Proper use of CDBG funds?

From 'Art Park' to 'Heritage Park'... 

Or is it a park at all?

Will this parcel of land that has been so generously gifted to the Division of Parks and Recreation through the use of CDBG funds be used solely for the expansion of Heritage Park as was stated in the minutes of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting dated June 12, 2013.  The minutes of that meeting can be found here.

I may be presumptive in my thinking, but to qualify for CDBG funding, a project must meet certain criteria.  According to the Federal guidelines, which can be found here.  After reading these guidelines, which are apparently open to interpretation, I cannot find a reasonable qualification for the use of these funds to pay for this land for this purpose. Perhaps you can assist with suggestions...

A search of the web for the Heritage Park Project in District 5 yielded me not much more than links to local City Council meetings and minutes, and local Planning Council meeting Agendas.  One such agenda, which can be found on the Payne Phalen District 5 website at www.paynephalen.org for the meeting of the Community Planning and Economic Development Committee, was a direct result of a Google search for the Heritage Park Project,. however, no such project is listed in the agenda.  After perusing the agenda, I saw something that caught my eye.  While there is no reference to the Heritage Park Project, there is a line item for the Greenbrier Bicycle Bouilevard.  While I had never heard of this project, the parcel of land that was given to parks and rec so generously by HRA to be used for the Heritage Park Project just happened to be at the corner of Wells Street and Greenbrier.  

Further investegation gave me the following documents:

2014 - 2015 Streets & Utilities Proposals - 

Project Title: - Greenbrier Bicycle Boulevard

Proposing Agency or Group: - Payne Phalen District Five Planning Council

Proposer's Address: - 506 Kenny Road, Suite 130 Saint Paul, MN 55130

Contact Person: - Leslie McMurray

Phone Number: - 651-774-5234

Email Address: - d5-director@visi.com

Address or Cross Streets of Proposed Project: - Greenbrier Avenue linking Aguirre 

Street, Payne Avenue, Wells and Maryland Avenue

Page 39 describes in detail the proposed use of the above named property not for parkland, but for an expansion of the city's bicycle trail system that connects "Eastside destinations and the new Aguirre 

St. connection to the Bruce Vento Regional Trail corridor" (2014-2015 Streets & Utilities Propsals). 

and...

Streets and Utilities Project Index

Which shows the following financial information for the project:

Well now... I see a construction project here that does not end until 2015.  Interesting...

It seems that there is some ambiguity with the intended use of this particular parcel of property.  Perhaps some transparency is called for. I don't understand.  Is Heritage Park Project the real project? Is the Greenbrier Bike Boulevard the real project? Is on a child project of another? Why does it not state that anywhere?  And just how does all of this relate to the property next to this, the property that is discussed in my last blog?  The property that is home to the artist of 'Art Park'.   

The Fate of Art Park Balances on The Cliff...

The Fate of Art Park Balances on The Cliff...

The artist at work...

Art Park as it has become affectionately known is the parcel of property located at the edge of Wells Streets and Greenbrier Avenues in St Paul's Dayton's Bluff area. It is a beautiful stretch of land that has captured the eyes and the hearts of the entire east side.  It is the favorite lunch spot for many local workers with park benches, barbecue grills and level upon level of seating. Statue gardens that change almost daily never seem to have the same thing twice.  The flora and fauna are a treat to the eye.  It is a great retreat for an inner city escape, winter or summer. It even has its own Facebook page!!

In a meeting on June 12th held by the City of St Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the final conveyence was made on the parcel of land at 680 Wells Street.  This conveyance began in 1999, when the land was purchased by the city in November 1999 from Terry and Becky Wood using CDBG funds (Community Development Block Grant Funds). The intended purpose of the parcel of land is for the expansion of the existing Ramsey County Heritage Park.  In an odd twist, the property that sits adjacent to the parcel of land, which has become known as 'Art Park' is the home of the artist, and has just become declared a nuissance home as it is badly in need of repair that the artist can not afford. Although several of his neighbors have pitched in in the past to help make needed repairs to bring the house up to code, it just is not enough for the city inspectors.

This man has devoted countless hours and energies to making this a beautiful place for us to enjoy only for the city council and the inspectors to put a notice on his door stating that they will literally blow up his house at his expense if he cannot produce a ridiculous amount of money to fix it in an unreasonable amount of time. There has to be some recourse.

This 'public hearing' was of course supposed to be preceded by a posting in the local paper the St Paul Pioneer Press,  the June1st Edition to be exact.  A search of the papers website yielded no results nor did a Google search or meta search for the same. Could it be that said posting was overlooked:? The writer of this blog is curious enough.

At the time of this post, a visit to the district 5 planning council showed that the public could not access the minutes from any of the council meetings from this year.  NOT ONE of the meetings had been posted.  How were we to know what had been discussed? Not all of the citizens living in the ward are able to attend these meetings and we rely on the postings to update us.  Well it seems to me that someone dropped the ball here.

I for one would like the chance to appeal these decisions. I know others who feel the same.  I am outraged. Meetings not published, minutes not published. Outrageous demands.  I think there is a call for action here. I am demanding some action. I am requesting some support from my community. If you love the sculpture garden like I do, lets band together and help this man.  He deserves it.