Location and General Description Pictures

B. Early History

At the time that the Minnesota Territory was organizing in 1848, the area of St. Anthony Park had no permanent human habitations. An early overland connection between St. Paul and the village of St. Anthony was made through the area along what is now known as Territorial Road.  Early visions of land development saw St. Anthony Park as a beautiful and accessible place attractive to very wealthy families. Towards achieving this vision, early speculators hired HWS Cleveland to create a romantic suburb for the wealthy. These dreams, however, were never realized.  The land was eventually sold to the St. Anthony Park Company in 1885, which began platting and developing the land for the middle class.

St. Anthony Park’s early development is noteworthy for the development philosophy of the St. Anthony Park Company.  The Company had a philosophy that supported family and community building. Land was donated for parks, churches, and the public areas, and the company stressed a wholesome and temperate lifestyle. Though developed for middle class tastes and affordability, St. Anthony Park is still a good example of the romantic suburb. Street and lot layouts are influenced by the land’s contour and the presence of lowland and wetland areas. South St. Anthony Park developed first due to access to the two major cities. Higher land to the west of Raymond developed as residential and lower land to the east as industrial. This land was especially attractive to manufacturing and warehousing businesses due to its location next to main line railroads and the presence of the Minnesota Transfer Railway.  St. Anthony Park continued its growth in the early 20th century due to expansion of the streetcar system on University and Como Avenues.  Commercial “Streetcar” patterns are still evident today with the commercial hub at Como and Carter and at University and Raymond.

By the mid-1960s, the neighborhood was essentially developed. Apartment complexes were constructed in the few available plots, increasing the overall density of the community to its peak in 1970. During the 1970s, the population began to decline due to lower birth rates, the leveling off of University growth, and the loss of housing units in South St. Anthony Park to highway and commercial development.

C. Visual Character Analysis

A visual tour of the area reveals seven separate urban character types within the District. These types often stand in stark contrast to each other and create significant visual variety not found in many districts or communities within the city.  These variations also show the challenges faced by the community in integrating land uses and creating connections, especially at the edges where these urban types meet. The following images provide illustrative examples of the community’s strengths and redevelopment challenges.

Neighborhood Residential

Making up the single largest visual type in the community, is the single-family neighborhood.  In St. Anthony Park, residential neighborhoods are characterized by attractive curvilinear streets, significant amounts of vegetation and hilly topography.  Laid out in the 1870s in the park-style fashon of the times, the residential areas are dominated by attractive single-family homes, duplexes, institutions, small apartment buildings and neighborhood oriented commercial services integrated through pedestrian oriented streets.  The north St. Anthony Park neighbordhood is significantly larger and separated from the southern neighborhood by Energy Park Drive and two railroad corridors.

Limited Access Industrial

Industrial areas conrtibute to the fragmentation of the larger community due to their linear nature.  Other than Highway 280 and Energy Park Drive, these industrial areas have limited access to other local transportation routes.  This zone is characterized by impervious surfaces comprised of single story, relatively nondescript buildings surrounded by parking lots and truck loading areas.  Properties are generally viable and have relatively high value due to their access to the regional transportation system.

Big Box Industrial

A zone of very large single story buildings occupies a significant anount of the land in the south part of the community.  Many of the buildings are relatively new and were built following the construction of Transfer Road in the 1970s.  Many of these buildings were designed for warehousing and the trucking industry; many are currently vacant or under leased.  The area is dominated by large blocks with limited street access, and is nearly all comprised of impervious surfaces.

Street Grid Industrial

There are two remnants of old style industrial building patterns in South St. Anthony Park.  Both of these areas are built on a finer grain street pattern with strong pedestrian orientation.  Buildings tend to be brick with attractive details and built to the sidewalk.  Parking lots and truck loading areas exist in this zone, however, they tend to be smaller and fragmented and thus do not dominate the landscape.

Historic Commercial District

The Raymond-University intersection and adjacent blocks form the commercial core of South St. Anthony Park.  this designated historic district is a remnant of the streetcar era and contains numerous commercial structures of historic value.  It is the most intensely developed zone in the community.  The area is gaining significance as a growing cultural, entertainment and residential area and is experiencing on-going development.  the area contains great potential to become a classic urban village, especially if LRT becomes a reality on University Avenue.

Suburban-Style Light Industrial & Commercial

The "Westgate" area northwest of University and Highway 280 was built in the past fifteen years as a suburban style light industrial and commercial complex.  These big block buildings have a strong "arterial" street orientation.  The buildings have large setbacks and are surrounded by parking.  Signage is large and oriented to fast moving traffic on University Avenue.  This area is effectively separated from most of the community and clearly reads as a development pattern all its own.

Transition Zone

The area southwest of University and Highway 280 is rapidly developing.  With the recent Emerald Gardens and Berry Place housing developments, over 800 units of new housing have been introduced to St. Anthony Park.  In addition to these new housing complexes, the area contains single-family homes, some industrial properties along the freeways and large office buildings along University.  This area appears physically and visually a part of the Prospect Park neighborhood in Minneapolis as it is separated from the rest of St. Anthony Park by University Avenue and Highway 280.

