City Briefs April 20

1301 West Lake St Project
On April 13, the city council approved a financing plan for the Common Bond Communities project at 1301 West Lake that includes a six-story apartment building on a one-acre parcel of land that has been vacant for 15 years. It will be built in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Seven Points Mall and will include 120 unit of what is considered affordable housing for families making between 60 and 30% of the median income for the region. Under the plan the city will provide up to $32 million for the project that will be paid back using the new property taxes that will generated by the project.

2023 Climate Equity Plan
On April 19, a city council committee received a presentation about the draft 2023 Climate Equity Plan. The plan updates and replaces the 2013 Climate Action Plan and sets a goal to significantly reduce climate pollution and become carbon neutral by 2050 with a focus actions that can be taken over the next five years. Comments about the plan are being taken online until June 5, followed by a June 7 hearing at the Public Health and Safety committee, a Green Zone Summit final Plan presentation on June 10 and council adoption set for June 15.

Bryant Avenue Reconstruction
Phase 1 (42nd to 50th) of the Bryant Avenue South reconstruction project last completed last fall and work started on phase 2 from 42nd to Lake Street this April. Prior to that, on March 31, the vty’s director of Transportation Engineering and Design announced changes to the design that was approved by the city council and mayor. The announcement said, “Public Works re-evaluated the design and is working to implement the following changes to Phase 2.” Those include widening driveways aprons, moving on-street parking to the right side of the driving lane, removing some chicanes and moving the bikeway next to the roadway with green space between the bikeway and sidewalk.

Community Commission on Police Oversight appointments
City elected officials, staff and a council committee has reviewed and is recommending 15 people to serve the newly formed commission that will, according to the new ordinance, “provide a forum for the public to have meaningful engagement in police oversight and shall serve as part of the deliberative review process.” Southwest area recommended appointees include Mary Dedeaux-Swinton for Ward 7, Fartun Weli for Ward 8, Alexis Pederson for Ward 10, Philip Sturm for Ward 11, Nichelle Williams-Johnson for Ward 13, as well as two Southwest appointees of the mayor, Louis Smith who is lives in Ward 13, and Latonya Reeves who live in Ward 7.

CLOSURE OF PENN AVE./S. WAYZATA BLVD.
As part of the construction of the Green Line Extension (GLE) LT project, work is continuing on the Bryn Mawr Station area in 2023. As part of this work, a full closure of the intersection of Penn Avenue and South Wayzata Boulevard in Minneapolis is needed to conduct utility work, as well as road reconstruction. The roadway closure is currently anticipated to begin as early as June 2023 and last for approximately two months. Non-motorized access will be preserved through the work zone. Visit the Meetings and Events page at GreenLineExt.org for information. For urgent questions about this work, call the GLE RT Project Construction Hotline at 612-373-3933.