Building a stronger Midway

Let’s dream for the future

  • Let’s dream for the future_Chad Kulas.mp3

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As someone who loves the Midway, I don’t love seeing vacant lots. I cringe when I see the boarded-up windows of the CVS, and the trash floating around the old funeral home parking lot – or think about the large unoccupied space at the former At Home building. But with the threats and weaknesses of inactivity comes opportunities. How can we reshape the commercial properties in our neighborhood?
In conversations with people in the Midway, I like to ask them what they want to see in future developments. One recent time I did this was at the Union Park District Council Annual Meeting on Dec. 4. The room was filled with residents of the neighborhood stretching across I-94 into Merriam Park, Desnoyer Park, Lex-Ham and more.
Some of their ideas included entertainment-related businesses. Along with other conversations I’ve had, people have suggested pickleball, roller skating, rock climbing, a movie theater, and bowling. A good bakery would be a wonderful addition, and the good news is that one is already in the works at the United Village development.
Bonus points also go to any business that is locally owned. While possible to successfully own a business operating elsewhere, we have seen the value of having someone local running daily operations. More of the revenue also stays in our community, and there is a greater chance the organization supports neighborhood endeavors and charities.
Will we see more housing near Snelling/University? Eventually, yes. While some developers have been scared off by rent control, the city of Saint Paul may exempt buildings constructed since 2005. As we see an increase in unhoused neighbors and rising costs of rent, adding density could help control the monthly living costs and add vibrancy to our community.
Whether its housing or commercial space, we will continue to see transit-oriented development. Part of that guarantee is because of the station area plan, which focuses on land use less connected to cars and more toward pedestrians. Again, the United Village site is an example of many amenities within walking distance.
Whether its me or people I talk to, inevitably we have to stop and ask if the items on the wish list are attainable. After all, unless we’re the ones with site control and the financial backing we aren’t going to dictate what happens. Is all this talk just for fun, only to get the dreams dashed? Not necessarily. If we can speak with unified voices on what we want and expect in future developments, it tells those who do have site control what people want. If the developers know there’s a demand for it, and those speaking loudest are also nearby residents, it can help move ideas forward. It may even cause a neighbor to move forward with an idea – as we can see with the number of Midway residents who do own businesses nearby.
Together, if we bring our ideas to the table and talk with a cohesive plan perhaps these unused buildings will be filled with excitement shortly. Now is the time for us to dream about what we want next.
So, what do you want?

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