D. Land Use and Economic Vitality

Land Use

St. Anthony Park is dominated by industrial uses occupying 50 percent of the District’s land area (Table 1). Residential uses comprise the second largest use category at 20 percent and commercial occupies 8 percent. Park areas occupy only 2.5 percent of the area. Despite the dominance of industrial uses, the city’s land use map for District 12 shows a fairly large diversity of land uses (given the coding system used by the city) within St. Anthony Park.  The land use map shows a relatively rich mix of housing types within the existing residential areas. Duplex and multi-family homes are mixed in with single-family homes. It is interesting to note that only a small portion of University Avenue is zoned for commercial use, however, almost its entire length is in actual commercial use. Current land use economics appear to indicate that there is greater demand for commercial over industrial land in this area.

While both industrial and residential land uses are major features in the community, they are generally separated from each other by significant transportation corridors and thus coexist rather well. The exception to this is the smaller residential neighborhood in South St. Anthony Park.  Much of this area is in close proximity to rail yards and industrial activity.  Despite the fact that these transportation corridors separate incompatible land uses, they also have fragmented the community into disconnected components.  Overcoming these barriers and connecting the community continues to be an on-going challenge.

It should also be noted that the 2004 zoning map for St. Anthony Park (see map at left) has not been updated by the city to reflect recent revisions to the Zoning Code. The most notable additions to the code with relevance to District 12 are the introduction of the Traditional Neighborhood  or “TN” districts.  These districts recognize the unique mixed-use nature of urban neighborhoods and encourage the compatible mixing of uses in a pedestrian and transit-friendly environment. A number of areas within the community would be appropriate for rezoning to at least one of the TN designations. These include commercial nodes at Como and Carter, University and Raymond, and Raymond and Hampden. The entire district should be evaluated for proper zoning classification.

Economic Vitality

Commercial and industrial land use in St. Anthony Park has undergone drastic changes in the past three decades.  The shift toward railroad-oriented trucking and warehousing activities has contributed to the diminished relative land value of a huge swath of land running through South St. Anthony Park. Additionally, the gradual but steady decline in the national and regional industrial sector has also contributed to the decline and underutilization of land in this same area. Much of this area is dominated by acres of aging industrial structures and brown fields. The structural shift in the national and regional economy has also affected employment. Employment in the area today is largely focused along University Avenue and its intersection with Highway 280.  These areas are largely commercial uses in new or renovated structures. Employment drops off significantly as distance increases from University Avenue.

Likewise, St. Anthony Park’s retail-commercial districts have been confronted by dramatic changes in the transportation system and by consumer trends that have moved commercial and business traffic from the District to suburban shopping malls and big box retail centers. The University Avenue commercial corridor  still contains many marginal commercial properties. However, significant recent and ongoing investment in new housing is likely to support future investment in consumer-oriented commercial services.

The University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus is the largest employer and source of residents in District 12. Though the campus is not within the D12 boundaries, it represents a significant opportunity for economic and cultural development within the St. Anthony Park neighborhood. Specific opportunities include capturing more consumer spending by University students and employees on housing, retail, restaurant and services. Additional opportunities include leveraging the University’s research functions for new commercially viable products and services. With its large inventory of underused land, South St. Anthony Park has significant real estate opportunities to house these market building activities. The key to capturing any of these opportunities is in creating new transportation, cultural  and spatial connections that bring D12’s land supply “closer” to the University.

Land Value Analysis

An analysis of land values was conducted for the District 12 planning process using 2002 Ramsey County data.  Land values include both building and land value as determined by the county assessor for each parcel.  This total value was divided by the area of each parcel to arrive at a value per square foot.  While industrial land occupies the majority of the land area within District 12, it also has the lowest average market value at $8 per square foot. Conversely, residential land has the highest average market value at $26 per square foot. Recently developed market rate town homes in the area have some of the highest market values at $89/sf. Most of the high value commercial land is aligned along University Avenue. The Court International office building has the highest value of all commercial buildings at $82/sf. The Westgate suburban style office complex is valued at $26/sf. The average market value for commercial property in District 12 is $13 per square foot. Most of the high value industrial land is located on the edge of the District with good access to area freeways or Transfer Road.

A  large amount of industrial space is currently vacant. With the decline of manufacturing, and the large supply of industrial land in the area, one could expect future declines in industrial land values. The development of new market rate town homes or other higher density housing, such as loft apartments, provides an opportunity for building higher land values and tax base in the area. Considering the excellent regional access, the area also offers opportunities for adding new commercial office space and employment centers when the regional market for office space rebounds.

E. Envirnonment and Ecological Functioning

The St. Anthony Park neighborhood is notable for its ecological history and is unique in that traces of that history are still visible, though somewhat hidden. A rich ecological complex of wetlands, streams and upland vegetation once covered large portions of District 12. With human settlement, railroads and industry, most of these natural systems have been filled in and paved over.  The Kasota ponds complex and a few other wetlands are the remnants of this early landscape. Existing hydric soils indicate the historic extent of this once large wetland and pond complex drained by Bridal Veil Creek.

Extensive alteration of the landscape has obliterated the original
Bridal Veil Creek bed and enclosed it within culverts.  Currently, only a few hundred feet of the creek flows above ground into Bridal Veil Duck Pond at Kasota Avenuein the Minneapolis nieghborhood of Southeast Como. Today, Bridal Veil Creek flows mainly through an antiquated sewer system under the Burlington Northern yards and Prospect Park. On-going interest in daylighting the creek has been expressed by residents of  both cities. However, the Bridal Veil Creek and watershed are contained in separate civil jurisdictions and development zones, thus hampering the development of a common vision and resources to effect change. Despite draining and filling over time, hydric soils still affect development suitability. These hydric soils provide an ecological footprint and guide for the development of new corridors to connect the community, to improve habitat and ecological functioning, and as recreational amenities.

