Your award-winning, nonprofit community resource St. Anthony Park / Falcon Heights www.parkbugle.org BugleLauderdale / Como Park December 2017 Double disruption Another darn history story Como Ave. construction, Zvago housing co-op Trotters ruled in the on to-do list for St. Anthony Park next summer Midway in the late- 19th century. By Kristal Leebrick Two major construction projects Page 7 may test the patience of north St. Anthony Park residents and visitors next spring. The city of St. Paul will continue its multi-year Como Avenue repaving project with work from Brompton Street to Commonwealth Avenue, and Zvago, a three-story 49-unit housing cooperative, will be in the throes of building at Como and Luther Place. Tim Nichols, part of the Zvago development team, sees the two simultaneous projects as positive. “All the disruption will be happening at once,” he said. Como Avenue in 1928, seven years after it was first paved. To the left is what is now Milton Square. You Plans for new housing at the can see the streetcar tracks running down the street. Photo courtesy of the city of St. Paul southeast edge of the Luther Seminary campus have been in the project will be divided into several between Hendon and Buford the road. works for two years, after Ecumen, a stages to avoid construction in the avenues, she said. Work between The repaving project began last Lutheran-affiliated nonprofit area east of Buford Avenue during Buford and just past Doswell Avenue summer on Como between developer, signed a land purchase the St. Anthony Park Arts Festival will begin after July 5, and then the Raymond Avenue and agreement with the seminary. June 2 and the Fourth in the Park work to Commonwealth Avenue Commonwealth. The street was first Nearly all of the units in the parade July 4. The project staging will begin after Sept. 5. paved in 1921 and was last paved in Travel tales housing project have been sold, will also ensure that Doswell and The project includes adding 1960. The sidewalks along the street Nichols said, and the development Carter avenues are not closed at the new concrete curbs and gutters, new were installed in 1969. has completed a lengthy historical same time. pavement, concrete driveway aprons, Phase 2 of the project is Wander over to the review process. The Minnesota Pending St. Paul City Council utility upgrades, new sidewalks, scheduled to be finished by Oct. 31, Bugle’s transitory Historic Preservation Office and the approval in February, the project Americans with Disabilities Act- 2018. Phase 3 will be from Eustis travel section. U.S. Department of Housing and should begin by the end of May compliant pedestrian ramps and new Street to Emerald Street and the city Urban Development “have agreed to between Brompton Street and lantern-style street lighting with limits in 2020. sign our long-awaited memorandum Hendon Avenue, project engineer LED lights; re-sodding boulevards; You can find out more Pages 18-19 of agreement,” he said. The Barb Mundahl said. removing all ash trees, dead trees and at www.stpaul.gov/departments/publ groundbreaking date for the project That short section is expected to stumps; planting new trees on the ic-works/road-construction/como- will be announced in late November. take less than a month, and then boulevards; and removing the old avenue-paving-project. The Como Avenue repaving work will move to the section street-car tracks under the surface of R.I.P., Muffuletta December Fun Guide fter 40 years as a landmark in St. Anthony APark and a reputation as a cozy restaurant The Bugle’s for fine dining for people from all over the annual holiday Twin Cities, Muffuletta closed on Nov. 11. The fledgling idea of major shopping and restaurateurs-to-be Pete Mihajlov and Phil Roberts, Muffuletta continued to thrive in event guide starts on Milton Square on Como Avenue long after the page 11. “idea men” had become the face of Parasole Restaurant Holdings, opening other fine- dining establishments around the Twin Farm 2 School Cities. Some St. Anthony Park residents had Program brings local concerns after Muffuletta opened in 1977 produce to school because it offered wine (!) and beer (!), a first in the area. Over four decades, all was forgiven and area lunch tables. diners came to enjoy Muffuletta’s food and ambience. Introduced in 1977, the beer Death came quietly, really—a Halloween Day announcement and cheese soup was on the a quiet final day of service less than two weeks later.