing had changed other than one Postal Service digit.

"It's good for us who have had their zip codes changed to 55419, but it is bad in the sense that it shows how Minneapolis residents pay more than the suburbs for auto insurance," Raymond said.

 

July 8, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Government

By Scott Russell & Michael Metzger

Various government-related stories

Bottom of the Ballot group explores caucuses

As Minnesota's March 2 caucuses draw closer, some are busily preparing to watch TV, read books and talk on the phone that night instead. The folks at Getting to the Bottom of the Ballot hope to change all that by hosting a nonpartisan discussion of how to get involved in party politics on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Southwest High School, 3414 W. 47th St., at 7 p.m.

The Republican Party will be represented by John Halvorson, the DFL by David Weinlick, the Green Party by William G. Kingsbury and the Independence Party by Jim Moore.

February 5, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

DFL sets March 1 precinct caucus sites

By Scott Russell

The Minneapolis DFL Party is holding new precinct caucuses March 1 to elect ward and city convention delegates who will decide City Council and mayoral endorsements.

In the past, the DFL delegates selected during the presidential election year served the next year to make city endorsements.

All caucuses begin at 7 p.m.

The Southwest-area precinct caucus locations are:

6th Ward (Stevens Square, Whittier)

- Precincts 1-2 and 4 (Whittier): Whittier Community School, 2620Grand Ave.

- Precinct 3 (Stevens Square): Van Dusen House, 1900 LaSalle Ave. 7th Ward (Bryn Mawr, Lowry Hill, Kenwood, most of Cedar-Isles-Dean)

- Precincts 1-4: Bryn Mawr Community School, 252 Upton Ave. S. 8th Ward (north and east Kingfield)

- Precincts 6-7: Martin Luther K

February 21, 2005
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Garage sale season sweeps SW

By Jayne Solinger

Looking to buy? Sell? Chances are, if you live in Southwest, you need not travel far to do either. Southwest neighborhood sales have become popular "destinations" when garage sale season gets hot and heavy. With the help of the neighborhood organizations, what follows is a listing of the garage sales currently planned by SW neighborhoods in the coming months. Included is a contact number if you'd like to take part in a sale in your neighborhood. In case of rain, call the contact number for a rain date.

May 6, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Block parties will challenge neighbors to reduce energy use

By Alison Fiebig

A series of block parties this fall will focus not only on getting to know your neighbors, but getting to know how much energy they use.

The goal of the Energy Challenge block parties is to get neighbors together to share ideas about ways to save energy and the environment. The parties will encourage neighborhoods to track their yearly energy use and pledge to take certain actions to reduce that use. The block club with the highest number of participating households will be personally recognized with a visit by Mayor R.T. Rybak and be featured on the WCCO evening news.

September 24, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Cristof Traudes

FULTON

ELECTIONS SOON: The Fulton Neighborhood Association will hold elections at its annual meeting, set for Sept. 10. Six current board members will be up for reelection.

Anyone interesting in joining the board should call neighborhood coordinator Tara Kumar at 922-3106 or e-mail info@fultonneighborhood.org.

FESTIVAL SOON: The Fulton Neighborhood Association is looking for more volunteers for its neighborhood festival, which will be 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pershing Park.

Anyone interested in participating can call 922-3106 or e-mail info@fultonneighborhood.org.

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Parks update

By Cristof Traudes

Milfoil remains steady issue for Park Board

Eurasian water milfoil is out in full force this year. Just ask Bob Fine, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board commissioner.

He’s used to fielding a lot of phone calls and e-mails from his constituency, but he said he’s been surprised at how dominant the topic of milfoil has been this summer. While he hears about the discomfort the invasive underwater plant species brings every year, Fine said that this year, in particular, people in the parks’ sixth district are asking about it a lot.

That doesn’t mean the situation is getting worse, according to Park Board staff.

It makes sense to hear people talking milfoil in August, said Mike Schmidt, the Park Board’s general manager of operations and recreation.

“This is the worst time of year,” Schmidt said, “but I would not characterize things as worse than before. We don’t have a milfoil explosion any worse than in any of the past dozen years.”

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

A new type of summer school

By Dylan Thomas

Longer days, more activities at Camp MPS this year

LYNNHURST — Make summer school more fun.

That was the assignment for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) administrators who this July launched a revamped K–8 summer program known as Camp MPS.

How do you make time spent in the classroom during summer vacation more enjoyable for elementary and middle school students? It may seem counterintuitive, but the district’s approach was to make the days longer, extending them to six hours from four hours.

Jan Braaten, the district’s summer program coordinator, said the extended school day made it possible to include more programming, like physical education, media, music and art classes. In past years, the focus for Camp MPS was on reading and math almost exclusively, Braaten said.

Staff at the Camp MPS sites also set themes for their programs this year. Some sites used additional district resources to plan field trips or bring in specialists from area museums and parks.

July 28, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah McKenzie

KENWOOD

ELECTIONS: Mike Bono replaced Gary Bennett as chair of the Kenwood Isles Area Association (KIAA) Board of Directors following officer elections in June.

Bennett did not run for re-election.

Pat Scott was re-elected vice chair, and Roy Williams was re-elected treasurer. The KIAA Board of Directors had yet to find a permanent replacement for the secretary position recently vacated by former Board Member Kathy Williams.

June 16, 2008
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Read more stories about: Republican National Convention, Kenwood neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

What's broken? - Path bordering Lynnhurst Park damaged

By Kelsey Kudak

According to a Southwest resident, the asphalt path bordering the East and South sides of Lynnhurst Park has been damaged for some time. Walking on the sunken, bumpy asphalt —particularly near the intersection of 50th Street West and James Avenue South — is especially difficult when the path is icy or wet, the resident wrote. Additionally, it is presumed that a young child recently crashed his bike because of loose gravel on the path.

June 16, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

District launches $60 million referendum campaign
1 Comment

By Dylan Thomas

LYNNHURST — Voters will be asked to approve a $60 million public school levy referendum this fall, doubling the size of the levy approved by voters in 2000.

While many in the district agree the new levy is essential to the health of Minneapolis Public Schools, some parents have asked why more of the new levy was not earmarked for class-size reductions.

Those parents were in the majority of those who spoke up during a May 14 public meeting at Burroughs Community School, one night after the Minneapolis school board passed a resolution in support of the referendum.

June 2, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

What to do with all those leftovers

By Dylan Thomas

Burroughs pilots organics composting program

LYNNHURST — Principal Tim Cadotte arrived in the Burroughs Community School lunchroom wearing latex gloves, a full-length white apron and rubber boots and took his position in front of three large rubber waste containers.

Cadotte, along with his lunchroom and custodial staff, work the front lines of the school’s new organics composting program. The first wave of youngsters swarmed around him, depositing their lunch leftovers into the three bins marked “ORGANICS,” “TRASH” and “RECYCLABLES.”

“That goes in here,” he gently reminded one student, snatching a milk carton from his hands and tossing it in with the organics.

June 2, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Biz buzz

By Kyle Pendergast & Jake Weyer

50TH & XERXES

After seven years in business, The Baby Collection will close its doors this month.

The store, located at 5006 Xerxes Ave S., sold specialty baby gifts that could be personalized on site.

Although business has been up and down in the past few years, owner Kathy McLeod said she was closing up shop for personal reasons.

“It was the right decision. There’s a time for everything and I have other things in mind,” McLeod said. “I may be doing an online business with my daughter with the best things out of here.”

Currently everything in the store, except special orders, is 30 percent off, McLeod said. Tables are at 50 percent off and 75 percent off, she added.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Parks update

By Dylan Thomas

Sound system upgrade for Lake Harriet Band Shell

EAST HARRIET — A new sound system should be installed at the Lake Harriet Band Shell prior to the June 1 kick-off of the 2008 concert season, the Park Board announced in April.

People for Parks donated $4,800 to upgrade the band shell’s sound system, installed in 1986 during construction of the performance space.

