April 2007

Minutes Draft
Tangletown Neighborhood Association
Regular Meeting, Monday, April 16, 2007

7:00 P.M. Fuller Park

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Agenda. Moved and seconded.

3. Approval of Minutes. Moved and seconded.

4. Water Tower. Sam Sarat talked about irrigation issues at the Water Tower. Discussions have been continuing with the Water Dept regarding installation of an irrigation system. Sam requested that Board members sign a letter supporting the project to Council Member Benson.

5. Variance requests at 4737 Blaisdell Avenue – Thomas and AnnaMarie Erbes discussed their request to address flooding issues. The City separated storm and sanitary sewers a few years ago and this separation means that water does not dissipate as fast as it should. Water now flows into the back yard and into the tuck under garage from backup and flow in the alley. The recommended solution is to raise the grade at the back of the property by 1-2 feet and develop an accessory structure. The variance request is from the wall plate limit in the zoning code. Other elements of the project meet the zoning code in the revised plan. Moved and seconded that the Board write to the city and state that TNA does not oppose this application.
6. Development plans of Mayflower Church. Bob Pomeroy, a member of the church, described a property at 54th and Stevens that the church owns. This property has been used for the last 10 years as temporary housing for refugees. The cost of maintaining this house has become a challenge for the church, and discussions have been going on for a few years on what to do with the property. The parish decided that it would like to do something in housing and is proposing an affordable housing development, in partnership with the Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation. The goal is to create a building that fits into the neighborhood and that addresses a need for workforce housing. Lee Blons (lblons@plymouthfoundation.org) of the Foundation (http://www.plymouthfoundation.org/) described the proposal a little more and offered to come with a full proposal at a later date, probably May or June. [This presentation is planned for the May 21st meeting at Fuller Park.] The proposal will seek housing tax credits and will seek neighborhood support. The proposal is for 42 units, with underground parking, mostly 2-3 bedroom units for families. Rental range will be $500 for 1 bedroom to $1,000 for larger units. The property would be owned by Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation and Mayflower would be substantially involved. A number of people in attendance asked questions about the proposal:
Q: What effect do these kinds of projects have on property values? A: Family Housing Fund has done research that there is no impact.
Q: How certain is it that the property will be maintained? What about vacancies? A: The City and State look closely at the financial and operating plan. We build high quality structures.
Q: Where are your other developments? A: Stevens Square, Powerderhorn, Loring Park. Followup Q: My experience in real estate has been that subsidized housing does not help housing values.
Q: Why 42 units? A: The building will be L-shaped and this fits the property. The 54th street side of the building will be designed to have a townhouse-look façade.
Q: Why this location? A: the church owns the property at this location. Comment: I support this plan for workforce housing in southwest Minneapolis.
Q: There are a number of developments already in the area. How can we be sure that this development will minimize the risk of undesirable effects? A: The professional management company will work to screen tenants actively.
Q: Have you developed a similar-sized project is a similar neighborhood? A: Most of our specific projects have generally had commercial neighbors.
Q: What is the zoning situation? A: The property would likely need to be rezoned to multifamily.
Q: What share of the 42 units would be market rate? A: This is workforce housing and the household incomes of $30,000 to $50,000. 80% of the units would not have rental assistance. 20% would be Section 8 or similar.
Q: Mayflower sent out a letter in March regarding this proposal. This letter seems to assume that the neighbors should have no say in the proposal. It also seems that this proposal has been under discussion for over a year [A: there was a student competition a year ago that looked at the site; it is not this proposal].

Q: Why not more dispersed pattern of housing rather than 42 units on one site? A: The median income in the city is $38,000; in Tangletown about $75,000. Lots of workers in the city deserve a place to live in the city.
The proposers would like to make a fuller presentation of the full project at the May 21st meeting, if that would be possible. The Board agreed that this presentation would be useful. Mayflower will send a letter to the neighbors around the property to let people know this discussion will take place. [The Board will ask the proposers if they can come at 6pm and allow interested parties to ask questions and look at materials—see the website for updates on this. The meeting itself will begin at 7pm.] Reminder: Saturday is Earth Day and community event will take place at Lyndale Community Center.
7. NRP report – Tom Balcom. Four strategies are being pursued: housing, transportation and safety, public spaces and quality of life. These strategies will be forwarded to the board for discussion at the June meeting. Washburn High School would like to present some information at a future TNA meeting.
8. Treasurer’s Report – Supat Tipayamongkol
8. Open Matters – Board Members or Members of Tangletown
Garage sale—Supat will collate submissions, Joe and Meredith will distribute signs and maps, Meredith will look into an ad in the Star Tribune, Norman will prepare maps and circulate by email, and post ads on Craigs List. 4th of July—preparations continue. The Board authorized a budget of the same size as last year plus the cost of renting a tent for a pot luck.
9. Adjournment

Attendance:
Sarah Cortright, Mary Davidson, Ryan Fisher, Norman Foster, Andrew Hedden, Meredith Johnson, Joe Thiegs, Supat Tipayamongkol.

Not present: Jerry Doyle, Steve Edwards, Laura Silver.

2006-2007 Board
Sarah Cortright, Mary Davidson, Jerry Doyle, Steve Edwards, Ryan Fisher, Norman Foster, Andrew Hedden, Meredith Johnson, Laura Silver, Joe Thiegs, Supat Tipayamongkol.