F. Transportation Concerns

The legacy imposed by regional freeways and the Burlington Northern Sante Fe rail yards has resulted in St. Anthony Park being separated from most adjacent neighborhoods, and the division of St. Anthony Park into separate components. This physical disconnect¬edness is both a blessing and a curse. These trans¬portation systems create readily identifiable edges and a sense of identity for St. Anthony Park as a contained small town. However, they also limit pedestrian acces¬sibility and enforce reliance on the auto as the primary means of moving between the various areas. Raymond Avenue is the only connection across the rail yards be¬tween north and south St. Anthony Park.  Furthermore, the industrial and trucking land uses in South St. An¬thony Park use University Avenue as an arterial route with regional freeway access, imposing a large traffic burden on South St. Anthony Park.  Large trucks, high speeds and wide roads negatively affect pedestrian safety and increase air, noise and light pollution for resi¬dents.  Without mitigation and a greater reliance on other transportation choices, suburban style develop¬ment patterns are likely to continue along major road corridors in South St. Anthony Park.

Potential redevelopment of both the Southeast Minneapolis Industrial Area (SEMI) and the industrial area of District 12 from industrial uses to other higher traffic-generating uses will have a significant impact on traffic in the area.  The existing industrial uses in these areas generate relatively low levels of traffic compared to certain commercial uses.  A traffic study conducted by University United concluded that redevelopment of these two areas to commercial and high-density residential uses could result in over 100,000 new trips.  In an additional assessment of traffic, the City of St. Paul has documented (see map at right) existing traffic and projected average daily traffic for the year 2020. This study shows traffic increases of 20 to 30 percent on University Avenue, Raymond Avenue and Energy Park Drive.  Additional road connections and increased use of transit will be important parts of meeting the overall demand for new trips.

The introduction of LRT along or near University Avenue is a distinct possibility in this plan’s time frame and provides enormous opportunities to restructure transit and transportation systems (and land use) in South St. Anthony Park.  Part of this restructuring could include creating the still missing parkway link connecting the Grand Rounds to the Mississippi River.  This link through St. Anthony Park could serve as a significant bikeway route, and was included in the original park system plan developed by H.W.S. Cleveland.

G. Housing Stock

St. Anthony Park was platted in the 1800s and is a good example of the romantic suburb popular among the wealthy in the late nineteenth century.   Though built for the financial needs and tastes of the middle class, street and lot layouts were still influenced by the land’s contour and the presence of lowland and wetland areas. St. Anthony Park today remains a highly desirable pedestrian neighborhood with tree-lined boulevards and excellent housing stock in a variety of styles. While the vast majority of land in St. Anthony Park is devoted to single-family homes, there are substantial numbers of duplexes, triplexes and multi-family dwellings. Contrary to popular perception, there are more rental units than owner occupied units in St. Anthony Park due to the student needs of the University of Minnesota and Luther Seminary.

The strong housing market provides a fundamental base to the strength of the community.  Housing values are in the middle to upper-middle price range for the Twin Cities. Values have increased steadily in recent years, outpacing the average for surrounding communities and the city as a whole. Based on the high number of building permits issued in the community, it is clear that  residents are also consistently reinvesting in the housing stock . The strength of the housing market in St. Anthony Park is also documented by the conversion of commercial/industrial land into new mixed commercial and residential developments along University Avenue.

H. Social Characteristics

A high level of connectedness between St. Anthony Park residents is one of the community’s strongest assets.  The basis for and strength of these connections is due to a healthy mix of institutions, community services, green space and physical design.  In this respect, St. Anthony Park is similar to a tightly knit small town.

The neighborhoods and small commercial districts of St. Anthony Park are the quintessential example of good “new urbanist” design. By their very nature, the mixed housing types, neighborhood parks, general pedestrian orientation and neighborhood commercial services are integrated into and scaled appropriately to facilitate spontaneous human connections.  Additionally, there is a wealth of community amenities that encourage more directed human connections. The University of Minnesota and Luther Seminary provide substantial open green spaces and programs for the community. Their faculty, staff and students play significant roles as residents and community members. The St. Anthony Park Public Library is a landmark and landscape focus for the neighborhood, as well as for programs of intellectual growth.

St. Anthony Park Elementary and Murray Junior High schools receive consistently high rankings and are a source of community pride. They also provide an important socializing process for children and community social space for adults.  Despite this, the percentage of students from District 12 is declining due to the general decline of school age children living in the community.

In addition to these institutions, community services such as the Block Nurse program, the Music in the Park series, the St. Anthony Park Community Foundation and those offered by a wide range of faith-based organizations offer many opportunities to connect people and reinforce the community’s social character.

However, changing demographics may reduce the need for these services thus reducing the opportunities for connection. The decline in the number of children and the decline in household size are two concerning trends. Empty nesters tend to stay in their homes, reducing housing turnover and opportunities for new families with children to move into the community.

The development of large new housing developments such as Emerald Gardens, are important new additions to the community’s housing mix. Such projects tend to attract professionals or students as renters and bolster demand for consumer oriented local businesses. However, large residential development structures tend to isolate residents from “street life” and the community at large. The challenge is to integrate these new residents into the social fabric of St. Anthony Park.