People for Parks (www.peopleforparks.net) is a Minneapolis nonprofit organization founded in 1979 to fund park improvements. Proceeds from the organization’s 5-kilometer Run for the Band Shell support band shell improvements.

Musical performances at the Lake Harriet landmark are scheduled nearly every day from June 1 into September.

May 5, 2008
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Read more stories about: Kenwood neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

City council actions

By Steve Pease

Instant runoff voting

The City Council gave the go ahead April 18 to instant runoff voting (IRV) in all city elections. It is unclear when the process will first be used, however, because specialized equipment will be needed.

The next city election is 2009. However, it is not clear whether the equipment, extensive certification process will be shored up in time for the next election.

The complex ranked choice, or IRV process, works somewhat like this:

Voters rank their top three candidates. Ballots are counted. Those for whom it is mathematically impossible to win are eliminated. Once out of contention, their ranking is the added to the next most popular candidate until one candidate receives a majority.

May 5, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Pedestrian bridge on track for repairs

UPDATED May 9, 2008, 11:07am

By Cristof Traudes

LYNNHURST — Fixing up the closed pedestrian bridge over Minnehaha Creek has been put on the fast track.

At a May 8 neighborhood meeting, City Council Member Betsy Hodges (13th Ward) brought with her the news that money had been found for a feasibility study, the first step in repairing the bridge.

The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board had closed the 230-foot, 78-year-old structure by Bryant Ave. in early April after neighborhood residents raised concerns about its stability. At an April 29 public information meeting, members of the city’s bridge department told about 50 neighborhood residents that repairing the structure would cost at least $200,000. It would be cheaper to simply take down the bridge: $20,000.

May 5, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Park Board closes pedestrian bridge

UPDATED April 14, 2008, 1:30pm

By Dylan Thomas

LYNNHURST — Safety concerns about a pedestrian bridge that crosses Minnehaha Parkway at Bryant Avenue South led to its closure April 7, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board reported.

The Park Board announcement cited “considerable rust” affecting the bridge, including eroded anchor bolts with up to a 50 percent loss of material. Those bolts “were just kind of falling apart,” said Paul Hokeness, the Lakes District manger.

The same inspection found eroded concrete footings.

“I don’t think anybody wants the liability for keeping it open,” Hokeness said.

April 7, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Lynnhurst youth vie for skatepark
1 Comment

By Mary O'Regan

LYNNHURST — Never underestimate the determination of a fearless 4th-grader — especially one with a skateboard.

In August, 9- and 10-year-old Lynnhurst skaters Sam Abrams, Harris Sutherland and Carl Forsline decided they were tired of traveling around the city to nosegrind, ollie and flip their boards. Couldn't the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) build a skatepark in Lynnhurst Park?

The city currently has skateboard facilities at Armatage, Bottineau, Brackett, Creekview, Elliot and Morris parks — one in each of the city's commissioner districts. According to Park Board documents, all of the parks have ramps and rails atop bituminous or concrete surfaces, totaling roughly 6,000 square feet. They're also unsupervised, working under a

December 31, 2007
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Police bust local drug ring

UPDATED December 26, 2007, 11:17am

By Jake Weyer

The Minneapolis Police Department’s Narcotics Unit made eight arrests Dec. 20 that should result in a “dramatic decrease” in mobile drug dealing, said 5th Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Sarah Mahmud in a crime alert e-mailed to residents this morning.

Mobile drug dealing, which involves car-to-car transactions, has been a growing problem in some Southwest neighborhoods such as East Harriet and Lynnhurst. 

The eight individuals arrested were involved in an organized drug distribution ring operating in the southern parts of the 3rd and 5th Precincts. The arrests came after police executed two search warrants, which also turned up a large amount of drugs and cash.

 

December 17, 2007
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Read more stories about: East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Backing your block

By Mary O'Regan

A guide to forming a neighborhood block club

Getting to know your neighbors isn't always easy. Many people lead busy lives and stay cooped up during the long winter months.

One useful way to bond with your neighbors and work to prevent crime is to form a block club.

Chelsea Adams, Southwest's Sector 3 Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS), said block clubs help neighbors get better acquainted and be on the lookout for unusual activities.

"You're more likely to be invested in the neighborhood if you know what's going on and if you care about your neighbors," she said.

 

November 19, 2007
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Parks notebook

By Mary O'Regan

Commissioners speak up about NRP

At the Nov. 7 Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) meeting, commissioners went around the table expressing their thoughts on the potential demise of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP).

President Jon Olson initiated the discussion, saying that he believes continuing the program is a good idea. Commissioner-at-large Annie Young — one of the neighborhood representatives who helped start the program in the 1980s — agreed.

She called making NRP a city-run program appalling. "This is about power control," she said. "The city and City Council want power back."

Commissioner Scott Vreeland added that he is also involved in neighborhood organizations

November 19, 2007
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Southwest neighborhoods leaders in Minnesota Energy Challenge

By Mary O'Regan

Since October 2006, almost every neighborhood in Southwest has signed up to take the Minnesota Energy Challenge. Of all the neighborhoods in the state to participate, Linden Hills is in first place with 701,846 pounds of carbon dioxide and $57,506 saved since Nov. 13. Bryn Mawr isn't far behind in fourth place, with Kingfield, Lynnhurst and Fulton also on the top 10 list.

The conservation initiative, developed by local nonprofit the Center for Energy and Environment, encourages individuals and organizations to pledge to conserve energy at mnenergychallenge.org.

November 19, 2007
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Battling burglars

By Jake Weyer

Stacy Elkins got the call shortly after 9 p.m. Oct. 20.

The alarm at her and her husband's new store, Jojo Urban Clothing at 3345 Nicollet Ave., was tripped again. Seven months pregnant, she rolled out of bed, threw on some shoes and a hooded sweatshirt and drove to the store from her North Minneapolis home. Blue and red lights from parked squad cars flashed against police uniforms at the scene.

Another burglary. Elkins couldn't believe it.

"We've owned the store for three months. We've been robbed three times …" she said to one of the officers, her voice rife with frustration. "This is not a big store. You know what I mean? And it's just clothes. I mean who is going to steal that stuff? We got 'em breaking through the walls to steal clothes? That's ridiculous."

November 5, 2007
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Read more stories about: Kenwood neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Lynnhurst restaurant pays sexual harassment settlement

By Jake Weyer

LYNNHURST — The owner of popular French restaurant Pierre’s Bistro at 50th Street and Oliver Avenue agreed to pay $18,500 to a former waitress in response to a sexual harassment charge brought against him.

Former waitress Molly Petri, of Linden Hills, charged that Pierre Gardien made comments about her breasts, used vulgar language to refer to women, grabbed her breast and thrust his groin against her body, made obscene gestures simulating oral sex and gave descriptions of his sexual exploits, according to a summary of the case from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The summary said Petri claimed she was fired in retaliation after rejecting Gardien’s sexual advances.

October 8, 2007
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Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Graduation rates up in 2007

Minneapolis Public Schools reported a significant increase in the number of high school seniors who earned a diploma last year.

The district's graduation rate increased to 67.2 percent in 2007, up from 60.7 percent in 2006. Six of the seven high schools posted higher graduation rates, and more seniors from each demographic group counted by the state graduated high school.

The graduation rate was one hopeful sign in the year-end statistics reported by the district, which saw more schools fall short last year of adequate yearly progress goals set by the state under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

September 24, 2007
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Lynnhurst residents rally after crime spike

By Jake Weyer

LYNNHURST — A rash of burglaries and reports of drug dealing from cars in Lynnhurst has caused concerns among the quiet neighborhood’s residents and spurred two community meetings about the area’s safety.

Drug dealing from cars, known as mobile drug dealing, and burglaries have been prevalent in other Southwest neighborhoods this year, but Lynnhurst is among a group of far South Minneapolis neighborhoods that are used to seeing virtually no crime.

