full notes from the kick-off meeting

All the comments obtained at the Minnesota Renaissance Initiative's 38th and Chicago Task Force kick-off meeting of January 28 2004 follow below:

• I will like to see more things for youth, we need help, we understand everything, help us make more great things to keep us out of trouble.
• slow traffic down on 38th Street and Chicago Avenue
• neighborhood geared - I want to be able to walk to a coffee shop in the neighborhood.
• co-op
• something that includes a peace garden?
• colorful
• dramatic
• aesthetically pleasing, with a lot of vibrant colors that attracts a lot of people
• geared to people of all ethnic/cultural groups
• geared towards youth and adults
• would like to see possibly:
  - bakery
  - co-op
  - florist
  - coffee shop/cafe
  - laundromat
  - many apartments in area
  - copy center (Kinko's, etc)
  - Police precinct sub-station
  - Floral theme for node
• night-oriented businesses / people out at night
• co-op
• butcher shop
• lack of identity
• laundry and/or benchmark businesses
• high density
• neighborhood oriented
• pedestrian oriented
• better marketing
• Design around brick of Cup Foods. Not inviting
• Consistent design/remodels
• Short-term streetscaping
• Pleasant
• Reorient SA station
• work at Biko Study
• Businesses
  - anchor business
  - grocery
  - light manufacturing
  - chiropractor
  - co-op
  - bakery
  - florist
  - Angel's Restaurant with outside seating along 38th
• Themes: art
• make safe
• stop the gangs
• keep windows open
• CPTED [Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design]
• move access to street by businesses
• eyes on the street
• parking? - depends on businesses
• needs to be peoples empowerment zone!
• need police patrol for safety and support
• more lights on the corner
• create more reasons for people who live in the neighborhood to walk to the intersection
• help to clean up intersection and help businesses this way at least 1 time per week
• 38th and Chicago needs to be put in context of other intersections - 48th and Chicago, 38th and 4th, etc. - it doesn't exist in isolation from rest of neighborhood.
• don't forget the Biko plan
• Theme: hip-hop culture
• adult (?) business development
• mercado
• accommodate businesses as they grow "life cycle support"
• mixed-use development (housing)
• more small businesses / personal service
• transit oriented businesses (development)
• job creation (for youth)
• microenterprise development supporting people in cottage industries
• citizens walking the streets (taskforce to talk to young people)
• collective radio 91.7 FM
• Sisters who Sew between 36 and 37 (on Chicago, noted on map)
• needs an anchor at 38th and Chicago, but do not know what - eg video store
• do not like auto-related businesses (although doing well)
• inspirational grounds a plus
• co-op/grocery store
• childcare near bus route
• artspace
• youth oriented development (recreation/bookstore)
• video store
• business training for existing business
• gas station is nuisance
• no pawn shops
• opportunity - 38th / Hiawatha LRT
• auto business doing well
• marked on map: line showing connection from 35W to 38th Street, leading to LRT station at 38th Street and Hiawatha
• Phelps Park noted on map
• "open space" marked near 37th and Chicago
• "possible Bryant neighborhood $ to redevelop" near 38th and Chicago
• business idea
  - food co-op
  - bike shop
• important: some place you go and stay
• street musicians - space
• theme: artists quarters (workshops, education, training, co-ops)
• recording studio
• woodworking co-op - onsite rental of equipment (nothing in Minneapolis now) - tablesaws, planers, drill press
• film, photography workshop for youth - model San Francisco
• quilting
• bicycle repair
• streetscaping
  - ornamental lights
  - wider sidewalks/boulevards
• Chicago Youth Zone
• [youth oriented businesses]
• African American children's book publishing house
• publisher
• hand-crafted toy store
• sports shop
• children's bookstore
• bike shop
• education center / workshop space for artists to work out of
• recording studio
• places you stay for a while ... coffee shop / theater
• coffee shop
• deli
• [entertainment]
• redevelop vacant properties
• wide sidewalks, green edge, light signs
• work with church on corner (all churches) Ba Hai ... know intentions
• SA - negative impression - dirty - bad supervisor. New management.
• Cup Foods
  - friendly owners yet intimidating environment
  - health - expired foods in past
  - bad store policies / management activity
  - loitering - business responsibility
• Jakeeno's
• Nice buildings mixed use
• light banners
• heated bus shelters
• housing above business (TOD)
• church is a real plus, world outreach (could benefit by aesthetics)
• transit could be more of an asset - "bus stops"
• boulevards - improvements / green - streets (maintenance?)
• business association clean up
• neighborhood [residents] afraid to go there - prisoner
• signage - to declare ownership - both business and neighbors