B. Improve and Balance Transportation Choices

1.  Vision

St. Anthony Park has long lived with the impact of traffic caused by industrial uses and proximity to regional rail and road corridors. We recognize the environmental and health benefits of walking, biking and reduced reliance on the auto, and the sustainable development opportunities posed by LRT and industrial land conversion. St. Anthony Park envisions a healthy balance of transportation options.  Such options will encourage transit, bicycle and pedestrian connections between homes and workplaces, and between workplaces and commercial services.

2.  Objectives and Strategies

T1. Improve Transit alternatives in the neighborhood and add LRT on University Avenue.

• T1a. Work with the City of St. Paul, other St. Paul Community Councils and Legislators to make funding of a well-designed LRT system on University Avenue a reality by 2010.

• T1b. Promote extending the commuter rail line through St. Anthony Park, with a stop at the University of Minnesota transitway.

• T1c. Participate in a community and transit professional design group to ensure the design of future LRT on University Avenue contributes to housing and commercial development, encourages a pedestrian-friendly environment, minimizes traffic congestion and reduces impacts on local businesses during LRT transition.

• T1d. Reassess existing bus transit routes through District 12 to increase connectivity and ridership within District 12 and to regional employment and shopping centers. To be done for scenarios including, and not including, LRT on University Avenue.

• T1e. Develop strategies for a shuttle to run every 10 minutes north and south. Requires cooperation of Roseville, Falcon Heights, Como, Merriam Park, U of M and other stakeholders.

• T1f. Support broadening transit options including personal rapid transit, “carriages,” Hour Cars, etc.

T2. Improve Pedestrian/Bicycle Connectivity. Create new connections to improve access between North and South St. Anthony Park and between St. Anthony Park and adjacent communities as shown on the page 33 map.

• T2a. Create a pedestrian and bicycle connection between Langford Park and the University Transitway. Visually identify this connection between North and South St. Anthony Park through signage and landscaping.

• T2b. Work with the City of St. Paul and regional bike trail organizations to extend the Mid-Town bike trail in Minneapolis across the Mississippi River and along the railroad right-of-way on the south side of the District and north of I94.

• T2c. Create a pedestrian and bicycle route through South St. Anthony Park from  Langford Park to the future extension of the Mid-Town bike trail in the railroad right-of-way on the southern edge of the District.

• T2d. Extend the bike lanes on Como Avenue from Minneapolis through St. Anthony Park and work with the Como Park neighborhood to extend them further beyond our district.

• T2e. Improve walking access in South St. Anthony Park. Develop east-west connections to enable safe and pleasant walking over Highway 280. Encourage trips to destinations such as Hampden Park Co-op and the University-Raymond District by improving walking access along Raymond and University Avenues. Improvements include sidewalk repair, street furniture, planters and trees.

• T2f. Add a green pedestrian plaza over Highway 280 between University and Franklin Avenues to improve visual and pedestrian connections to/from Court International and the residential areas in the southwest portion of District 12. (See map on page 33).

• T2g. Create “Green Gateway” infrastructure between University Avenue. and Territorial Road within the Highway 280 corridor to reduce the impact (noise, air and visual pollution) of the freeway. Green infrastructure to include building structures in areas not used for freeway traffic lanes, shoulders and ramps to support landscaping at street level. Green infrastructure will serve as a green gateway companion to the University-Franklin Plaza (T2e.) (See map on page 33).

• T2h. Add design and landscape elements on Territorial Road bridge to integrate bridge into the Territorial Parkway (see map on page 33).

T3. Incorporate Transportation Options into All New Development. All new development in St. Anthony Park will be designed to encourage and facilitate the use of transit, bicycles and walking for work, leisure and maintenance-directed trips.

• T3a. All new (substantial renovation) commercial, industrial and mixed use developments must contain convenient facilities for bike security and washing/locker facilities to encourage work trips by bicycle.

• T3b. All new residential, commercial and industrial developments must be designed to have at least the main entrance facade oriented to the street with access for pedestrians and bicyclists taking priority over vehicular access.

• T3c. Work with St. Paul Planning to review the design of each new development for pedestrian and bicycle orientation.

T4. Improve Vehicular Connectivity. Add new connections and realign roads to improve local access and reduce through traffic in areas designated for enhanced pedestrian and transit-oriented land uses.

• T4a. Make the Raymond Avenue underpass safer  for cars, pedestrians and bicycles.

• T4b. Work with city policy makers and public works department to oppose the extension of Pierce Butler Route through St. Anthony Park.

• T4c. Add a direct connection between the Vandalia access at Interstate 94 and the eastern entrance to the University of Minnesota/St. Paul campus. The purpose of this north-south connection is to open underused land in South St. Anthony Park to redevelopment by research-knowledge based industries while leveraging a direct transportation connection with St. Paul campus  research services and functions. This direct connection would also encourage land redevelopment for new commercial uses serving University student and employee needs. It would also relieve traffic from Raymond Avenue. and reduce negative impacts on the heart of the South St. Anthony Park neighborhood. The direct connection should not damage ecologically sensitive areas, i.e., Fairview Pond and Cathlin Wetlands.

• T4d. Add a direct connection between Vandalia Street and its connection with Interstate 94 and Transfer Road.  This connection will reduce truck traffic and congestion on University Avenue and improve access for truck traffic using the Transfer Road/Pierce Butler Route.

