BRIEFS Feb. 3, 2022

BRYN MAWR STUDENTS GRATEFUL
“We would like to give a big thank you to the Bryn Mawr Community School PTA, the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association (BMNA), and our Bryn Mawr neighbors for partnering with our school media center to sponsor a book drive that added over 20 books written by Native American authors,” said Desiree and Heather of the Bryn Mawr Community School Library. “We really appreciate the community’s investment and are excited for students to start checking out these new books. Thank you Bryn Mawr families and community for your continued support.”

BRYN MAWR SEWER PIPE WORK
The city of Minneapolis is reconstructing a segment of aging (1933) sanitary sewer pipe that runs from the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood northeasterly through Bryn Mawr Meadows Park to Irving Avenue North. This work protects the park property from contamination. The reconstructed pipe under the park will connect to the pipe under Irving Avenue North, just north of the park, which the city has already reconstructed. Construction on this project will begin this winter and run through spring 2022. The affected areas of the park include the northern third of the parking lot; the western half of the open field on the park’s north side; and the Luce Line Trail. Upon completion of the City’s sewer project, construction will begin on the larger project, including park improvements and a stormwater pond, managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) in partnership with the City and the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission. Construction is planned to be complete in spring 2023, with new fields open for play in summer 2023.
TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT
Are you interested in empowering renters, creating a more equitable housing landscape, preserving affordable housing, and diversifying ownership structures in Minneapolis? There’s currently a coalition organizing to pass a policy to do just that – the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act “would give all renters the first right to purchase their building when it goes for sale, or transfer that right to a buyer of their choosing.” If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, email erinw@homelinemn.org.

SERVICES FOR SENIORS
TRUST, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides services to South Minneapolis seniors, including Meals on Wheels, grocery transportation and a chore program (including snow shoveling) to help seniors and residents in South Minneapolis stay in their homes.
Do you know someone who needs these services?
• Meals on Wheels: (612) 822-6040, MOWDirector@trustinc.org
• Chore Program: (612) 827-6150, ChoreCoordinator@trustinc.org
• Grocery Transportation Program: (612) 721-5786, GroceryCoordinator@trustinc.org
TRUST is also looking for volunteers. Contact them at: TRUST@trustinc.org or 612-827-6159.

‘NUTSHELLS’ NOMINATED FOR AWARD
In March 2020, Linden Hills Poet Laureate Doug Wilhide began writing and sending out brief mini-essays. The first 210 were published by Linden Hills-based Trolley Car Press. Nutshells: Diversions in a Time of Pandemic has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. To request a copy, contact wilhide@skypoint.com.
NEW CRAFTING GROUP
Linden Hills Crafting Group’s first meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 10 from 6–8 p.m. at Heartfelt (4306 Upton Ave. S.).

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE FOR CEDAR-ISLES PLAN
Attend a virtual open house on he Cedar-Isles Master Plan on Monday, Feb. 7, 6-7:30 p.m. Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles are part of Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park, connecting to Bde Maka Ska on the southern border and Brownie Lake and Theodore Wirth Regional Park to the north. The regional park as a whole sees more than 7 million annual visits. It is the most visited park site in the state. The Cedar Lake/Lake of the Isles Master Plan will direct policy and design implementation for the park land around both lakes for the next 20+ years.

CLOSURE CEDAR LAKE PARKWAY
The long-term closure of Cedar Lake Parkway is currently anticipated to begin as early as mid-February. This closure is needed to construct the Kenilworth LRT Tunnel that will extend under Cedar Lake Parkway.
Pumps and generators will run overnight periodically through winter in various parts of the construction corridor, especially at the Kenilworth LRT tunnel site. Pumps are used to manage water, and generators are used to power the pumps as well as heaters to keep materials and equipment from freezing.
Construction of the secant wall adjacent to the Cedar Isles Condos continues. Activities include drilling three-foot diameter holes and pumping concrete into the holes to form columns. Noise will result primarily from equipment engines and pumps, as well as the drill rig. Vibration levels are noticeable from this work but remain within allowable limits.
The Kenilworth LRT tunnel site is active. Concrete work and excavation activities are constant between West Lake Street and Cedar Lake Parkway. Associated equipment and truck traffic within this area and extending to the Bryn Mawr Station is ongoing.
Extended hours from 6 to 8 p.m. are expected at the Kenilworth tunnel near Depot Street as drivers inspect the tunnel excavation below the water table. This work will continue intermittently as excavation progresses.
LRT bridge construction over the Cedar Lake Channel is paused until the spring.
Construction near Bryn Mawr Station is continuing with excavation and pile installation for the pedestrian bridge. Retaining wall work on the bluff south of Wayzata Boulevard and Penn Avenue is underway. Expect pile-driving activity in the area.