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 '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.
AND SO I BEGAN WRITING DOWN SOMETHING I MAY NEVER FINISH SHOULD NOT DARE WRITE,AND PROBABLY SHOULD NOT BOTHER ANYWAY. SO FEW WILL READ IT FEWER WILL BELIEVE IT, AND YET STILL ARE IN A CONVINCING MANNER TO SPREAD THIS MESSAGE:
ReplyDeleteNOTICE NOW: GET OUT
You set at zero choice, appealing a complaint...never to have any voice. The city gave no hope. strung the very word along thick rope.
VOTES:
Nothing in my life would i ever do! They say mine makes a difference. I say to who?
So many times these thoughts of mind has placed my self doing some volunteering time.
Research lurks around to find, what is truly divine? Look from books, had fair share of crooks,
FUCKING GOVERNMENT...is just for looks.
They take from glance at hand, dignity, from the stance of man, thru cover up and lies, tell u go on now good bye. Squatters now leave without regard, no longer on a demographic list, put you up with sheltered fists.
Legislative reality by pics. making decisions from photo scrap licks. Then come at you with code review. To tell a person what they already knew. To slap you in the face, how they get you to go.
Don't mind what you put in for your city, care take their land however with yours, you will not stand, when the bigger plan is at hand.
You have maintained their fields for many years, while never once thought to violate them now to lear......
City leaves you with fines codes and fees. Who do i bill picking up the litter, and pulling their weeds? Good samaritan is a pat on the back, then your property has not come for some slack OH BUT NOW THE CITY SENDS CODES TO ATTACK.....
You cannot live here now in your home Idiots come threw to tell us the unknown.
FACTS PLACED TACKS ON THE SAFETY LIST, NOW LATER IN LIFE YOU ARE GETTING REAL PISSED
No cost to them on who just got slain. How does the government keep at their gain?
By over charge and violation, taxes and higher ovation. picking at one who has done their fair share. Helped out the same city which never took time to look, how their parks and roads should be thrown the book.
Charge them maintence and watch them overlook, yet the streets they waste more money and eventually took. As you rush with funds to comply the know you want your property and wonder why? Contradiction plays to the fullest.....people to live in the city is wat they should want.
Don't they know this?
what happens when your not rich? struggle to go to the hearing to argue your pitch. jump thru hoops to do what's needed. Then all the work heeded, comes t o an outcome unknown. I would benefit to say the city has no mercy to be shown!
Lets now pick on the county.....making our citizens part of such bounties. As just a volunteer and friend ...........my activist LURKES socialist....would what we have done so far help at all? I would hope to some degree. off condemnation and violations free.
ALL THIS BEAUTY KEPT ON BY ARTISTS, DREAMERS AND CROOKS, AT ANY EXTENT THIS HOME TOOK ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS.
Hello, thank you for this blog post. In response to your comment, below, you'll need to make a correction: "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."
ReplyDeleteThe hearing was not held by District Five. The hearing was held by the City Council of St. Paul, which is entirely different. Specifically, the hearing and meetings discussing the People's Park were through the City of St. Paul's Housing and Redevelopment Authority. That is not District Five.
Here is the page where you can access all of the City Council's Meeting Minutes, including the meeting and hearing Minutes you said that you can't access, such as from the meeting and hearing on June 12th concerning the conveyance of property at 680 East Wells Street: http://stpaul.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
You are right, that this issue was not discussed before at a District Five Board Meeting, and that is why it doesn't appear in the D5 Minutes. Because it was an issue going through the City Council and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Again, different than District Five. It definitely could have been put on a District Five agenda and could been discussed at a meeting, if a neighbor or a Board Member would have brought it up to be discussed and it would have been added to the Agenda.
If you would like to contact your District Five Board about anything in the future or any items you would like added to the meeting Agendas, this would be great. Please email Leslie at d5-director@paynephalen.org or call 651-774-9745. If you are ever unable to make it to a meeting, the District Five Board posts all Agendas and Meeting Minutes on their website, at http://www.paynephalen.org/ If the People's Park is discussed at an upcoming meeting, then the Minutes will show that.
I am concerned about this topic too. That is why I started The People's Park Facebook page and interviewed R. Joe. But I think we should try to make sure we keep our facts straight about the situation as we go forward and/or as we publish publicly about what is going on.
Thank you for all of your work on this,
Stephanie
Stephanie,
DeleteI wanted to expand on my comment below and acknowledge that I do appreciate your dedication to this cause. It is your Facebook page that drove me to speak out for Mr. Adams in the first place. It do agree that the facts should be delivered in as truthful a manner as possible.
WHY IS BETH WOOSLEY NOT GRAN-FATHERED INTO THE PROPERTY'S FOR HER MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS THREW ARJO.
ReplyDeleteI am aware that this was not a district five meeting issue, however, had it been properly announced, and it was not, and had the issue of the park expansion been addressed by district five as it should have been, it could have been voted on by the community.
ReplyDeleteHello! I am excited to relay to you personally that the District Five CPED Committee will be hearing a presentation and discussion on this topic of The People's Park on Wednesday August 7th at 6:30pm at the East Team Community Room, at 722 Payne Avenue in St. Paul. Are all invited to attend for this presentation and community discussion.
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting news! With the recent media coverage, including the article in the East Side Review which can be found here: http://www.lillienews.com/articles/2013/07/07/squatting-art-park-could-face-demolition, and the story on Channel 5 News here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3092787.shtml, there is a renewed interest and a new found following for the park. Thank you for this opportunity!
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