All posts in the topic Penfield-Lund's: The People Behind the Project - THANK YOU! (Short link)

Dec 09 16:25 UTC

At Dave Thune's encouragement, I've spent some time compiling the
names and contributions of the many people who have shared their
talents to get this project and plan for neighborhood revitalization
so far.  These are the people and faces behind the project, and I've
been deeply privileged to have the opportunity on several occasions to
be their very poor stand-in in places like this.   It has stretched my
personal abilities at times, and you may have noticed that I've taken
that job very seriously.

So very many people have contributed in so many unique ways to making
the project a reality, but sometimes that's not obvious to
outsiders.   Successful projects are the ones that draw out the
talents of so many in the community and bring those together in a
common direction, and this project is unusual in the depth of
excitement it is generating.  Certainly, this is a beginning and not
an end for the transformation of the neighborhood, but it is an
important moment for reflection.

So, here's a partial list of people who individually and collectively
deserve credit in helping elevate the plans for the Penfield and
shaping the direction of the surrounding neighborhood.   I'm sending
out this email to most of them in a parallel format.  I'm sure I've
left out people, so my apologies.   Building a community is a team
effort indeed, and many new friendships and connections have been
forged.

THANKS TO ALL!

Bob

CAPITOL RIVER DISTRICT COUNCIL
PENFIELD DESIGN TASK FORCE MEMBERS, 2006 -----------------------

BETTY HERBERT - A pioneering downtown resident and relator with deep
knowledge of downtown.

BUD KLEPPE - Across-the-street-from-the-Penfield resident and owner of
St. Paul Home Realty (http://www.yourstpaulhome.com) shared insights,
and ended up working for the project for a time

KAREN AVALOZ - Graced us with her trademark spunk to ensure design was
grounded in neighborhood and district council input, and tirelessly
championed the preservation of the Public Safety Building's historic
faces.

LARRY ENGLUND - CapitolRiver District Council Board Chair during some
of downtown's most challenging years of evolution, Chaired Penfield
Review Task Force and gave ample support to the Fitzgerald Park
Process, and has been a friend and supporter through the best and
worst of our work.

ROGER SORBEL - Longtime downtown resident, employee, preservationist,
Cap-Wigington enthusiast, providing the key momentum to preserve the
historic Public Safety Building

TIM GRIFFIN - Design Center Director at Riverfront Corporation, who
made sure that the already-strong public presence of this building
would mesh well with its surroundings.

DEVELOPERS  ---------------------

BOB LUX - Penfield, LLC principal, a developer who genuinely cares
about his projects, and whose excitement is infectious. He's modeled
the project's structure partly on his successful Grant Park and
Carlyle in Minneapolis, but gave the community ownership of the design
process.

BRIAN GORECKI - The project manager for the new Penfield proposal, who
I will be meeting very soon.

LUNDS - Smart, local staff who took the time to learn and hear about
the community before settling on the project.  They do their homework
carefully, and know what they're doing!

PETER BROWN - Former Penfield project manager.  His big grid of
interested parties and issues helped him reach a project many thought
was impossible.  Dedicated, resourceful, maintaining a strong
relationship with so many people.

SHERM & MARK RUTZICK - Longtime St. Paul father & son developer and
principal in Drake Bank has successfully taken on enormous challenges
in the past (Great Northern Lofts), and very smartly partnered with
Bob Lux to provide great combination of their local know-how and local
record with a rising development star.

WALTER HUGHES - Bob Lux's intensely talented architect, who joined us
almost weekly for design sessions, flying in from Houston.

FITZGERALD PARK PRECINCT PLAN
TASK FORCE, 2004-2006  -------------------------------------
Helped elvate the idea of a new development on the Penfield site along
with creation of Fitzgerald Park across the street.

BILL BUTH - Former Director, BOMA - Longtime staff helped our process
find its footing, and was open to helping the task force explore a
range of ideas.

BOB CLOUGH - A resident in Central Towers, who was always prepared for
meetings, and had thought deeply about the process and its direction.

CARL PEDRO - 2nd generation owner of Pedro's Luggage, and if I've
learned anything, an awfully patient person.  If this approaching
vision for the neighborhood gets off the ground, there should be a
bust of him, his building, his family, and/or perhaps a bronzed piece
of Pedro's luggage in the Park as testament to his perseverance.
Thank you.

