Post in What does $70 million buy?

May 13 17:32 UTC

A few thoughts that are bouncing around my head.  Perhaps of some use,
or not at all...

First, the Pioneer Press reported as fact something very interesting:
because of the location the U chose for their new football stadium,
amdist the sea of nearby parking lots, the Central Corridor had to be
rerouted and the tunnel lengthened, adding about $100 million to the
cost of the line.

Well, I'll just say that if there's any truth to that, any remaining
charity I feel toward the U of M on this matter quickly fades away.
We need the U of M to be an honest actor, and own up to their own
responsibility in the crisis they surely seem to have helped create.

Which brings me to an observation.  Along most of Washington Avenue
between University and Coffman Union there is extra right of way that
is used for passive green space - grass and shrubs.  I haven't gotten
out a tape measure, mind you, and I am no engineer, but I'm quite
familiar with this section of roadway.  And my eyes have heretofore
told me there is enough room between buildings to keep the existing 4
lanes of traffic and 2 lanes of light rail, and sidewalks of almost
exactly the same width.

The only place that seems not to be especially true is the two
narrower blocks between Oak Street and Huron Boulevard, which is where
most business are.  But luckily, and a quick look at an aerial view
would demonstrate this, there is a clear and quite graceful right-of-
way from University Avenue a block north of Washington (behind Stub
and Herbs), and plenty of room for a station in the green space in
front of the U of M's new MacNamara Center at Oak & Washington.

I'm sure the U would prefer not to lose any green space, but this
could work quite well in terms of design.  Perhaps their nearby
architecture school students could help.  And in light of what I've
read, I see absolutely no need or desire to sacrifice the line's
objectives for the U of M's objectives.  (I should note that the
nearby neighbors in places like Marcy-Holmes are basically innocent
bystanders in this all, and they certainly still have my sympathy).

Anyhow, these are just a few off-the-cuff observations.  More
conversation is warranted.  The University of Minnesota darn well
needs to be part of the solution already.  We can't all have our cake
and eat it too, and these conversations are always very tough.  Some
of us will never be perfectly happy, and that's the nature of the
game.  But working together we definitely have a decent shot at
getting most folks a little bigger slice of the pie.