Columbia Park Neighborhood Association

Plan Ahead or React Later

Feb 16, 2004

-By Sue Bembenek, CPNA Bookkeeper, past CPNA Community Organizer
The "Cargill" Site is bounded by 37th and University Avenue NE, 5th Street NE and approximately 36th Ave. NE. When we moved into the neighborhood in 1982, the Cargill Company had a small brick office building and white round tanks that were used in the refining of linseed oil. The neighborhood was often pervaded by a sickly sweet smell wafting from this site. Very shortly after Cargill moved out, the buildings were removed and the smells disappeared. The Columbia Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) first became involved with the site after the development of our NRP Action Plan. The absence of sidewalks along 5th Street and part of 37th Avenue NE were a concern. While investigating the best way to have the sidewalks installed, I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. John Tripp, who worked with the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRAA). The HCRAA were the new owners of the former Cargill site. The HCRAA became a funding partner in the development of the sidewalk that ran along the property, saving the CPNA over $7,000 in NRP funds. The next development at this site was the creation of our Columbia Park Neighborhood Gateway project. The CPNA applied for and won a $50,000 grant to implement a "Gateway" under the direction of the Minneapolis Arts Commission at the SE corner of 37th and University Avenue NE. Neighbors from the Cargill Site Task Force met and defined what would best represent the nature of the neighborhood. The most Visible Features of the Gateway are the water tower, a cement wheat bench facing a beautiful skyline view, community garden plots, and an old-fashioned train shed covering the picnic area. The HCRAA and the Hennepin County Sentence to Serve Crews have helped to maintain the site, perform snow removal, water and prune trees, and cut the grass--all at no charge to the neighborhood. During these changes, it was known that the site was being held for a future light rail station on University Avenue NE, which would supercede any projects currently on the site. The SE corner of the site was to be the home of a Park Board dog park; however, chemicals that cleansed the linseed oil were found to have contaminated this portion and it is now leased to the Park Board for wood chip and soil storage.

Recently, the CPNA has learned that this site is no longer slated for light rail use. Although the HCRAA has indicated they are not considering selling the site at this time, if the HCRAA were to offer this site for sale, it would be required by law to offer the parcel to the City of Minneapolis prior to making it available on the open market. Given that the City has, as one of it?’s main objectives, the creation of more affordable housing, the CPNA is closely watching this site. The CPNA would like to take a strong position on this issue and have a working guideline in place, should it arise in the future. If housing had to be there, what would work best for our neighborhood, and how could we best preserve our green space amenities? This is a conversation that we can and should have before developers or the County or City are exerting any pressure on us to have a plan in place. Please send your responses to this issue to Sue Bembenek, PO Box 21593, Columbia Heights, MN, 55421, or email them: columbia parkNA@yahoogroups.com

There will be a major topic of discussion at the annual Board meeting, May 17, 2004. Let?’s start a positive and proactive dialogue for our neighborhood?’s future.