CHRISTINE PODAS-LARSON - Director, Public Art St. Paul, who helped us
think through ways to draw out the artistic spirit already embedded in
much of the neighborhood.

ELLEN WATERS - Former Economic Development Director, St. Paul Area
Chamber of Commerce.  Went out of her way to resourcefully helped
craft us an alternate vision for Fitzgerald Park to help see if we
could find a way to get Mayor Kelly's support.

GLADYS MORTON - The person who as much as any first connected me with
the district council downtown.  My three-doors-down neighbor in
Gallery Tower, and friend, even if we sometimes disagree about
directions.  Longtime (and fellow) Planning Commissioner who cares
deeply about her city and downtown, whose example and accomplishments
I truly admire.

GREG HORAN - Downtown Resident and tireless homelessness and housing
advocate, who helped support the Renaissance Box project, and who -
were he with us today - would be especially excited to have new access
to a grocery store.

JEFFERY NEFF - Former Minnesota Business Academy Director, whose
personal warmth and hospitality in providing the Task Force space for
our many meetings made me particularly appreciative of their presence

JEFF NELSON - McNally Smith College of Music, and later MPR Community
Affairs.  Community-minded, and personally committed to helping build
bridges where they were both sought and needed.

JOHN GUTZMANN - St. Paul Public Housing Agency Director who shed light
on their many units in the neighborhood, and handsome new headquarters
building.

KATH OUSKA - Represented the State Department of Administration
insightfully and supported a smart process

KAY BAKER - St. Joesph's Hospital Community Affairs Director, Chair of
the Fitz Park Block Club, who has recently helped oversee a stunning
addition to their hospital, and was there to stand by our Park
proposal at its moment of truth on the Task Force.

LEE KOCH - Capital City Partnership - Team-oriented business folk who
struck a strong chord of collaboration.  Lee continues to play a key
role supporting Rice Park.

MARGE ROMERO - Downtown resident and former legislative employee who
brought color to our meetings on countless occasions, along with a
unique connections and community-mindednes

MATT MEJIA, Co-Chair with me, who was a model of disagreeing
respectfully.  Who (unfortunately for him) lost our over-the-phone the
coin toss on who would serve on the Penfield Task Force.

MATT SCHNEIDER - former Produce Exchange Resident, Ecolab employee,
and friend who was an early and particularly enthusiastic supporter of
Fitzgerald Park

PAT WOLF - CRESA Partners - whose interest and visions for their
property the south side of Fitzgerald Park (and incredible renovation
of the Northern Furniture Building at 7th & MN) helped us explore the
complex challenges for Fitz Park and re-envisioning 9th Street, and
whose patience has helped to bridge divides

PAUL MANDELL - The always-enthusiastic planning staff of the Capitol
Area Architecture and Planning Board, (and long-ago WSCO Director) who
provided stability and helped us know what was worth fighting for.

PETER BROWN - Former Penfield project manager.  Dedicated,
resourceful, and maintains a strong relationship with so many people,
and brings a vast knowledge and experience with urban development.
Without him and his savvy, nobody would have had a chance to hear what
the Penfield was.

RICH PAKONEN & CO - Rossmor, Produce Exchange developer who has
thriftily pulled off some great redevelopment challenges and whose
staff advised us on our planning efforts

ROD HALVORSON - Downtown resident.  Without Rod's vision, articulate
skill, and persistence, our plan for Fitzgerald Park and the
neighborhood would very likely have been reduced to a shadow of
itself.  A friend and incredible Fitz Park/Penfield supporter.

SARA FOSSEN - Capital City Partnership staff who joined the Task Force
only for its last meetings, but whose energy and enthusiasm downtown
opens up new doors and opportunities.

SISTER MARIE HENRI GRENIER - Downtown resident whose quiet support of
our work and community-building made our work feel particularly real

TONY BOL - MPR Outreach staff who helped us think about the future of
MPR's Fitzgerald Theater - which provided the neighborhood's namesake.

TRILBY WHITE - Co-Owner, 2 Grrrls.  Unfortuantely, their location
downtown in the Produce Exchange opened a few years too early, but she
grounded our work in a small business perspective.

VIRGINIA NUGENT - Former manager of the Great American History
Theater, whose work provided a model of connecting the theater
physically and socially to the neighborhood around it.

PUBLIC AGENCY STAFF

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