‘Legalizing’ historic complexity is a silver lining to zoning reform
New zoning changes offer relief to people who own a whole category of historic properties that have been marginalized by city’s 20th-century codes.
Cityscape
St. Paul joins Minnesota cities planning for action on climate change
St. Paul’s plan is currently in draft form, and the city is accepting comments now. The big goal is to become carbon neutral within 30 years.
Minneapolis renters’ input informs new housing-stability proposals
“They have emergency situations, or a family member passes away,” said one renter, and soon people in crisis risk eviction and future denials of housing. Proposals are being developed to address these and other tenant issues, drawing pushback from some landlords.
Loss in popularity, climate change put pressure on public golf courses
Change is hard because golf is such a potent symbol. But fewer golfers and wetter conditions are creating dilemmas for local cities.
Amid a national tidying trend, new interest in micro apartments
It’s not just stuff. For some people, homes themselves are becoming simpler and smaller.
Never take a good street parade for granted
Can MayDay and Grand Old Day find a way to march toward a sustainable future?
From streetcar to BRT: The return of the Selby-Lake transit corridor?
The No. 21’s Selby-Lake-Marshall-University Avenue route wasn’t always so complicated. During the dawn of the streetcar era, the straight-shot Selby-Lake streetcar was one of the key east-west connections linking the Twin Cities.
It’s pothole-filling time. So where does the asphalt come from?
St. Paul’s Municipal Asphalt Plant is a 55-year-old structure that towers impressively over the ball fields and skate park on Front Avenue.
End of an era on the West Bank as video store shuts its doors
The modern internet era, combined with the proliferation of cable, has made the brick-and-mortar video store as obsolete as an elevator operator.
Lawmakers at work: On roadways, hands-free phones and bike ed
Debates in the Minnesota Legislature have reached full swing, and so far the early results suggest there could be a lot of activity around state transportation policy.
St. Paul’s skyway issues are ongoing and unsolved
The issues? “Security, safety, litter, comments about things like employees having to walk through the skyway when there are people sleeping in there,” said Jon Fure.
A delicate negotiation: Rainbow Foods sits smack in the middle of soccer plans
Something as seemingly simple as dislodging a redundant grocery store has proven to be a real challenge.
Winter bike deliveries: The coffee and bread must go through
“On days like today, where it’s 30 degrees or sloppy, it’s my favorite,” said Micah Taylor. “… for me personally, biking in the winter just feels good.”
Mobile, one-room Light Hotel celebrates ‘the luxury of less’
Throughout 2017, the Light Hotel — created from a salvaged shipping container — will plant itself all around St. Paul and Minneapolis in the hopes of creating a conversation about housing and design.
Minnesota Capitol parking: highlights of the off-off-the-beaten-track tour
Parking lots form half of the state government’s land-use footprint in St. Paul.
Is it even possible to plan for transit to the Shakopee Amazon facility?
With the thousands of entry-level jobs that are migrating to the exurbs, something must be done. Starting this month, a new pair of suburban buses will be trying their best to serve Shakopee’s workers.
Blue Line’s public art project still hanging in there, surviving the cold
Called “Small Kindnesses, Weather Permitting,” the short recordings are a 2004 light-rail-station project by Janet Zweig.
Downtown Minneapolis nears another retail watershed
It turns out that the downtown retail scene isn’t all bad news. It is beginning to focus on a local, small-scale, and walkable future.
Minneapolis is breaking new ground in winter plowing of protected bike lanes
“There’s a lot more interest in winter maintenance of bike lanes than there was 10 years ago,” because biking is growing rapidly, said Ethan Fawley of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition.
Zombie corner store rekindles debate over crime and the future of St. Paul’s Stryker Avenue
After being condemned for much of this year, the store has begun trying to reopen. But one big obstacle remains.