T5. Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Traffic Calming. Make busy thoroughfares (Como, Cleveland, Raymond, Territorial and University) safer for bikes and pedestrians and improve visual quality. (See attached appendices for proposed traffic calming strategies.)

• T5a. Identify specific pedestrian crossing areas (i.e. Como & Carter) where safety is a concern. Increase the length of walk signals. Make crosswalks more visible (i.e. Raymond & Brewster) through a combination of bolder color, striping, texture and signage appropriate to each specific location.

• T5b. Enforce the truck ban on Raymond Avenue.  Re-route truck traffic to existing or potential alternatives on the east side of the neighborhood.

• T5c. Encourage the city police to vigorously enforce laws concerning crosswalks, speed limits, drag racing, decompression braking, and restricted parking near intersections.

• T5d. Increase pedestrian, cyclist, and driver awareness of traffic laws and impact of respectful habits on community quality of life.

• T5e. Identify specific pedestrian-oriented areas through special signage, landscaping, lighting and signals that communicate the special pedestrian nature of the area and to encourage respectful driving.

• T5f. Work with the city, businesses and developers to install more bicycle racks, benches and bus shelters.

• T5g. Explore and implement with community and city support specific traffic-calming measures along the Raymond and Cleveland corridor such as speed bumps, traffic circles, landscaping, public art, bump outs, center medians, and additional stop signs. Make traffic calming a part of all street reconstruction.

• T5h. Assess the relocation of existing bike paths along busy thoroughfares to other less busy corridors.

• T5i. Make specific new improvements including:

1. A crosswalk at the Manvel and Raymond bus stop.
2. A sidewalk for biking and pedestrians along Eustis Avenue and Highway 280.
3. A sidewalk west of Highway 280 to connect into Minneapolis on Como Avenueand on kasota Avenue.
4. Maintain the steps between Keston & Doswell.
5. Keep Cleveland at its current width with parking on one side to calm traffic and maintain its residential character.

T6. Traffic Congestion. Work with the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Prospect Park neighborhood to improve traffic circulation and reduce congestion.

• T6a. Request a comprehensive transportation study of the area bounded by I-94, Highway 36, 35E and 35W to examine the cumulative transportation impacts of all present and projected development within the study area. Affected neighborhood groups, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, the Metropolitan Council, and the State should all participate in the study.

• T6b. Work with St. Paul and Minneapolis to conduct a traffic study for the interchange of University, Franklin and Highway 280 to identify strategies to improve flow and reduce congestion. Work with both cities and  Prospect Park to prioritize strategies that support a pedestrian and transit-oriented environment within the TOD district and to minimize impact on residential areas.

T7. Highway 280. Use opportunities associated with Highway 280 reconstruction to mitigate noise, pollution and environmental impacts.

• T7a. Measure existing levels of noise pollution at many points within  the community to create a baseline for change.

• T7b. Reduce noise levels below those now experienced. Influence selection of construction materials and insist on additional sound barriers to reduce the existing level of noise pollution in the neighborhood.

• T7c. Work to establish community involvement with the city and the state to review all construction plans.

• T7d. Transform Highway 280 into a parkway, similar to 35E (between Grand Avenue and Fort Road) to reduce noise and and restore neighborhood connections currently split by the highway.

• T7e. Maintain and/or expand riparian zone surrounding the Kasota Ponds to protect this environmentally sensitive and historic area.

T8. University of Minnesota. Work with the University to create better student transit options, parking options, and access to the St. Paul campus that reduces impacts on the community and the environment.

• T8a. Encourage development of southeastern access to the campus and additional use of the northeastern Larpenteur-Gortner Avenue access.

• T8b.Reevaluate restrictions on neighborhood parking particularly on busy streets (e.g. Raymond Avenue between Energy Park and Como).

• T8c. Work with Falcon Heights and the University to increase pedestrian safety at Dudley and Cleveland and at all other crosswalks along Cleveland Avenue.

• T8d. Encourage the University to emphasize the Cleveland Avenue entrance as a pedestrian entrance.  Cleveland must stay at  its current width to maintain its pedestrian orientation and neighborhood fit.

C. Protect and Restore Natural Systems

1.  Vision

A mixed community of residences, businesses and industrial activities is embedded in a matrix of native plant communities, wetlands, and green spaces that sustain the air, water, wildlife habitat, and natural amenities that contribute to the quality of life in St. Anthony Park.

While we recognize that a continued mix of residential, business and industrial activities will remain in the District, balancing these uses with a greater priority on environmental improvement and preservation will be practiced. We envision a systematic approach to redefining land use and redeveloping land through “green construction and site design” in order to preserve and improve ecological functioning, improve internal and external connections, and to add new green space amenities.

2.  Objectives and Strategies

N1. Water Quality Improvements. Achieve measurable water quality improvements to the Kasota Ponds, Cathlin Wetland, and other natural remnants. Improve quality of all runoff directed towards the Mississippi River.

• N1a. Initiate water testing of all ponds to determine baseline data for all critical contaminants, and continue quarterly water quality monitoring of chemistries.

• N1b. Work with the city and MnDot to prevent road runoff from entering SAP ponds. At a minimum, maintain or achieve the following goals in SAP ponds from road and surface funoff:

• Conductivity: < 1500 uS (seasonal high level);
• O2: > 4 ppm (minimum year-round level);
• Nitrate: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
• Nitrite: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
• Orthophosphate: 0 ppm (year-round max) as has been the case annually since the year 2000*;
• Secchi depth: minimum visibility of one meter (yearround).
• Increase dissolved oxygen from 3 parts per million to 6 parts per million, especially during summer months.