“It’s unusual for us,” said Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (LNA) President Shahnaz Coyer. “That’s why we’re not happy about it.”

August 13, 2007
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Biz Buzz

By Jake Weyer

50th & Aldrich

A new restaurant called Blackbird opened in early July at 815 W. 50th St. in Lynnhurst.

It’s the first restaurant for husband and wife owners Chris Stevens and Gail Mollner, of St. Paul, who both have experience cooking in and managing restaurants.

Stevens said he’s worked in kitchens since he was a kid. His last restaurant gig was as executive chef of the now-closed Table of Contents. Mollner has also worked kitchen jobs and more recently was employed with Midwest wholesale produce distributor Roots and Fruits.    

August 13, 2007
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Watching an old friend go

By Dylan Thomas

LYNNHURST — Watching the old elm go brought Joanne Carroll to tears.

Carroll knew the tree for so long, she couldn’t help but think of it as an old friend.

“That’s just how I feel about it,” she said, her voice quavering. “Just a good friend.”

The elm stood there all of the 38 years Carroll lived on Humboldt Avenue, even as other elms on the 5300 block succumbed to Dutch elm disease. Finally, the last of the really big ones had to come down.

“I can’t even tell you how long I feared that I would pull up someday and find the tree marked,” she said. “It just seemed like it was moving closer and closer to us.”

August 13, 2007
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Updates on neighborhood meetings canceled due to bridge collapse

UPDATED August 3, 2007, 11:03am

By Lila Bolke and Michael Metzger

The August 2 Lyndale Avenue public information meeting that was cancelled because of the I-35W bridge collapse has not yet been rescheduled, according to Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman’s office.

It appears that it will be rescheduled toward the end of August, said Kerri Pearce Ruch, but it might be held in September if needed.

The meeting will be held at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave., in Kingfield.

For more information, contact Ruch in Dorfman's office at 348-3080.

July 30, 2007
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Remodeled Home Tour this Sunday

UPDATED August 11, 2007, 7:45pm

By Nicholas Backus

Remodeled Southwest homes will be on full display this Sunday during the second annual Remodeled Home Tour, a neighborhood fundraiser that is set to give back to four Southwest institutions.

The tour will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring 14 homes in various Southwest neighborhoods. Tour-goers will receive a map of featured homes that they can visit. The homes on display hope to show off a tasteful blend of rich history and modern living.  

“It’s a chance for our neighbors to share what they have accomplished,” said Shahnaz Coyer, president of the Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association Board. “It connects our neighborhoods and celebrates what we have achieved.

 

July 30, 2007
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Lynnhurst public safety meeting rescheduled

UPDATED August 10, 2007, 11:24am

By Lila Bolke

The Lynnhurst Public Safety Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, August 28 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Lynnhurst meeting was originally planned to be held on August 1 but was postponed after the collapse of the I-35W bridge.

Representatives from the Minneapolis Police Department and CPP/SAFE will be at the meeting to give updates and answer questions. Council Member Betsy Hodges (Ward 13) will also be there to discuss policy issues.

Because all park buildings will be closed for the last week of August, the meeting will be held at the fellowship room at Mt. Olivet Church, 5025 Knox Ave.

July 30, 2007
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Burroughs principal dresses up as Willy Wonka for read-a-thon

By Dylan Thomas

LYNNHURST - The 1.5 million minutes of reading (or read-to) time racked up by Burroughs Community School students in February was only one remarkable aspect of their annual read-a-thon's closing ceremony March 23.

The amount of pledges they collected - $85,000 and counting - was another.

But for those unfamiliar with Burroughs and its unique culture, the number of parents in the school at 9 a.m. on a workday may have been just as impressive.

More than 100 parents joined about 680 students in the gymnasium to watch Principal Tim Cadotte - dressed as Willy Wonka - act out skits from the Roald Dahl book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

 

April 9, 2007
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Streets to get resurfaced

By Dan Haugen

LYNNHURST - Several streets just south of Lake Harriet will be resurfaced this summer.

Starting in May, the work will take place on 49th Street from Penn Avenue to Knox Avenue, on Oliver and Morgan avenues between 50th Street and East Lake Harriet Parkway, and on Newton and Logan avenues from 50th Street to 49th Street.

Construction crews will scrape off street surfaces and coat them with a new layer of asphalt. Curbs and gutters will be replaced, and any other paving-related improvements will also be made at this time.

It's not a total reconstruction and is meant to extend the lifespan of the existing roads.

The area will remain open to local traffic, said Don Elwood, a principal engineer with Minneapolis Engineering Services.

 

March 26, 2007
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Eating Italy

By Michael Metzger

Sink your teeth into Broders' Cucina Italiana's sausage sandwich and cannoli

There's a small gathering place in Lynnhurst that's like a mating of Norwegian austerity and Italian warmth. The interior of Broders' Cucina Italiana is full of blonde wood and light, making it feel like a visit to cloister, except at this monastery the meditations would be about piquant puttanesca, spicy Italian sausages, chewy bruschetta and a variety of fragrant, creamy cheeses culled from the length, breadth and soul of Italy.

 

November 6, 2006
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Burroughs Community School becomes first elementary school to team with College Board

By Anna Pratt

Burroughs Community School in the Lynnhurst neighborhood has become the first elementary school in the country to form a partnership with the College Board, a national organization devoted to preparing students for college.

Its most recognizable programs are the SAT and PSAT tests and Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, which it administers.

As part of the partnership, school staff members received several days of training last month on a special curriculum that delivers high-level thinking skills including problem-solving and advanced math and reading analysis that usually would be taught in later grades, said Burroughs Principal Tim Cadotte.

 

September 25, 2006
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Southwest Super-sized

By Anna Pratt

Several new homes rising on teardown sites

An increasing number of Southwest homes are in the path of bulldozers as property owners look to replace aging properties with larger, suburban-style homes.

Property owners involved in teardown projects say some of the older homes, despite their historic charms, are in such bad shape they're not even worth saving.

The teardown trend has concerned some community leaders who say the new homes, often dubbed McMansions, don't blend in with the character of neighboring properties. Some span entire lots, dwarfing their neighboring structures.

Fulton resident Lynn Steele who lives near several new constructions said the new properties would fit better in the suburbs.

 

June 5, 2006
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Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

A soldier's story

By Jim Walsh, Special to the Southwest Journal

Lynnhurst resident Tim Kennedy reflects on Guard duty

We the people have many roles during wartime. One of us gets up every morning before dawn, shovels his and his neighbor's walk, runs a few miles, coordinates the grandchild-sitting schedule with his wife of 38 years, goes to his job as a software developer, and prepares for the next time he'll send other sons, daughters, fathers and mothers into harm's way.

 

April 10, 2006
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Sweet smell of success

By Michael Metzger

Monica Nassif's cleaning products are leading consumers around by their noses

“Julia Child Invented Modern Life,” U.S. News & World Report pronounced in a cover story in September 1997. “She made America mad for food and changed notions of class and gender.”

Child changed what we eat, the way we eat and the ways we think about food. She changed assumptions about television programming, and she forever altered the way cookbooks are written. The revolution she began is ongoing; it has spilled over into nearly every product we buy for our bodies and homes.

 

March 27, 2006
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Longtime Lynnhurst resident enters State Senate race

By Anna Pratt

Longtime Lynnhurst resident, DFLer and education advocate Ellen Trout Van Iwaarden has joined the race to succeed retiring State Sen. Jane Ranum.

Ranum, a DFLer, has served in the State Senate since 1990, representing District 63 that includes the city's far southwestern corner, Richfield and east Bloomington. In a letter to constituents, Ranum, 58, said she decided to leave politics at the end of the 2006 legislative session to spend more time with family. Her husband, Jim, has been diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease that requires ongoing professional care.

Van Iwaarden, 46, served as precinct chair during Ranum's first run and has lived in the Lynnhurst neighborhood for 21 years.

