What transportation policies would most help poor families?
The lives of low-income people “are much too complicated to work with mass transit alone.” So says Rolf Pendall of the Urban Institute.
Marlys Harris
A Minnesota native, Marlys Harris has been an investigative reporter and editor with specialties in consumer protection and finance for Money Magazine and Consumer Reports. She covers urban affairs.
Hodges’ dissent didn’t sway Southwest LRT panel’s 11-2 backing of shallow-tunnel plan
Next week, the whole Met Council will hear more testimony. Assuming that it, too, endorses the plan, it will submit the project to all the cities along the line for ratification.
Urban development: mixed use, mixed results?
When I drive around town, I see a whole lot of mixed-use buildings with unused retail space. So I wonder: Have we gone overboard with this dogma?
Teardown woes: from building clutter and excess water to affordability concerns
During the moratorium, Council Member Linea Palmisano hopes the city will “take a fresh look at regulations.”
Minneapolis and the siren song of economic impact
Early resistance to a civic idea, whether a renovated Nicollet Mall or a Super Bowl, is often overwhelmed by the sweet yoo-hoo of the economic-impact study.
Lyndale & Franklin: New hope for a neglected intersection
Master, a Minneapolis development and engineering firm, has proposed a somewhat innovative six-story apartment complex.
Hennepin County among best in nation at closing housing-affordability gap
Over the past decade, the county has managed nearly to double the amount of affordable housing, while its population of needy families increased by about 55 percent.
Inequality is growing among communities, not just individuals
The Demand Institute report concludes that when it comes to housing — as with everything else — the rich get are getting richer.
Where have all the condos gone?
Time was, not so long ago, when condominiums were the default homeownership option for people at opposite ends of the age spectrum.
It’s time to get moving on outdoor playgrounds for the senior set
The facilities are springing up in Europe and Asia, and are helping older folks improve balance and retain range of motion.
Heritage Park: Exploring interim uses, from dog parks to pop-up retail, for undeveloped areas
A recent charrette elicits ideas ranging from temporary retail to amenities including dog parks, skateboard areas and a weekend flea market.
Southwest rail report seeks pathway to overcome impasse
Minneapolis officials see the study as promising, but a St. Louis Park City Council member says: “It feels like Ground Hog Day.”
Met Council takes on metro-area’s inequality
But despite its good intentions, the Metropolitan Council may be hardening our separation into two metros.
The bus stops here — and here and here and here
What the Twin Cities can learn from a study showing fewer stops improves bus service.
Identity crisis: Names of places in Twin Cities lack creativity
We’re adding blandness all the time: What’s the LRT “Blue Line” tell you about where you’re going?
Southwest LRT’s path hung up by two intractable positions
Solving this conflict will mean coming up with extreme ideas — or maybe just simple compromises.
Neighborhood group skeptically eyeballs Lake Calhoun apartment design
Neighborhood groups like the the Cedar-Isles-Dean association have no formal power, but they can stop a project cold if they disapprove.
Cold snap highlights challenges of creating a city for all seasons
There is no easy way to turn the thoroughfares of the winter city into the walkable streets of a summer city.
Some New Year’s resolutions for Minneapolis-St. Paul metro
Here’s what we should be doing to make our people more prosperous, our streets safer and our vistas lovelier to look upon.
Vikings stadium opponent: ‘Where are the jobs?’
Dan Cohen is still trying to block the new stadium — and is raising questions about officials’ promises.
