Search found 736 matches

by sdho
May 9th, 2019, 3:54 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: West End area - St. Louis Park / Golden Valley
Replies: 205
Views: 86549

Re: West End / Central Park West Development - St. Louis Park

I think, fairly or not, the setup just makes it seem less convenient than a place like Arbor Lakes, where you can park essentially right next to wherever your destination is. Fair points, and I agree people talk about surface parking as convenient. But it seems like people never talk about the adva...
by sdho
May 8th, 2019, 1:27 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: West End area - St. Louis Park / Golden Valley
Replies: 205
Views: 86549

Re: West End / Central Park West Development - St. Louis Park

Hmm, I actually think allowing (minimal, low-speed) driving on West End Blvd makes it feel more like a real street, and less like an outdoor mall. Compare to the Eagan outlet mall, where the "streets" are ped-only. I actually think that using this general design might want to go a bit fart...
by sdho
May 7th, 2019, 9:17 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: West End area - St. Louis Park / Golden Valley
Replies: 205
Views: 86549

Re: West End / Central Park West Development - St. Louis Park

I am honestly disturbed by the idea that a shopping center that has on-street parking, underground parking, *and* above-ground ramp parking — all free — is thought to be floundering because it doesn't have convenient-enough parking. The most off-putting part about the West End for me is that it crea...
by sdho
April 29th, 2019, 8:17 am
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Bloomington Central Station & South Loop Development
Replies: 219
Views: 85208

Re: Bloomington Central Station & South Loop Development

841 parking stalls required for 400 apartments? In Bloomington's faux-downtown next to light rail? Wow. Yep. I don't know the details, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have any special transit-oriented limits, and just apply the general citywide requirements. (Which are probably still too ...
by sdho
April 16th, 2019, 11:56 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Minneapolis Parking Meters
Replies: 11
Views: 1372

Re: Minneapolis Parking Meters

No real opinion either way on pricing, but cutting back the 8-hour zones in Downtown East is well overdue. It's been very hard to find spots for (IMO) more legitimate short-term use when they're all parked by people getting cheap parking for the entire workday. One thing that has been frustrating is...
by sdho
April 11th, 2019, 7:36 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Edina – General Topics
Replies: 85
Views: 31406

Re: Edina – General Topics

Anti-growth quasi-PAC has formed to oppose the Edina comp plan and lobby to "kick the bums out" in the next election cycle: https://www.wecandobetteredina.org/ They don't name their organizers, and the address the provide is in Eden Prairie. (Seemingly office of the communication consultan...
by sdho
March 30th, 2019, 10:09 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Ayd Mill Road
Replies: 163
Views: 54127

Re: Ayd Mill Road

St. Paul is a city with significant tax base issues. It's nuts that it is willingly maintaining what should be a state road in the first place. Removing taxable property from the rolls while further decreasing the value of homes adjacent to Ayd Mill Road, and all at great one-time and ongoing expen...
by sdho
March 28th, 2019, 1:03 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Ayd Mill Road
Replies: 163
Views: 54127

Re: Ayd Mill Road

Seems obvious to say, but either connect it to I-94 via the frontage roads or cut off the 35E freeway-style entrance. I'm no proponent for it, but connecting this more directly to I-94 would add a badly-needed additional N-S arterial that doesn't use Cretin, Hamline, Snelling, Lex or Dale, which ar...
by sdho
March 28th, 2019, 1:03 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Ayd Mill Road
Replies: 163
Views: 54127

Re: Ayd Mill Road

Summit is being replaced this year. It dates from the 1880s & 1960s. Selby was built in 1993. That's super cool -- I had never noticed that the abutments over the rail on Summit look much older than over AMR. Of course, the deck has all the beauty of 1960s/70s bridge decks, so you don't get any...
by sdho
February 11th, 2019, 10:11 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

(I won't blame the land use for it, but it is also kind of depressing how much self storage gets used by people with a regular-sized, totally usable apartment or house. We need to do better at getting rid of stuff we don't want anymore. I like the concept of "storing" your stuff on Craigs...
by sdho
February 10th, 2019, 8:25 am
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

As an aside, I’m surprised storage facilities are taxed at a high rate. I just assumed they had rock bottom tax rates. Interesting. I guess they’re more profitable than I thought. Outside of industrial areas, though, they’re a terrible land use. They are definitely not the most vibrant land use, al...
by sdho
February 8th, 2019, 11:36 am
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

A large portion of that green space is used for testing equipment. As to the parking, if there is another expansion, a building would take up part of that parking space and a ramp would likely go up on the remainder. I'm glad there's some design to it, but that doesn't change the underlying point o...
by sdho
February 7th, 2019, 7:52 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

Population isn't the only factor in determining the minimum scale for an independent city to be fiscally stable. Commercial-industrial tax base is arguably equally important to population. A city of 15,000 with a large commercial-industrial tax base could be more fiscally sound than one with 40,000...
by sdho
February 7th, 2019, 7:51 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

Population isn't the only factor in determining the minimum scale for an independent city to be fiscally stable. Commercial-industrial tax base is arguably equally important to population. A city of 15,000 with a large commercial-industrial tax base could be more fiscally sound than one with 40,000...
by sdho
February 7th, 2019, 7:49 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

Population isn't the only factor in determining the minimum scale for an independent city to be fiscally stable. Commercial-industrial tax base is arguably equally important to population. A city of 15,000 with a large commercial-industrial tax base could be more fiscally sound than one with 40,000...
by sdho
February 5th, 2019, 12:57 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

There are many costs to running a city, and at least some are more efficient at scale. One thing we all share (that is awesome about the Twin Cities!) is wastewater management. Some cities contract with each other to buy fresh water, but there is not a cohesive system. Some issues with small cities:...
by sdho
February 4th, 2019, 5:58 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

Also, major lol at twincitizen's idea of Edina and SLP together. I can scarcely imagine more of an odd couple of cities.
by sdho
February 4th, 2019, 5:56 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348270

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

When I first moved to Richfield, I didn't see particular value in being in a separate city from Minneapolis. But I guess now I get it. A few things I really like: 1. Local politics are much more accessible. You can call your council member and you will get a response, 100%. You can get appointed to ...
by sdho
January 23rd, 2019, 6:55 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Southdale Area - Edina
Replies: 798
Views: 243295

Re: Southdale Area Development - Edina

Interesting that it's now "Millennium Sixty Six" and not "Millennium Southdale". IMO Southdale was a better name, but selfishly I appreciate things that increase brand equity of 66th St, since the commercial/well-traveled part of it is nearly entirely in Richfield. Can't come soo...
by sdho
January 21st, 2019, 9:25 pm
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Bicycle Infrastructure
Replies: 1800
Views: 1034886

Re: Bicycle Infrastructure

And I guess I don't really get your issue with the roundabouts. You have instant right-of-way, and far less delay than a regular bike lane at a signal. And way less stress than having to merge into the roundabout traffic like a regular bike lane at aroundabout. Will be even better after they get the...