February 27, 2006
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Help raise money for Burroughs

By Anna Pratt

Organizers of the first Lynnhurst Winter Festival Silent Auction to benefit Burroughs Community School are seeking donations.

All kinds of gifts are welcomed, although the school suggests such things as sports tickets, babysitting coupons, art, jewelry, airline miles and vouchers for services such as tax preparation. To donate an item, contact Bud Rosenfield at brosenf@midmnlegal.org.

The event, which will include dishes to sample and hayrides, is Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Burroughs Community School, 1501 W. 50th

February 13, 2006
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Preliminary Lyndale Ave./Hwy. 121 realignment plan released

By Robyn Repya

New housing, retail and trails possible following crosstown reconstruction

A group of city planners and neighborhood members released a land-use plan that could realign Lyndale Avenue and Highway 121 between Minnehaha Creek and the Crosstown Highway early in the next decade.

The land-use plan would add a commercial node at West 58th Street & Lyndale, which would encourage mixed retail and housing uses. West 57th Street would be reconnected through the area, and some Kenny neighborhood streets would be connected to Highway 121. Greenspace and trail connections would also be added.

 

November 14, 2005
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Back in blackout

By Robyn Repya

Even before the a long, hot summer, power interruptions have plagued parts of Southwest

The blinking clocks, begging to be reset. The alarm that should have gone off but didn't. Everyone's experienced classic symptoms of a power outage at some point. In recent months, a handful of residents independently wrote the Southwest Journal that they've experienced more power outages than usual, even before the recent heat wave.

The problems are not Southwestwide, and residents cite different causes.

One problem area is near Lake Calhoun's north and east shores.

Athena Priest, co-owner of Tin Fish, 3000 East Calhoun Parkway, said one week in late June, her business experienced three outages - one due to a storm.

August 8, 2005
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Read more stories about: Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Lyndale Avenue renewal group to host May 24 open house

By Robyn Repya

The Lyndale Avenue South Renewal - Creek to Crosstown (LASR-CC) group, which is working to create a master plan for pedestrian amenities, safety improvements, transit and future development on the street, will host a Tuesday May 24 event to get public input for their plan.

The group is made up of four Southwest neighborhoods that border Lyndale Avenue from West 46th Street to the Crosstown Highway. The open house is 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave. S.

In December, the City Council approved funding for a request for proposals costing no more than $75,000 to retain a land use firm to craft a plan. The city chose consultants Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGi).

 

May 16, 2005
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Art Condition

By Michael Metzger

50-50 in Lynnhurst

Burroughs Community School, 1601 50th St., presents "50 Artists on 50th," an annual fine art show featuring regional artists working in clay, blown glass, woodturning, stoneware, raku, beads, painting, sculpture, photography, birdhouses and more.

The Saturday, April 9 show is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

High school hellfires

As she moves through life, Dawn Ahlgren finds herself returned to a shadowy, familiar place: her hometown of Darkwood, Minn. There for her 10th high school reunion, she finds herself trapped in the Inferno Bar and Grill, surrounded by classmates determined to prove that hell is indeed other people.

 

April 4, 2005
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New stormwater fee hits area churches

By Scott Russell

A few weeks ago, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church learned its sewer bill would triple - an increase of nearly $1,000 a month, said Tom MacNally, business manager for the 5025 Knox Ave. S. congregation.

"It is certainly significant," he said. "It will take budget dollars away from other ministries to be able to have to pay this. We are not very happy about it."

Mt. Olivet is just one of many institutions seeing a spike from the city's new sewer billing. Although Councilmembers (who approved the change) say they have received very few complaints from homeowners, the new total is only now showing up on utility bills.

The new system is designed to raise the same $70 million the city now gets to pay for stormwater and sanitary sewers.

April 4, 2005
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District 63 legislators host Southwest town meetings

By Scott Russell

State Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) and Sen, Jane Ranum (DFL-Minneapolis) will join Rep. Dan Larson (DFL-Bloomington) to host a Senate District 63 town meeting on Saturday, March 12 to get community comments on issues pending before the 2005 legislative session.

District 63 covers Armatage, Kenny and parts of Lynnhurst and Windom, as well as Richfield and part of Bloomington.

The 9:30-11:30 a.m. meeting will be held at Mayflower Congregational Church, 106 E. Diamond Lake Rd.

"We want to hear from as many residents as we can while we debate the state budget," Thissen said. "With the state running a $1.4 billion budget deficit, we're again facing some difficult choices.

March 7, 2005
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Lynnhurst Winter Fest, food drive is Feb. 25

By Robyn Repya

The Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (LYNAS) hosts a Winter Festival and board elections Friday, Feb. 25 at the Lynnhurst Community Center, West 50th Street & West Minnehaha Parkway from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Residents attending can learn about volunteer opportunities with local charitable groups, run for a LYNAS board seat and meet their neighbors. The event will also feature horse-and-carriage rides and other family activities. Rustica Bakery, 816 W. 46th St., will provide snacks at the meeting.

The neighborhood stretches between Penn and Lyndale avenues and 46th and 54th streets.

Nonperishable food items will be collected at the meeting to benefit local food shelves.

February 21, 2005
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The next big thing: Lyndale Avenue's reconstruction

By Robyn Repya

Hennepin County officials are visiting Southwest neighborhood groups to present plans for the Lyndale Avenue South Reconstruction Project. The project will reconstruct the county-owned street from just north of Lake Street to 56th Street.

Lyndale's $20 million reconstruction was scheduled for 2006, but Jim Grube, the county's transportation and public works director, said it will be 2007 or 2008 because of a (now-resolved) funding delay, plus project backlogs for county road designers.

The city had originally planned to widen Lyndale in 1994, but business and property owners formed a task force to combat what they saw as a plan that inadequately committed to traffic calming. By 1997, the group had designed an alternative reconstruction plan.

November 11, 2004
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Boulevard project rising on time

By Michael Metzger

Construction of The Boulevard housing and commercial development at 5320 Lyndale Ave. S. is on pace to be completed according to schedule, said one of the developers.

Lisa Kugler of Lyndale West Partners said construction would be finished by the end of November, barring any unforeseen delays.

She said she's already fielding calls about the Lynnhurst project's 19 apartments and five townhouses. The apartments will have one, two or three bedrooms, while the 1,281-square-foot townhouses will all have three bedrooms.

Kugler said the development's 7,000-square-foot commercial space has been rented to Edina Realty.

"It works well for us, and I think it will work well for them," she said.

July 22, 2004
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50th Street's restriping -- has it worked?

By Robyn Repya

New design has calmed speeds and some tempers. Is it a model for Southwest thoroughfares?

As a battle and as a finished product, West 50th Street represents the rare effort that calmed speeds -- and perhaps calmed many critics' tempers.

Instead of a speedway designed to move as many drivers as fast as possible, the area's safety-conscious neighbors fought for a design that reduced speeds -- and ultimately reduced the number of lanes, from four to three, including a center left-turn lane.

Other neighbors didn't define "livability" quite the same way. The design reduced on-street parking -- which angered some enough to counter the "Slow down on 50th" signs with ones reading "No parking, no businesses, no neighborhood."

Now

November 11, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Developing consensus, before the crisis

By Michael Metzger

Two activists with rueful memories want citizens to learn how to shape development to encourage neighborhood-friendly projects

Conceived in the crucible of the controversial housing development known as The Boulevard, a series of Southwest workshops aim to help people living near Lyndale Avenue south of Minnehaha Creek implement a neighborhood vision for the area.

The South Lyndale Development Workshops will bring the Lynnhurst, Tangletown, Windom and Kenny neighborhoods together to discuss what types of developments should be in their shared corridor, how residents can influence projects and what it takes to make a development happen, among other topics (see sidebar).

