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Hill & Lake Press Serving the East Isles, Lowry Hill, Kenwood Isles, and Cedar Isles Dean Neighborhoods VOLUME 29 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 22, 2005 ISLES BIKE TRAIL REPLACED West Bay and North Arm Greening Up Chris Wiencke MPRB Planning The unseasonably warm weather this fall extended the growing season, offering a grace period in which the newly planted grass around Lake of the Isles’ west bay could take hold. Parkland disguised as an unsightly con- struction zone for the past two summers is beginning to look like a park once again. Extremely wet weather has subjected the recently completed improvements to a rigorous test, a test they have passed with flying colors. Recent torrential rains would have completely flooded the parkland surrounding the west bay and north arm; today it remains high and dry. Though the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s efforts to renovate Lake of the Isles Regional Park—a project spanning several years—in 2005 were limited by inadequate funding, much has been accom- plished this construction season. The parkland around the west bay and north arm, so prone to flooding in recent years, has been filled in above the 100-year flood level, then graded and seeded. The north arm, not yet green at this writing, was seeded later than the west bay. Depending on weather conditions, that area may not look like parkland until spring. Bike trail replaced Lake of the Isles after October 2005 rain Lake Photos by Dorothy Childers The replacement of the bike trail may be the most enthusiastically hailed development of all. The old bike path was badly deteriorated and virtually un-navigable Neighborhood Historian Bob Glancy Dropped from Historic by roller blade. Since completion of the new trail, Preservation Commission bladers, along with cyclists, have not wasted any time By Jane Johnson testing it out. (The pedestrian path will remain a wood chip path until after shoreline naturalization and land- Bob Glancy is well known for his extensive and detailed knowledge of houses, both existing and demol- ished, in the HLP neighborhood. He has written much on the subject, created a number of calendars depicting some of these homes, and has given numerous talks and tours over the years, sharing his knowledge with the general public. For five years he has served on the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC). ‘The HPC serves as a citizen advisory body to the Minneapolis City Council, preserving historically and architecturally significant buildings and districts while allowing modifications for contemporary use’. From the above description it appears that Glancy was well qualified for the job. That is until he applied for his 3 year term to be renewed at the end of May (his first 2 years were taking over someone else’s term), when it all Bob Glancy went as one might say, ‘pear shaped’. He found out towards the end of July that an archeologist had been chosen to replace him and without much ado he was no Inside longer required to serve on the commission. Apparently the HPC is going to be dealing with a mill Letters Page 2, 3 ruins issue and needed an archeologist. At least this was School Board Page 4 scaping can be completed.) the reason tendered for his dismissal. Plus some com- Rep. Margaret Kelliher Page 5 Because the state legislature failed to include Lake of ment that there were too many realtors on the HPC. Elections Page 6 the Isles in its 2005 bonding bill, planned shoreline Apparently that wasn’t an issue when a third one was 15-18 work around the west bay and north arm had to be appointed to the commission a few months earlier. Palio Page 10 postponed. Given the limited funds available, and not Glancy called an unofficial meeting of some The Neighborhoods: Pages 12, 13 knowing when needed funding would become available, Lowry Hill homeowners, back in February of this year, LHRI, CIDNA, EIRA, KIAA 14, 15 the MPRB determined the priority would be to make to be held at the Kenwood Recreation Center. He Classified Ads Page 14 the parkland around the west bay and north arm as wished to explore the possibility of officially designat- Sand upon the Water Pages 20 accessible and attractive as possible. A favorable bid- ing a section of Lowry Hill into a heritage preservation ding climate allowed the bonus of being able to replace neighborhood. A member of the Minneapolis planning the entire bike trail. department which oversees the HPC was required to Trees Glancy continued on page 3 Lake of Isles continued on page 2 2HILL AND LAKE PRESS OCTOBER 22, 2005 Hill & Lake Press Delivery Hill & Lake Press L E T T E R S Hill & Lake Press is delivered door to door in the To the Editors: area east of France Avenue, south