Yes, Chris does ask some good questions and I am not necessarily disagreeing
with Tom. I don't think the city cares if the soccer stadium is surrounded by
surface parking. And I am not sure of the willingness of the two land owners to
maintain parking ramps. But, even if something were planned to develop there-
potential development seems to face a great deal of push back, usually from
busy bodies who don't live in the immediate area. And it usually revolves
around the naysayers thinking they are virtuously helping those of us living
here by keeping out development that would bring a car to the neighborhood.
Business wants parking ramp? Say no. Business is a big box? Heavens no, they
belong in the suburbs. Business is a fast food? No, that food is bad for you.
The list goes on.
But, I will say this- none of my neighbors, those of us living directly across
Snelling from this parcel of land, asked, "where will they park?" None of my
neighbors said, "I hope they build a green space to make it pretty for me to
walk to." None of my neighbors said, "I hope that billboard goes away." No- as
the Union Park District Council was tabling engagement sessions, my neighbors
asked, "where will shop now?" "Are you all trying to move people like us out by
moving out the places we shop?" "It would be nice to have a health care clinic
there for me." "What's going to happen to my apartment when the stadium gets
built? Is my landlord going to raise the rent?" Those are the concerns of the
neighbors.
So, again, I think it is great that people don't want surface parking to remain
at the site. I think it is great that we are all in an uproar right now. Those
of us who are involved in activism and want to help the situation are in a
great position to put pressure on the city to encourage McGuide and RK Midway
to fulfill their promise. And that means to be accepting of development that
might have a parking ramp, or use the drive through that is already on the
property, or might be a chain store or a big box. Or allow the business to have
a sign that can be seen.
Right now, I still see a lot of back and forth about why the stadium is wrong
or how the stadium and its parking lot is better than what was there. But,
instead, I think should be an opportunity for stadium supporters, development
proponents and the neighborhood to get together and advocate to the city and
show McGuire and RK Midway that we do seriously support development on the
Super Block.
Living here, I have to hope the Super Block gets developed with a mix of uses
because I like to be able to walk to shopping/dining and I hope my neighbors
can find places to walk to for business, entertainment and work.