 

September 16, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

An accidental life

By Robyn Repya

How a woman who didn't want to set foot in a hardware store retires as a Lynnhurst icon

For decades, Southwest residents stopping into Guse Hardware, 4602 Bryant Ave. S., could find owners Marian and Gene Andersen behind the counter, ready to help. They'd chat about their children, their children's children and find a bit of small-town familiarity in their own neighborhood store.

But after 27 years and countless memories, the Andersens have sold Guse and are retiring to Taylor's Falls, Minn. In late July, the couple passed on neighborhood business to veteran hardware-store worker Tom Thomson and his wife Terry.

Lynnhurst resident Jeff Gatesmith has lived behind Guse Hardware for 15 years and said he uses them for everything.

 

July 8, 2004
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Key sound-insulation vote scheduled for July 19

By Michael Metzger

A definitive vote on a proposed noise-insulation program around Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport could occur Monday, July 19.

That's when the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) could decide to implement its Noise Oversight Committee's proposal to offer the full sound-mitigation package to residents living between the 62 and 65 DNL (day-night noise level) on the MAC's noise-contour map. That would include a handful of Tangletown homeowners near I-35W north of Diamond Lake Road.

The full package includes new windows, doors, air-conditioning and insulation. MAC estimates the average cost of the full noise-mitigation package is $45,000 per house.

 

June 24, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Moving billboards out of the neighborhoods: an ordinance that worked

By Scott Russell

City plan has swapped hundreds of neighborhood ads for a few more in the urban core

Outdoor advertising companies have removed more than 217 billboards from Minneapolis neighborhoods in the past decade, swapping them for fewer but more visible locations downtown and along freeway corridors.

The 1993 city billboard ordinance was designed to reduce the number of neighborhood "posters" -- the 12-foot-by-25-foot signs typically found on top of the mom and pop grocery stores and other commercial buildings -- in exchange for 14-foot-by-48-foot "deluxe paints," the new industry standard, in new downtown and freeway locations, said Steve Poor, city zoning supervisor.

 

June 10, 2004
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Lyndale streetscape plan near creek goes to neighborhoods

By Robyn Repya

A conglomerate organization of four Southwest neighborhoods -- Windom, Kenny, Lynnhurst and Tangletown -- has finished its Lyndale Avenue streetscape-improvement plan.

The group -- known as Lyndale Avenue South Renewal Creek to Crosstown (LASRCC) -- is designing ways to enhance the pedestrian experience and safety on Lyndale Avenue. Participating neighborhoods border Lyndale from West 46th Street to the Crosstown Highway.

Group chairwoman Mary Ubl said the project offers broad recommendations for the large Lyndale thoroughfare, such as adding community gardens and greenspace.

Ubl said it also offers specific suggestions.

 

June 10, 2004
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Are you an artlaw?

By Michael Metzger

A Lynnhurst front yard may be extreme, but if you have a garden figure, sculpture or even lawn chairs in your front yard, you're violating the city's zoning code, too

Everyone says that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but few would say the same of the Minneapolis zoning code.

If you ask Mari Newman, she'll tell you that both beauty and the law are subject to interpretation. And if you look at the city's zoning codes, you might find that the beauty of the zoning law is that it makes thousands of Minneapolitans, technically, criminals.

 

June 10, 2004
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West 50th restriping plan gets funds

By Robyn Repya

In April, the City Council's Ways and Means Committee approved $112,728 for road sealing, restriping work and new left- turn signals as part of the West 50th Street restriping project.

West 50th is owned by Hennepin County, which will reimburse the city for the roadwork and half the signals' cost.

Roadwork is set to begin in June.

The restriping will change the busy thoroughfare from four lanes to three with a center left-turn lane. Fulton and Lynnhurst residents proposed the plan to slow traffic, but an initial design that removed almost all on-street parking and angered other residents and many business owners.

 

April 29, 2004
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Art Condition

By Southwest Journal Staff Reporters

Open-micat Anodyne

Webster's dictionary defines "anodyne" as "something that soothes, calms or comforts." Those looking to release some tension should consider joining Anodyne @ 43rd's open-mic night, either to watch or participate. All types of performance -- from poetry and dance to shadow boxing or juggling -- are welcome/shall be seen.

There are some restrictions: presentations may be no more than 10 minutes long, and, according to organizers, "pyramid marketing pitches and yodeling" are strictly prohibited.

Open-mic night is Friday, April 2 and the first Friday of every month thereafter. The fun starts at 8 p.m. (participants must register by 7:50 p.m.).

 

April 1, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Grade-school grappling

By Bob Gilbert

Park league wrestling engages kids from kindergarten to high school -- and their parents

Leif Conway came to Minneapolis Park Board wrestling by default. The Burroughs 3rd-grader didn't want to play hockey because the skates hurt his feet, and he didn't want to play basketball, either. When his buddy decided to join the wrestling team at Lynnhurst Park, he signed up, too.

At first, Leif's mother Jane Conway thought wrestling was a weird sport. "I just didn't get any of it," Conway said. "I'm still not sure how they score points, but it does seem like something natural for little boys to do."

 

February 5, 2004
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NRP money mess fixed in Lynnhurst

By Michael Metzger

If you work with computers, you know that it can be easier to follow a bunch of bouncing basketballs than to fix a software error. The Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (LYNAS) found that out when it discovered Nov. 13 that it had committed to spending the same $15,000 twice, due to a computer glitch.

In 1996, LYNAS -- which represents the area between Lyndale and Penn avenues and 46th to 54th streets -- committed $15,000 to Burroughs Community School, 1501 W. 50th St. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) funds were to help with basketball and storage facilities. Peg Mountin, the NRP program specialist for LYNAS, said the school district put off spending the money, and the school was eventually torn down and rebuilt.

 

November 13, 2003
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Lynnhurst teen educates others on cancer's risks

By Robyn Repya

Family's battles spur activism on prevention and causes

Ellie Wiener is a typical busy 16-year-old. The Lynnhurst teen is a junior at South High School, with countless afterschool activities, including the swim team, art and harp lessons.

However, throughout the summer and into the school year, Weiner has spent what little free time she has hard at work at the Women's Cancer Resource Center, 4604 Chicago Ave., preparing with other teens for a presentation at an Oct. 3-4 Minneapolis cancer-prevention seminar called Turning the Tides.

Weiner's mother Barbara founded WCRC to serve women with all types of cancer through outreach programs, support groups and a library.

 

September 4, 2003
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Schools

By Southwest Journal Staff

Injured at school? Minneapolis district says it doesn't have to pay

Claiming immunity from negligence suits, the Minneapolis schools are saving money -- but alleged victims cry foul

By Scott Russell

For the past two years, the Minneapolis School District has eschewed insurance coverage against liability for negligent acts -- leaning heavily on the belief that a decades-old state law gives it immunity from paying damages.

At least two pending suits -- one from a woman claiming she was hit by a school bus, another from two kids hurt in gym class -- challenge that interpretation. If the district loses, it could cost thousands of dollars in unanticipated damages during a school funding crisis.

September 4, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Zig-Zag-Zig-Zag-Hoi-Hoi-Hoi!

By Bob Gilbert

After 18 years, Fuller soccer is still having a ball

In the Fuller Park Soccer Club, the goal is not so much about winning as it is about community. The club, whose season lasts for six weeks in the spring and six in autumn, is not the product of the Minneapolis Park Board but rather the parents of the Kingfield, Tangletown, Lynnhurst and East Harriet neighborhoods. The club plays its games at the former site of Margaret Fuller Elementary School at 48th Street between Harriet and Grand avenues, and at the commons at Washburn High School, 201 W. 49th St.

 

August 21, 2003
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Boulevard project to break ground by winter

By Michael Metzger

Lisa Kugler, of Lyndale West Partners, said groundbreaking for the Boulevard housing, retail and office development at 5320 Lyndale Ave. S. would take place before winter. Construction should be completed a year later, she said.