of Dunwoody Volume 29 No. 10 October 22, 2005 A big thank you to Jean Deatrick, Katherine Boulevard, north of Lake Street, and west of Managing Editor Jean Deatrick Vessells, and Hill and Lake Press for the great story on Hennepin Avenue. If you do not receive your paper, Photographer Dorothy Childers our tough but tenuous businesses here on 21st Street. I please call 612-377-7353 or send an email to Business Manager Jane Johnson also want to thank everyone who came into Birchbark [email protected]. The following area businesses Advertising Jean Deatrick 612-377-7353 Books offering support and encouragement. It is very stock Hill & Lake Press for your convenience. Please [email protected] heartening. We’ll continue to do our best! tell them that you appreciate their help in promoting 1821 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis, 55403 Louise Erdrich our community newspaper. Please patronize our Editorial Assistant, & Store Deliveries Birchbark Books advertisers and tell them where you saw their ad. Heidi Deatrick Burch Pharmacy Isles Bun & Coffee [email protected] To the Editor: Calhoun Beach Club Isles Market & Deli Neighborhood Deliveries Lloyd Smith I had an excellent reminder today of the value of Calhoun Vision Kenwood Rec Center [email protected] fully understanding another’s point of view before clos- Dunn Brothers The Woman’s Club Hill & Lake Press, 2101 West Franklin, ing off debate. One of the arguments against the Einstein’s Bagels Quality Coaches Minneapolis, MN 55405, 612-374-3099 Lander Group proposal for 2626 W. Lake Street has Framestyles Sebastian Joe’s All advertising queries should be directed to the been that tall buildings change the water on Lake Green Mill Tuthill’s Advertising Manager. Calhoun and that looking at tall buildings from the lake Walker Library Hennepin Lake Liquor Next issue November 19, 2005 is unaesthetic. Prior to now, I confess to having Walker Art Center Lowry Hill Liquor Copy & Advertising deadlines: Nov. 7, 2005 thought that this is a rather elitist view because how Hill & Lake Press is a non profit newspa- many people can afford sail boats or sail boards to skim per and supported by its advertisers and neigh- across Lake Calhoun? Of course, those fancy condos The Hill and Lake Press welcomes your letters to the borhood associations: East Isles residents proposed for the site are not for ordinary people either. editor. Please send them via email if possible and pro- Association (EIRA), Kenwood Isles Area I was also dubious as to how much impact on the water vide your name, address, and telephone or email Association (KIAA), Cedar Isles Dean a building sited that far away could have. So today I address. All letters received and identified as residents Neighborhood Association (CIDNA), and Lowry borrowed a canoe from a friend and paddled from Lake of the Hill and Lake Press distribution area will be pub- Hill Residents Inc. (LHRI). of the Isles to Thomas Beach on Lake Calhoun near the lished. Street addresses will not be published, nor will Hill and Lake Press welcomes and encourages financial contributions. Please send tall Calhoun Beach Apartments. That experience radi- anonymous letters. Letters from residents from with- them to Hill and Lake Press c/o Jane Johnson, cally altered my point of view. out the area are published as space permits. Brief let- Business Manager, 2120 Fremont Avenue South, I was struck by how noticeably the water changed as ters are welcomed and we reserve the right to edit let- Minneapolis, MN 55405. we pulled in front of the Calhoun Beach Apartments. ters for length and content. Hill and Lake Press welcomes stories, poetry, Suddenly the water became kind of dead. It’s hard to articles, and ideas. Please email to Jean The opinions expressed in Hill and Lake Press are describe the change but it was distinctive and it didn’t Deatrick: [email protected] not necessarily those of Hill and Lake Press, its editor, feel natural. We don’t know what if any impact this or other staff members. change in the water has on the lake and its inhabitants. Lake of the Isles fron page one I also became aware of just how unattractive the new Award-winning poet Galway Kinnell will read from Another of the MPRB’s objectives in this project to Calhoun Beach Apartments appear from the water and his works as the fall Literary Witness at Plymouth raise the parkland above flood level has been to save as the height was a significant component of the problem. Congregational Church on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 PM. many trees as possible. Many area residents and park I found my eyes seeking the low area between the apart- Plymouth Church is located at 1900 Nicollet Ave. (at users have been wondering why many of the trees sur- ments and the club.