* Field notes of Karlyn Eckman, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota.

• N1c. Develop educational programs promoting sound home and garden best management practices for reducing the flow of contaminants and nutrients into our natural waters. This is to include the stenciling of storm drain inlets.

• N1d. Work with adjoining neighborhoods to assess H20 quality at Fairview Ponds and develop surrounding natural areas into viable habitats.

N2. Impervious Surfaces and Ground Water Recharge. Increase the level of ground water infiltration in the District by 30 percent through development standards, the creation of new open spaces, and the retrofitting of existing structures and properties.

• N2a. Establish a base line of impervious surface in the District and monitor all new development for an annual update on the impervious surfaces and changes.

• N2b. Research and promote new technologies that reduce runoff and increase ground water infiltration.

• N2c. Work with the city and advocate for changes to city utility policy that charge storm sewer fees to property owners based on the amount of impervious surface (similar to Minneapolis policy). Policy is to encourage retrofitting of existing buildings and properties or their redevelopment.
• N2d. Work with the city and advocate for zoning and development policies that encourage green roofs, pervious pavements and sustainable site designs.

• N2e. Develop education and awareness programs to increase the use of rain barrels, raingardens and the diversion of roof runoff onto pervious surfaces. Programs will be directed to areas of greatest impact such as large commercial and industrial facilities.

• N2f. Encourage rainwater gardens and sustainable landscapes.

N3. Planting of Public and Private Spaces. Use community programs and community building initiatives to increase the amount of vegetation in public and private spaces.

• N3a. Evaluate the level of current vegetation in public parks using data available from the city and that included in the report “What We Have and What We’ve Lost (August 2001)” funded through the DNR.

• N3b. Prioritize public spaces targeted for replanting based on need and community feedback. Develop a replanting and maintenance program.

• N3c. Enhance neighborhood parks and common spaces with areas of naturalized vegetation.

• N3d. Support continued beautification of Hampden Park with neighborhood participation.

• N3e. Maintain the rrent community garden and identify new garden opportunities.

• N3f. Reduce invasive species in public and private spaces (buckthorn, sumac, mulberry, and russian olive).

• N3g. Request city funding to implement a planting and maintenance program during the annual budgeting process.

N4. Habitat Corridors. Restore and/or recreate habitat corridors to facilitate movement and stablize habitat populations.

• N4a. Develop a plan to daylight and restore parts of the Bridal Veil Creek and wetland areas to improve quality of habitat, increase runoff infiltration and add new green space amenities (see N8d.).

• N4b. Focus immediate efforts to improve habitat quality around the existing Kasota ponds and along the railroads

• N4c. Control domestic and feral animals to ensure survival of songbirds and native small animal species.

• N4d. Examine current habitat and watershed linkages between North and South St. Anthony Park and across municipal lines. Create strategies for improving natural connectivity and ecological function through partnerships with neighboring organizations.

N5. Improve Air Quality. Gather appropriate data and work with community stakeholders to improve air quality.

• N5a. Analyze air quality to create a baseline of current conditions and create monitoring programs to achieve measurable goals.

• N5b. Target assessments and programs to work with business, industry, and community organizations to achieve goals.

N6. Reduce Noise Pollution. Gather appropriate data and work with community stakeholders to reduce noise pollution.

• N6a. Analyze noise levels to create a baseline of current conditions and create monitoring programs to achieve measurable goals.

• N6b. Identify sources of noxious noise and create strategies for reduction and mitigation.

N7. Increase Outdoor Light Efficiency. Educate the community about efficient and safe lighting and replace lighting to meet community standards through public infrastructure maintenance and repair programs.

• N7a. Promote measures that target an efficient use of outdoor light, to conserve energy, improve “dark skies,” and support adequate public safety.

• N7b. Eliminate upward directed outdoor lighting.

• N7c. Install pedestrian-friendly street lights in South St. Anthony consistent with the historic lanterns in North St. Anthony.

N8. Collaborate with other Stakeholders on Natural Systems Issues. Proactively reach out and colloborate with other stakeholders having an interest and influence over the natural environment in St. Anthony Park.

• N8a. Obtain public disclosure about the types and timing of herbicide use by the BNSF railroad in our neighborhoods.

• N8b. Work with the city and other stakeholders to determine better neighborhood planting strategies, including efforts to plant trees with better survival odds in given conditions, which would likely be native species.

• N8c. Work with the University to minimize pollution of the environment.

• N8d. Establish a cross-jurisdictional task group encompassing the area covered by the historic Bridal Veil Creek Watershed to develop a plan to daylight and restore the creek and wetland areas.

• N8e. Promote neighborhood beautification through gardens, public art, and other neighborhood improvements. This may be facilitated through the U of M, the Horticulture Society or local design programs.

• N8f. Partner with the DNR, MNDOT and other key organizations to promote new environmental technologies to improve wildlife habitats and watershed function.

• N8g. Work with the city and utility companies to mitigate exposure to large power lines in Hillside Court and elsewhere in the neighborhood.

N9. Support Precautionary and Sustainable Programs. Adopt policies that proactively protect the environment. Examine all actions associated with proposed programs and activities, including no-action.

• N9a. Advocate city participation in the Kyoto Protocol.

• N9b. Research and promote new technologies that reduce dependence on non-renewable resources (e.g. hybrid vehicles, solar and wind energy).