The project will include 19 apartments, with its remaining 7,000 square feet devoted to office space and commercial uses. The site plan has been modified so that a two-way driveway will be installed on the north side of the Lynnhurst property instead of a pair of one-way drives for incoming and outgoing traffic.

The issue of whether Wells Fargo Bank will keep its ATM machine at the site has not been resolved, Kugler said.

July 24, 2003
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

District 63: Incumbent Ranum faces two-front challenge

By Kevin Featherly

Candidate: Sen. Jane Ranum

Party: DFL

Neighborhood: Lynnhurst

Occupation: Part-time Hennepin County prosecutor; state senator

Endorsements: Sierra Club, Clean Water Action Alliance, Education Minnesota, AFSCME, Teamsters, Progressive Minnesota, Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, Planned Parenthood Political Action Fund

Education: B.S. in elementary education from East Carolina University; law degree from Hamline University

Family: Married, one grown daughter

Phone: 822-5081

Address: 5045 Aldrich Ave. S., 55419

E-mail: jranum@mn.rr.com

June 12, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Three vie for open Southwest House seat

By Kevin Featherly

Competitive race for District 63A -- the Southwest district closest to the airport and Crosstown Highway

Two lawyers will square off against a former auto repairman Nov. 5. in the race for Southwest's open District 63A House seat. District 63A covers Armatage, Kenny and parts of Lynnhurst and Windom.

DFLer Paul Thissen, 35, an attorney living in Lynnhurst, will be favored in the district now represented by DFLer Mark Gleason. However, Thissen's opponents -- Republican Tim Erlander, 61 and the Independence Party's Ron Lischeid, 54 -- are banking that Minneapolis' politically mixed 13th Ward, coupled with blue-collar Richfield residents, could push them over the top.

 

June 12, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

50th Street re-striping postponed

By Robyn Repya

At a contentious May 5 public meeting, Hennepin County officials agreed to delay a controversial West 50th Street re-striping to talk more with 50th Street businesspeople.

Approximately 300 residents and business owners packed the Pershing Park meeting room, leaving many to listen outside the door or through the windows. The mood was hostile towards city and county officials such as 13th Ward City Councilmember Barret Lane and Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman. Those against the plan yelled and repeatedly interrupted speakers.

The county's proposal would change West 50th Street from a four-lane undivided road to a three-lane road with one lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane.

May 15, 2003
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Lynnhurst grapples with unspent Burroughs money

By Caitlin Pine

The Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (LYNAS) is debating what to do with $28,000 in unspent NRP funds contracted to Burroughs Community School in 1999. The original contract has expired.

Most of the funds were allocated for Burroughs' gymnasium, basketball and multi-purpose room. The other $10,000 was allocated for the Burroughs garden and garden furniture. Since 1999, Burroughs has demolished its old building at 50th Street and Minnehaha Parkway; a new school will open in September facing 50th Street and Logan Avenue.

Peg Mountin, NRP Neighborhood Specialist, told LYNAS that since the contracts have expired, the money is now unattached.

 

May 1, 2003
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Change is good at West 50th Street

By Kathy Shea

Change always hurts somebody, doesn't it? And in a dense urban neighborhood, any gain, no matter how important to the public good, registers on somebody's radar screen as a loss. Despite this political fact of life, however, change remains essential to improvement and -- in the case of West 50th Street -- traffic needs to be calmed.

Unfortunately, after years of steady, reasoned effort by Fulton and Lynnhurst neighborhoods, elected officials and professionals to slow and calm traffic on 50th Street, late-comers to the process -- a newly organized collection of local businesses -- are demanding that the traffic-calming re-striping project on 50th Street be abandoned.

May 1, 2003
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Jon Egbert, East Harriet's "Shoe Wizard," dies

By Robyn Repya

East Harriet resident and Bryant Avenue Shoe Service owner Jon Egbert died March 16 due to complications from cancer. He was 52. He is survived by his two sons, Karl, 29, and Andy, 12, and wife Joanne Hostert. "He was a very loving husband and father," said Hostert.

Egbert, who worked in the shoe repair trade since 1970, had a loyal Southwest following. Hostert said the 4310 Bryant Ave. shop was a very important part of his life, as was his relationship with loyal customers. She said Egbert, known to customers as the "Shoe Wizard," was much more than the "Shoe guy" Southwest residents came to know and love.

 

April 17, 2003
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Read more stories about: East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Between a rock and a parking place

By Robyn Repya

A 50th Street redesign -- with slower traffic and less parking -- divides residents and business owners

"You're killing us. We need parking to survive and we still don't have enough to meet today's needs," said Tom Morgan, owner of Birds N Stuff, 824 W. 50th St.

Morgan spoke passionately at a late-March meeting to discuss implementing a West 50th Street re-striping plan this summer. The plan would wipe out all parking on 50th from Lyndale to France Avenues, except for scattered parking at 50th Street business nodes.

While some details have not be added to the plan,Hennepin County (which owns the affected section of 50th) is working to adjust parking restrictions on business-node side streets for more parking turnover.

 

April 3, 2003
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Affordable housing at $158,828 a pop

By Robyn Repya

Why does it cost six figures to subsidize one affordable-housing unit? High land and construction costs, low rent and, some say, too little private money. Others say the price is well worth it in the long run.

Housing developers of affordable multifamily rental projects consider city and public subsidy to be a necessity. But what is "affordable" and how affordable is it to build in Minneapolis?

Some city officials say developers should use more of their own money for projects and quit asking for handouts, while many others in the system say there's no other way than to subsidize.

So how much does the city spend, per unit, subsidizing affordable multifamily rental housing? Why do many unit costs differ?

March 6, 2003
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Who was Maude Armatage?
1 Comment

By Caitlin Pine

A school, a park and a neighborhood were all named after her, but few know her history

This month, Armatage Community School is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. To honor the 1953 opening, the school and parent association are hosting a community Sock Hop, which will include music by an all-parent band, dancing, a dinner in "Maude's Diner," bowling, games and drawings every half-hour.

The wholesome community night in Armatage's lower gym (enter at 56th Street and Russell Avenue) is the sort of thing that the school's namesake, Maude Armatage, would have attended with glee.

 

January 23, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Seven rinks to close

By Scott Russell

The Park Board voted Nov. 6 to close five ice rinks and the Armatage speed skating track -- and to eliminate some full-time jobs and replace them with seasonal workers -- to save $290,000.

The Board's vote cuts a number of full-time Park Keeper jobs, said Jim Fagrelius, director of park operations. Those workers staff the warming houses and maintain the ice sheets during the winter and have other duties during the rest of the year. They make roughly $20 an hour, plus benefits.

The Park Board will use seasonal Park Maintenance Workers to do some of the Park Keepers' job during the rest of the year, he said. Seasonal workers make $10 to $11 an hour with no health benefits.

 

November 4, 2002
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Three vie for open Southwest House seat

By Kevin Featherly

Two lawyers will square off against a former auto repairman Nov. 5. in the race for Southwest's open District 63A House seat. District 63A covers Armatage, Kenny and parts of Lynnhurst and Windom.

DFLer Paul Thissen, 35, an attorney living in Lynnhurst, will be favored in the district now represented by DFLer Mark Gleason. However, Thissen's opponents -- Republican Tim Erlander, 61 and the Independence Party's Ron Lischeid, 54 -- are banking that Minneapolis' politically mixed 13th Ward, coupled with blue-collar Richfield residents, could push them over the top.

Gleason lost his seat earlier this year in an unsuccessful bid for state auditor, then losing his party's legislative endorsement to Thissen. Gleason declined to run in the September primary.

 

October 7, 2002
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

PARK NOTES

By Scott Russell

Park Board wants big donors for foundation

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is looking for a few high rollers to lead the new Minneapolis Parks Foundation, which it plans to launch May 1.

The goal is to find people of means -- respected in the community and with a philanthropic bent -- to serve on a board, pushing for major gifts for city parks.

The upshot could be more park facilities named after donors.