—Mary Mergenthal, Page 24 Muffuletta menu up to the end. Bugle obituaries editor Photo by Kristal Leebrick 2 PARK BUGLE n DECEMBER 2017 C I T Y F I L E S Como Park The two studies were performed expansion plans, renovation of the Leehy won 27.88 percent of the consider joining the Community The District 10 Como Community by the consulting firm Perkins + Will. Schiffman Fountain in Como Park vote with 723 votes, and Miazga won Involvement Committee. Contact Council meets at 7 p.m. on the third The firm’s Jay Demma will talk about or replacement trees on 27.19 percent with 705 votes. Paula Jim Bownik at City Hall 651-792- Tuesday of each month at the Historic the studies during the District 10 neighborhood boulevards, it Mielke received 23.4 percent with 7656 for more information. Streetcar Station, 1224 N. Lexington Como Community Council probably means you haven’t been 607 votes. Here is the vote meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The reading District 10’s weekly breakdown with the other Parkway. Here’s how to connect: 651- St. Anthony Park 644-3889, district10comopark.org or meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the newsletter. Get on the mailing list at candidates: Fischer, 229 votes; Tom District 10 Community Council on Historic Streetcar Station, which is at www.district10comopark.org. Click Brace, 136 votes; Mike Wade, 125 The District 12 Community Council Facebook. the northeast corner of Lexington the “sign up” link on the right side of votes; Ronald Dixon 58 votes; and (SAPCC) meets on the second Thursday and Horton Avenue. District 10 home page. write-ins, 10 votes. of each month at 7 p.m. at Jennings Community Learning Center, 2455 More businesses are needed The studies are part of an effort by the Como Community Council Upcoming District 10 meetings City commissions need volunteers University Ave. The council offices are lo- in Dale area, two studies say cated at 2395 University Ave., Suite 300 Dale Street needs a destination or to build a foundation for additional All District 10 committee and The city of Falcon Heights has business investment and amenities in council meetings begin at 7 p.m. at openings on its four city E. Contact information: 651-649-5992 anchor business to improve its retail or www.sapcc.org. environment, according to a market the neighborhood. the Historic Streetcar Station, which commissions that serve the Falcon analysis performed for the District 10 is at the northeast corner of Heights City Council in an advisory More on Como, Front and Dale Lexington Parkway and Horton capacity. The commissions are New board members at SAPCC Como Community Council and the SAPCC welcomes new and renewed District 6 Planning Council. The The St. Paul Public Works and Avenue. Community members are Planning, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Economic always welcome to attend and Environment and Community board members. North delegates good news for Como residents is that include Michael Russelle, Pat the kinds of businesses that the Development departments will hold participate. Whenever possible, Engagement. Each commission is a community meeting Thursday, agendas are posted in advance in the made up of up to seven Thompson and John Mark Lucas. studies say could work line up with Lucas is filling a vacant seat. South the kinds of businesses Como Dec. 14, 6-8 p.m., to discuss “Board News” section of District 10’s commissioners, a council liaison and proposed improvements to the website. Here are the upcoming a staff liaison. delegates are John Connell and residents say they want on Dale or Karen Nelson. Organization elsewhere in the neighborhood. Como, Front and Dale intersection. meetings: Commissioners are volunteer The infrastructure and landscaping residents, local business owners and delegates include Sherm Eagles, Scott These include a moderately sized, Simmons and Ray Bryan. They join full-service grocery; small restaurants improvements are part of the city’s • Environment Committee: business designees appointed by the Commercial Vitality Zone Wednesday, Nov. 29 mayor and approved by the City sitting board members Charlie and coffee shops with a local focus; Christopherson and Melissa and a taproom. investment, first announced in 2016. • Neighborhood Relations and Safety Council. Commissioners serve a In addition, Jay Demma from Committee: Tuesday, Dec. 5 three-year term and are eligible for Williams. The two studies examine the Thank you to outgoing board “retail trade area” for Dale between the consulting firm of Perkins + Will • Land Use Committee: Wednesday, two terms. will outline the market analysis his Dec. 6 Interested? You can apply online members Max Herzberg, Bettsy Maryland Avenue and Topping Hjelseth and Ian Luby, who have Street and the demographic, income, firm did of the Dale Street corridor • Como Community Council or submit an application to Falcon and how that ties to potential monthly meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 19 Heights City Hall. For more provided wonderful leadership to traffic, employment and population SAPCC. Please reach out to SAPCC trends for all of Como. These include development near the intersection. information, go to the city website, The meeting will be held at the www.falconheights.org.