• N9c. Take a long-term precautionary approach, seeking to anticipate future events and trends, including globalization climate change, environmental pressures and stresses.  Precautionary monitoring should also be applied to increased storm frequency, oak wilt, dutch elm disease, biological disease and infestation, chemical spills, invasives, and avoidance of monocultures.

• N9d. Encourage the city to take a proactive approach to treating and preventing tree disease and infestation through new programs and community education.

• N9e. Educate our community on environmentally friendly ways to manage properties. This would include community programs, lectures, house tours, and other methods to teach and raise awareness about lawn care, construction, household chemicals, and landscaping.

• N9f. Promote native species in public and private plantings.  Use education and subsidy programs to increase private plantings; use communication and cooperation to influence public plantings.

• N9g. Create focal/social areas for gathering, information and environmental education in our public spaces (e.g. a gazebo in Hampden Park, a Council kiosk in South St. Anthony, speakers corner, theater, bulletin board, public art).

• N9h. Continue efforts to staff and support community cleanups, including the Kasota Pond and Eureka Neighborhood clean-ups.

• N9i. Develop strategies for green business in the neighborhood, including incentives or recognition for reduced runoff, use of mechanisms to reduce environmental impact. May also include neighborhood marketing promoting the “Green Oasis in the City.”

D. Enhance Homes and Neighborhoods

1.  Vision

St. Anthony Park is distinctive due to its topography, layout, and historic character of its housing. The preservation of that character is very important to residents.  Maintaining and updating the existing housing stock should continue with good design sensitive to the appropriate historic character and scale of the neighborhood. The community also encourages the development of new well-designed infill and mixed use housing to meet the needs of various incomes, ability levels and life cycle needs in support of a more diverse population.

2.  Objectives and Strategies

H1. Property Maintenance and Beautification. Develop and implement district-wide programs to inspire, educate and facilitate residents to better maintain their properties including yards and alleys.

• H1a. Identify and promote programs to encourage repairs and improvements to existing housing stock (energy audits, loan and grant programs, etc.) and publish in the Bugle and on the District 12 website.

• H1b. Publish “House and Garden” tips in the Bugle and on the District 12 website to provide inspirational ideas for home maintenance and beautification.

• H1c. Enlist Master Gardeners and faculty and students from the University of Minnesota Horticulture program to serve as resources for neighbors and to conduct periodic seminars on beautification.

• H1d. Encourage one or two “plant exchanges” each growing season along with a landscaping and plant workshop to encourage community communication and beautification.

• H1e. Work with the City of St. Paul on its annual clean-up days.

• H1f. Sponsor a fall maintenance workshop in cooperation with a local home improvement or hardware store.

• H1g. Educate residents about the benefits and costs of elm and oak tree treatment programs. Explore potential funding sources and/or community-wide purchasing power and promote their use to the community through the Bugle, mailings and the District 12 website.

• H1h. Promote a range of green spaces and parks (small and large) throughout all existing and new residential areas (see proposed land use plan on page 29 for locations of green spaces).

H2. Range of Housing Choices. Increase the range of housing types and affordability within the District to encourage a greater diversity of households and to be an affordable community for all people throughout their life and changing lifestyle needs.

• H2a. Identify specific parcels of land just outside of the TOD district for the development of both market rate and affordable urban style town homes, flats and co-ops (owner and rental).

• H2b. Identify parcels throughout the District for infill opportunities especially for duplex and triplex housing types that meet the needs of young families.

• H2c. Encourage the redevelopment of existing structures and the building of new structures within the historic TOD district for mixed-use commercial and housing types including apartments, condominiums and loft-style units.

• H2d. Develop a proposal for an appropriate mix of housing options in identified areas for a range of housing meeting the needs of empty nesters, independent seniors, and young families. Promote life cycle housing in new residential development. This may include an affordibility and housing needs study.

• H2e. Partner with arts organizations (e.g. Art Space) to promote affordable artist housing.

H3. Design Guidelines. Develop and implement design guidelines for new housing units and the renovation of existing housing not included in the historic district. Guidelines should encourage quality design that is complementary and contextual rather than strict historic replication.

• H3a. Develop guidebooks, videos and/or workshops to educate homeowners and developers about desired housing design qualities. Materials should address singlefamily construction/renovation, urban style town home/new construction and apartment/condo/loft new construction.

• H3b. Monitor demolition permits and replacement housing to ensure that it meets zoning and design guidelines.

E. Strengthen and Create New Community Connections

1.  Vision

St. Anthony Park reaches out and communicates to all residents including new residents and renters to engage them in the community. We maintain a comprehensive and active block leader program that promotes crime prevention, community functions and recycling to all neighborhood residents. We build strong community/institutional and community/business partnerships. We encourage the use of public spaces and parks for gathering, and promote investment in and beautification of public and private gathering spaces. New large developments are evaluated for their contribution to the inventory of community space within St. Anthony Park.

2.  Objectives and Strategies

C1. Community Building, Outreach and Communication. Reach out to all residents, businesses, community institutions and neighboring communities, including those in Minneapolis, to enhance the quality of city life and to implement this plan.

• C1a. Establish and reinforce relationships with adjacent neighborhoods, business groups and institutions (PPERRIA, SE Como, Falcon Heights, Merriam Park, Como Park, University of Minnesota, Fairgrounds, University United, etc.) to implement key proposed land use and transportation components of this plan.