The foundation would be similar to how the University of Minnesota's foundation recognizes its contributors, said Don Siggelkow, the Park Board's assistant superintendent for development.

 

October 7, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

County may fund West 50th Street reconstruction in 2003

By Caitlin Pine

Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman has promised to push for 2003-04 funding to reconstruct West 50th Street.

After receiving approval from the Fulton and Lynnhurst neighborhood associations, Dorfman said she is optimistic that the county will fund the project because of strong support from the neighborhoods.

According to Councilmember Barret Lane (13th Ward), West 50th between Lyndale Avenue and France Avenue will be re-striped next summer to implement a three-lane design tested between Queen and Zenith avenues this year.

Fulton and Lynnhurst residents had raised concerns regarding traffic speed, pedestrian safety and dangerous driving conditions when vehicles on 50th swerve to avoid left-turning vehicles.

 

September 9, 2002
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

The McKinsey Report: What does it mean for Southwest neighborhoods and Minneapolis city government?

By Kevin Featherly

Mayor R.T. Rybak calls it his franchise; other city leaders declare it will prove this City Council's greatest economic legacy. But what is it? Just what does the highly touted McKinsey Report really mean for Downtown and Minneapolis citywide?

The wide-ranging study, unveiled June 14, proposes a massive reconfiguration of the city's economic-development bureaucracy, setting government's focus on two issues -- affordable housing and new jobs.

To a person, councilmembers expressed enthusiasm for the report's underlying ideals, which boil down to realizing the mayor's campaign pledge to increase affordable housing -- and, as the mayor points out, no housing is affordable if you don't have a job.

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

DFL endorses one incumbent, rejects another in Senate District 63

By Kevin Featherly

On June 8, the DFL party endorsed incumbent Sen. Jane Ranum for re-election in Senate District 63, while rejecting House District 63A colleague Mark Gleason. The Senate and House districts include Fulton, Lynnhurst, Kenny, Armatage and part of Windom.

Ranum, a Lynnhurst resident, was endorsed for re-election on the first ballot, defeating challenger Edwina Garcia, a former state representative from Richfield.

Ranum said that Garcia may run in the Sept. 10 primary. "We also hear that she said in a screening with labor that she would abide by the endorsement," Ranum said.

Garcia did not return calls for comment.

The primary winner will face GOP endorsee Vern Wilcox of Bloomington. Ranum's district also encompasses Richfield and parts of Bloomington.

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Biffs spiffed

By Scott Russell

The 110-year-old historic restrooms at Lake Harriet will reopen Sunday July 14 amid red balloons, a barbershop quartet, lemonade and cookies and general fanfare -- the labor of love of a group calling itself the "Spiff the Biffs" project.

The 1892 Harry Wild Jones-designed restrooms closed in 1991. The citizen's "Biffs" campaign -- formally known as Lake Harriet Historic Restroom Renovation Project -- began in 1995.

The restrooms are the oldest buildings in the Minneapolis park system, along with the superintendent's building in Loring Park, according to the Spiff the Biffs committee.

 

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Burroughs' thousand-tile mural will be demolished

By Dean J. Seal

A work of student pride and neighborhood funding, the Lynnhurst landmark to face the same wrecking ball as the dilapidated school building

A giant mural of south Minneapolis, constructed largely by students who contributed more than a thousand handmade tiles, will be destroyed when the Burroughs Community School building is torn down in July.

Initially, architects and school officials said that the mural -- built in part with $10,000 from Lynnhurst's Neighborhood Revitalization Program funds -- could be moved. However, the mural is glued to the thick steel-and-cement walls of the 1926 building; chipping off the tiles could destroy the work, and cutting massive wall sections is too expensive, school officials say.

 

June 3, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

The question: Is driving any saner on West 50th Street?

By Kathy Shea

Let's swap opinions: is driving on West 50th Street a saner experience than it used to be? I offer my opinion; then you share yours.

Why go through this exercise? Because when it comes to traffic conditions, perception is as important as traffic study results. If we feel that driving through our neighborhoods is a pleasant and safe experience, then conditions are good.

Two years ago, I co-chaired the high profile Fulton-Lynnhurst neighborhood campaign to calm traffic on West 50th. Last year, our neighborhoods ran a modest two-week reminder campaign to keep driving awareness alive and well. Following each effort, residents told us: "This is good, but you have to keep reminding us!"

 

June 3, 2002
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Neighborhoods hope 50th St. drivers slow down -- again

By Beth Wohlberg

Fulton and Lynnhurst neighbors want people to pay attention to drivers--and the speed of their cars--on 50th Street.

This is the third year of a campaign to encourage slower speeds on 50th. Surveys conducted after the initial 2000 campaign showed 75 percent of residents indicated that they slowed down their driving, and 48 percent said the pace on 50th Street slowed because of the campaign.

"We have taken a long-range view," said Kathy Shea, former co-chair of the Fulton-Lynnhurst Neighbors for Safe Driving task force. "Education, enforcement and engineering--they are the only way to truly affect long-term change. We never had the illusion that our public education campaign would do it all."

May 20, 2002
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Read more stories about: Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Park Notes

By Scott Russell

Linden Hills eyed for off-leash dog park

The leading candidate for an off-leash dog park in Southwest now appears to be a 5-acre spot between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, near Richfield Road and Linden Hills Boulevard.

A citizens' committee studying off-leash sites in the 6th Park District ranked 27 green spaces in the Southwest area and the Linden Hills site got the second highest score.

The committee's top-scoring site is unlikely to get Park Board approval. It is 1.4 acres in Lyndale Farmstead Park -- a spot the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board previously considered but which met with strong opposition from some neighbors.

 

February 11, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Park Notes

By Scott Russell

Linden Hills eyed for off-leash dog park

The leading candidate for an off-leash dog park in Southwest now appears to be a 5-acre spot between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, near Richfield Road and Linden Hills Boulevard.

A citizens' committee studying off-leash sites in the 6th Park District ranked 27 green spaces in the Southwest area and the Linden Hills site got the second highest score.

The committee's top-scoring site is unlikely to get Park Board approval. It is 1.4 acres in Lyndale Farmstead Park -- a spot the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board previously considered but which met with strong opposition from some neighbors.

The Park Board staff has already indicated support for three sites -- and its first choice is in a

January 28, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Work slated on Penn Avenue bridge over the creek

By Scott Russell

The city plans to upgrade the Penn Avenue bridge crossing Minnehaha Creek, said Jeff Johnson, Minneapolis' Bridge Maintenance Engineer, widening the sidewalks to improve snow removal.

The work will cost $400,000. The project should start this fall and end by spring, he said. With the exception of a day or two, the work should not require any traffic disruption.

The city should have drawings by February, Johnson said.

Johnson will work with City Councilmember Barret Lane (13th Ward) to coordinate and publicize the design meetings with the Fulton and Lynnhurst neighborhood groups.

 

January 14, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

East Calhoun
Nov. 25, 4:15–9 a.m., 3300 block of Hennepin Ave.
An unknown suspect stole the vehicle of a 30-year-old man. The vehicle had been parked in the driveway of the victim’s home and, in the morning, the car was missing. The victim has not been able to locate the keys to the vehicle and believes they may have been inside the vehicle at the time of the time of the theft.

December 17, 2007
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

The architects’ touch: The stories behind five architect-designed home projects

By Cristof Traudes

Summer is home-tour season. There are luxury tours and garden tours, city tours and small neighborhood tours. These have been going on for years. Architects, meanwhile, have stood mostly on the sidelines despite oftentimes having designed the best work.

This year, however, they get to take center stage.

On Sept. 20–21, the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects is putting on a tour of 29 homes in the metro area, all of which were designed by certified architects. It’s a chance, organizer Jennifer Gilhoi said, to show that architects are a smart sounding board for all types of home projects.

“It’s the details that add up to the whole,” architect Jean Rehkamp Larson said. “That’s where architects play a big part.”

