Cedar Lake Parkway Closure
A notice recently came from the Minneapolis Park Board informing residents that Cedar Lake Parkway would be closed for much of the summer starting May 7th. This information was apparently incorrect.
At the April Kenwood Neighborhood Association meeting, Kaydee Kirk, outreach coordinator for the SWLRT project, said that while there will be a need to close the parkway again, this won't happen until work is done on the Lake Street bridge. It may be "at the end of the season, or maybe next year." She indicated that Met Council representatives are talking to the park board people to have them clarify this (and perhaps apologize).
Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer, also in attendance, informed Kaydee that SWLRT contractors had submitted a permit application requesting closure starting May 7th and lasting 100 days. The park board studied and granted this permit request. Commissioner Shaffer pointed out that the permitting process consumes a great deal of staff time, which costs Minneapolis taxpayers and diverts park board resources.
There seems to have been an unfortunate miscommunication originating from SWLRT offices. It happens, and the park board is not at fault. The Met Council will let us know when Cedar Lake Parkway will actually close, and for how long.
Jeanette Colby | Kenwood
Our Beloved Blue House
We are the very happy new owners of the Blue House that Susan Lenfestey wrote about in the January issue of the Hill & Lake Press.
Years ago, when we first moved to the neighborhood, I used to joke with my husband that every day I would see new houses — houses that had always been there but somehow eluded me, and then they seemed to appear out of thin air.
For roughly 14 years while living on Fremont Avenue I had walked by the blue house on Girard, but I had never really seen it, until I read about it in the Hill & Lake Press. Perhaps because I was a Lowry Hill neighbor, I connected with the message of hoping that a loving family would move in and honor the storied history of the house.
My husband looked at a Zillow posting of the home, and we were intrigued by the farmhouse feel, the charm, the possibilities. We scheduled an appointment to view the house the following morning.
As we explored the house we fell deeper and deeper in love. Sunlight filled every room, as did the personality of the former owners. We knew we would save as much of the character and history as we could so that after us, another family could experience the same love we were feeling.
Something told me the house would choose us — and luckily the seller did too! Thank you, Ruth Bly, from the bottom of our hearts. I know it is hard to leave a home and the neighbors you have grown to love, but by doing so you have opened the door for a new family to move in and to love it as you have
The Baylor Family | Lowry Hill
Greetings from Amsterdam
The April issue was just forwarded to me all the way over here in Amsterdam.
I lived in Lowry Hill and East Isles and was on their respective neighborhood boards in the 2004- 2010 time period (previous name = Beth Kehoe). I also wrote for the Hill & Lake Press frequently during that time.
Lenfesty’s article cracked me up. It brought back memories of all of those fun years. Thanks for the moment of nostalgia! And I’m so glad to see this new and improved website and that the paper is going strong!!
Beth St. John | Amsterdam
Long Live Hill & Lake Press
The Hill and Lake Press is an example of a successful, local 501(c)(3) non-profit newspaper — supported by and run by its community members.
This very sad article just reinforces the good work you guys are doing. As reported by Alex Kennedy on Axios Twin Cities on April 4, 2024:
“Southwest News Media announced Thursday it will cease publication of all its newspapers at the end of April, effectively shutting down six long running community media outlets in Twin Cities southwest metro suburbs. Local news has already seen a steep decline nationwide, and now Chanhassen, Chaska, Jordan,
Prior Lake, Shakopee and Savage will lose their primary weekly community newspapers — some of which have been in operation for over 160 years. Most American communities that lose a local newspaper usually do not get a replacement, even online. … The company's sister newspapers in Hutchinson and Litchfield will also close at the end of April, as will its affiliate printing plant Crow River.”
Please consider making a tax deductable donation to Hill & Lake Press by visiting hillandlakepress.org. Or support our paper by taking out an advertisement by contacting barb@hillandlakepress.org.
Let's ensure that Hill & Lake Press is around for the next 50 years and beyond!
Carla Pardue | East Isles