• C1b. Develop a communications strategy to encourage greater integration and participation in the community, especially by renters, condo residents, new residents, seniors, businesses and immigrant families.

• C1c. Revitalize the existing system of block clubs and block workers.

• C1d. Work with realtors to identify new community members and distribute information about the neighborhood including ways to be involved and connect with other residents.

• C1e. Support and coordinate the creation of an ad-hoc advisory group for senior affairs to address issues including transportation, housing and social needs. The group should bring together the organizations in the neighborhood that provide service to seniors including (but not limited to): Chore Service, Block Nurse Program, Diamond Club, Methodist Church, Meals on Wheels, and School Mentor program.

• C1f. Explore ways to fully utilize shared resources, needs and services with area religious and cultural communities to meet our common goals of building community while respecting the separation of church and state.

• C1g. Partner with existing organizations in the community (SAP Foundation, Booster Club, Business Associations, etc.) to support community-building activities.

• C1h. Support vital community-building events/activities and their sponsors to build new community connections and strengthen continuing connections, including (but not limited to): the progressive dinner (volunteer sponsored), Mayfest (Hampden Park Coop), Art Fair (Friends of the Library), 4th of July (by volunteers), Garden Tour (Garden Club), Home Tour (SAPCC or volunteers), book clubs, etc.

• C1i. Explore new strategies to connect members of the community, such as a good neighbor program, adopt-agrandparent, etc.

• C1j. Utilize the large amount of neighborhood social capital and talent by organizing and promoting a web-based volunteer matching system using the SAPCC website to coordinate volunteers and needs.

C2. Community Assets. Identify ways that existing community and institutional assets in St. Anthony Park could better serve the community.

• C2a. Maintain and strengthen existing institutions including the library, Murray Jr. High, St. Anthony Park Elementary, and the Post Office.

• C2b. Maintain and strengthen small neighborhood commercial retail, especially basic services that residents can walk to: grocery, hardware, etc. and lively centers of attraction.

• C2c. Strengthen levels of police, fire and emergency services.

• C2d. Explore ways to more fully integrate members of Luther Seminary and U of M -St. Paul Campus into the fabric of the community.

• C2e. Preserve and maintain the current community gardens.  Identify additional appropriate space for gardening that can be used for more community gardens.

C3. Parks and Recreation. Re-invest in existing park assets and strengthen programming to increase use of all park and recreation services.

• C3a. Maintain and strengthen the physical assets and programming at Langford Park and South St. Anthony Recreation Centers and parks.

• C3b. Maintain and improve the condition of athletic fields.

• C3c. Retain public access to athletic fields when organized sports are not using them.

• C3d. Review the timing and substance of the major capital improvement plan to upgrade recreational facilities substantially at South St. Anthony and Langford Park to keep pace with the quality of facilities at other recreation centers in St. Paul.

• C3e. Increase the use of rec centers during the summer months by reviewing heating ,ventilation, and air conditioning needs for Langford and South St. Anthony to reduce indoor temperatures.

• C3f. Continue Phase II of Hampden Park Beautification plan.

• C3g. Complete the remaining items in the Langford Park Master Plan.

• C3h. Review current site plans and field layouts for Langford Park and South St. Anthony Park, assess existing field amenities while balancing sport needs, and work with the City to implement changes by 2007.

• C3i. Assess layout of facilities to improve traffic flow during peak events, including expanding the “warming room” at Langford to accommodate hockey teams and community skating.

C4. Cultural Opportunities. Support local cultural opportunities and the arts.

• C4a. Support opportunities to showcase local artists and their work, including Arts Off Raymond.

• C4b. Sponsor a forum to identify artists that live and/or work in the neighborhood to discuss how the neighborhood can better support the arts and cultural opportunities.

• C4c. Include art and cultural amenities in existing and proposed new green spaces as in the proposed land use plan.

• C4d. Develop strategies to share celebrations, activities, languages, food and other traditions from our multi-cultural population.

C5. Create New Community Infrastructure. Identify need for new community-wide assets to promote community connections and serve a growing population.

• C5a. Assess neighborhood community center needs including additional community services and ADA accessible meeting space. Explore how other community centers have been developed to serve wider community needs. Pursue appropriate action to create a community center.

• C5b. Support the development of home based businesses and develop strategies to support their growth in the community.

• C5c. Support initiatives for municipal technology infrastructure, such as wireless internet.

• C5d. Add a dog park on land next to either the freeways or railroad to encourage new community connections.

C6. Commercial Assets. Identify need for new commercial assets and recruiting strategies and provide support for vibrant commercial areas.

• C6a. Conduct a survey of local businesses and residents to determine their business needs in the neighborhood. Set the course for a business specific planning process.

• C6b. Develop a St. Anthony Park Business Association to work with area businesses on local goals and initiatives in conjunction with the Midway Chamber of Commerce.

• C6c. Study the development of other local or similar business districts and develop applicable marketing and development strategies for St. Anthony Park. Increase an identity for St. Anthony Park shopping districts.

• C6d. Develop a system to advise incoming businesses on the channels of communication with the city, the District Council and neighbors.

• C6e. Create a biannual forum for businesses to connect with the District Council on development, crime, or other issues.

• C6f. Identify businesses that St. Anthony Park would like to attract and create strategies to welcome these businesses. Seek to create a balance of convenience and destination stores.

Revitalize - Maintain - Connect