Featured on the tour are small homes, big homes, green homes and loft-style homes. Five Southwest locations will be featured. Here is a preview.

September 8, 2008
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Read more stories about: East Calhoun neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Burroughs named 'Minnesota School of Excellence'

LYNNHURST — Burroughs Community School was one of eight "Minnesota Schools of Excellence" named in October by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association.

Principal Tim Cadotte said the school was selected for the honor based on student test scores, school performance data, and surveys of students and staff. The association also singled out several innovative programs at the school that figured in its selection.

"I think what they were most impressed with was our native language literacy program," Cadotte said.

Known as One Way Dual Immersion, the program allows native Spanish speakers to be taught core

November 5, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Crime reports

By Andrew Newman

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Kingfield
Sept. 16, 6 a.m.–7 p.m.,
3700 block of Blaisdell Avenue South
A suspect entered a 23-year-old male’s duplex by cutting the screen on a front window.  The suspect stole one item and left through the front door, leaving a sweatshirt behind.

+ Sept. 18, 9–9:02 p.m., Wentworth Avenue South
A 17-year-old teenager was robbed at gunpoint while walking a dog. The suspect stole the victim’s cell phone and fled in an unknown direction.

October 6, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Andrew Newman

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Armatage

+ Oct. 3, 7:32–7:40 p.m.,
6000 block of Penn Ave. S.

A gas station attendant said the suspect entered the store and asked if they had a certain auto part for his car. The attendant went to check and heard the cash register open.  He returned and saw the suspect taking money. The suspect said he had a gun and ran out of the store with an unknown amount of money. The attendant was not harmed.

October 20, 2008
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Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Public safety notes

By Brian Voerding

Lake Harriet jogger assaulted

Police are asking for the public’s help to find a man who allegedly assaulted a jogger near Lake Harriet.

On Oct. 25 around 6:15 a.m., a woman jogging on the lake trail near 44th and 45th streets heard someone approach behind her. She assumed it was another jogger, but a man restrained her and reached between her legs. When other joggers appeared moments later, the man fled.

He’s described as a white male between 20 and 30 years old. He was wearing dark clothes and a beanie hat at the time of the incident. He drove away in an older red sports car with unspecified damage that had been repaired, police said.

Police believe it was an isolated incident and had no immediate leads.

November 3, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood

Crime reports

By Emily Stickler

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Armatage

Oct. 28, 2:25 a.m.,
5600 block of Xerxes Avenue South

Two suspects broke into the Holiday station and stole two trays of lottery tickets. The suspects fled before police arrived. There is no description of the suspects.

November 17, 2008
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood

Neighborhoods get reduced NRP allotments

By Scott Russell

The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Policy Board has approved the final neighborhood Phase II allocations -- including a new $537,000 American Indian set-aside program.

The overall pot of money the Board earmarked for neighborhoods is estimated at $47.7 million, according to a memo posted on the NRP Web site.

Southwest neighborhoods will receive the following through 2009:

Armatage, $375,682

Bryn Mawr, $270,080

CARAG, $636,557

Cedar-Isles-Dean, $261,420

East Harriet $218,316

East Isles, $387,253

East Calhoun, $334,613

Fulton, $387,229

Kenny, $266,533

Kenwood, $85,600

Kingfield, $770,934

Linden Hills, $530,161

Lowry Hill, $448,754

Lowry Hill East (Wedge), $747,852

Lyndale, $643

April 15, 2004
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Square Redevelopment, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Group funds museum visits

WHITTIER — Every second-grade student in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) will have an opportunity to visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) during the next three years thanks to a $60,000 gift to the district.

The gift from the Friends of the Institute volunteer group was intended to cover bus transportation costs to the museum for approximately 3,000 MPS second-graders each year through 2011. The initiative is supported by the Friends Children's Fund, which was established in 2007.

January 12, 2009
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

East Harriet project creates peace rocks

By Scott Russell

Work is underway for a $50,000 East Harriet Gateway Peace Project, a series of six markers connecting Lyndale Farmstead Park to the Rose and Peace gardens.

The markers will resemble a pile of rocks, called cairns, a traditional way-finding device left on trails by explorers, said a statement by artists Greg Ingraham, a landscape architect and park planner, and artist Teri Kwant of Seward.

"The community wanted something that was timeless," Kwant said. "The concept is to have a pathway to peace."

The two propose having text sandblasted into the limestone base of each cairn, reflecting the East Harriet community's feelings, questions and ideas about the meaning of "peace."

April 22, 2002
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Read more stories about: East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Government notes

By Brent Killackey

Sen. Myron Orfield says he won't seek re-election Sen. Myron Orfield (DFL-Minneapolis) announced March 5 that he would not be seeking re-election this fall.

"I have served for 12 years in the Legislature and I felt I had made a good contribution in terms of working on land use and metropolitan equity issues, education and health care and environmental issues," Orfield said. "I have another busy job that I have to work on and I have two young boys that I'd like to spend some more time with."

Orfield said upcoming redistricting was not a factor in his decision. Some of the proposed redistricting scenarios would pit Orfield against Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL-Minneapolis) or extend Senate District 60 into the suburbs.

 

March 11, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Redistricting proposals put political boundaries up for grabs

By Brent Killackey

State Senators Myron Orfield (DFL-Minneapolis) and Jane Ranum (DFL-Minneapolis) could find themselves running against each other this fall. Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis) might need to court Edina residents to keep her seat. Congressman Martin Sabo (DFL-Minneapolis) could run against Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-North St. Paul) to represent a new congressional district that includes Minneapolis and St. Paul.

These are some of the scenarios created in the four state-redistricting plans. Every ten years, political districts are redrawn to more accurately reflect population data from the census. The most recent census was taken in 2000.

 

February 11, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Airport establishes new sound-mitigation zone; SW critics say it's too small

By Michael Metzger

Battle over projections determines which jet-noise sufferers may get help

For the first time, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has published a map projecting a new sound contour that may mean Southwest residents will get more noise insulation. However, area antinoise activists say the projection underestimates how many homes will need sound-deadening enhancements such as central air conditioning and insulation.

The map, released Feb. 4, shows how noise levels around the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport are projected to change by 2007. It also establishes a new sound contour for homes falling in the so-called 60-64 DNL area. ("DNL" is a day-night average sound level.) Homeowners in that contour are eligible for mitigation steps yet to be determin

February 19, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Crime reports

By Alex Van Lepp

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

East Isles

+ Feb. 20, between 4:30 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., 2400 S. Hennepin Ave.

A suspect robbed Sudz Salon employees with a gun, and then robbed a 57-year-old woman from Golden Valley. The suspect fled away on foot.

March 9, 2009
Full Article

Read more stories about: Windom neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood

Home values up in parts of Southwest

By Moira Kenny

On average, Twin Cities home values have dropped nearly 10 percent since last year, but some neighborhoods in Southwest have beat the odds.

Kenwood, Linden Hills, Fulton, Lynnhurst, East Calhoun and Whittier all showed an increase in property values the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2008, according to a recent report from Zillow.com, an online real estate service.

The areas have been less impacted by lender-mediated activity, such as short sales and foreclosures, as other areas in the city — particularly neighborhoods in North and South Minneapolis.

"The biggest differentiating factor between areas that have done well and areas that have faltered is due to less or more lender-mediated activity in those regions," Mark Allen, CEO of the Minnesota Association of Realtors, said.

Areas that have seen increases in home values tend to have older residents that haven't leveraged as much as homeowners in other parts of the metro, Allen said. Areas that have decreased in value struggle with lender-mediated activity in the down market. Transactions have fallen, and median prices are down.

March 9, 2009
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Crime reports

By Jake Weyer

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG

+ March 7, 10:20 p.m., 31st St. W. and Girard Ave. S.

Two women, both 24, were robbed at knifepoint. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

March 23, 2009
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Read more stories about: Windom neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood