Information that District 10 currently has on Sholom Home Re-Use. Including Land Use Committee meeting upcoming agenda, a tentative schedule of events regarding Sholom Home Re-Use, a letter from the Land Use Committee Chair and more...

Letter from the Land Use Committee Chair

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for your interest in attending the October 7th District 10 Land Use Committee Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Streetcar Station and begin at 7PM. 

The purpose of the meeting is to (1) outline the other projects the Land Use Committee is, was, and will be working on and (2) provide neighbors with updated information regarding the Sholom Home site. The goal is to let neighbors know what the Land Use Committee does and the process it uses. Hopefully, the presentation will encourage you to become consistent long-term contributors to the Land Use Committee.

PART 1: D10 PROCESS

Whether the issue is redevelopment of the Sholom Home, Como Pool, the Lexington/Larpentuer intersection, Patrick’s Bar, Metro Deaf School (a new project), or lighting of the North Dale Community Center fields, District 10 and the Land Use Committee has adopted a consistent approach and process. This approach includes (1) engaging parties as early as possible, (2) asking parties to engage in a community process/submit to a community forum, (3) asking parties to not act until community input is solicited, (4) gathering data, (5) organizing and facilitating a community forum/process, (6) listening to presentations and neighborhood concerns, and (7) making an informed recommendation based on the presentation and community input. An informed recommendation the strongest – most influential – recommendation District 10 can make.

Every situation is unique, but this process has consistently worked well for District 10. It is seen as a fair process that encourages interested parties and community members to engage early. Timely community input is key to shaping a successful project with community support. Without a fair process, developers/businesses to completely sidestep the community process and move forward without District 10 and community knowledge and support. That would be unacceptable.

PART 2: SHOLOM HOME UPDTATE

There are several updates regarding the Sholom Home site including:

• The October 23rd Community Forum will be held from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Lyngblomsten Chapel. 
o Sholom Home stated its room was not big enough for the forum. Lyngblomsten was the closest, largest site available. 
o The District 10 Communications Committee is preparing a flyer promoting the forum and a distribution plan. District 10 will also be using its website and email blasts to distribute the information.

• Attached is a preliminary schedule I made indicating the important meeting dates between now and the November Board meeting. This schedule indicates what I intend to do as Land Use Chair and my best guess for how the Board will proceed (this is a guess because I do not set Board agendas, control the Board, or control the other members of the Land Use Committee). At the November Land Use meeting I intend to offer a recommendation regarding the Sholom Home site. The recommendation will include provisions urging the Board to vote on the recommendation and to submit the question to a community vote at the November Board meeting – as provided by our bylaws.

• The Sholom Home and RS Eden have agreed to accommodate tours of their facilities. District 10 is in the process of organizing one or two evening tours where members of the community would tour Sholom and RS Eden facilities. Space may be limited. Details to follow.

• At the October Land Use Meeting, I will offer a resolution recommending that District 10 establish an Ad Hoc Committee focused on reuse of the Sholom Home site. Details to follow. If passed by the Land Use Committee, the Board would likely vote on the resolution at its October 21st Annual Meeting. 

• RS Eden has given District 10 a “Statement of Intent” regarding the Sholom Home Site in advance of the October 23 Community Forum. The “Statement” is attached. It is not as detailed as many neighbors and several members of the Land Use Committee would have liked. Nonetheless, it offers a place to begin the dialogue. 

• Based on this RS Eden’s “Statement of Intent,” District 10 is compiling a list of questions and concerns. Please send specific questions and concerns, in bullet-point format toDistrict10@comopark.org. Include the term “RS EDEN QUESTION” (for questions) or “RS EDEN CONCERN” (for concerns) in the subject line. Anonymous submissions will be disregarded. Questions and concerns submitted to District 10 at its last Board Meeting will automatically be incorporated into the list. District 10 will submit these lists to the City and RS Eden in advance of the meeting. 
o I hope the questions will be as constructive as possible. For example, I have major concerns about RS Eden opening a 129 person facility at that site. I want to know if there is any flexibility in RS Eden’s plans. I would like to know if RS Eden has considered establishing a smaller (perhaps much smaller) facility at the site. I don’t know if I – or the neighborhood – would support a smaller facility, but I am interested in exploring creative solutions. My questions include: 
ß According to the document, “very preliminary assessments” indicate the Sholom Home “could support a possible” 129 units. Is RS Eden open to reducing the size to 100? 60? 30? 20? 10?
ß How many units does RS Eden need on site to be effective under its business model? From a scientific perspective, what is the optimal number of people to house at such a facility to ensure the best possible outcome for the tenants?
ß How would RS Eden raise the money for the purchase? 
ß Sholom Home indicated that it is only willing to sell the entire complex as a whole – it will not sell off the site in pieces. Therefore, would RS Eden’s sources of capital allow it to buy the entire site and subsequently sell off portions of the site?
ß Would RS Eden be willing to work with the community and the City to establish a smaller facility and sell off portions of the site (such as the fire station, Phillips wing, or Main wing) for uses the community finds acceptable?

Please let me know if you have additional questions. You can email me at luke@comopark.org.

Sincerely,

Luke Kuhl, Chair
Land Use Committee
District 10 – Como Community Council


Preliminary Sholom Home Re-Use Schedule

Tuesday, October 7 - 7 p.m. District 10 Land Use Meeting, Streetcar Station

Monday, Oct. 20 - 7 p.m. Meet at Sholom Home front desk. Take a tour of Sholom Home, then board an RS Eden van for a tour of two facilities. Please reserve your spot as space is limited. District Council 644.3889

Tuesday, October 21 - 7 p.m. District 10 Board Meeting, Streetcar Station – District 10’s annual meeting and elections. Community members can become voting community members of District 10 at this meeting. Community members can run for positions on the Board. 

Thursday, October 23 - 7 p.m. Community Forum, Lyngblomsten Chapel – RS Eden will present its proposal and neighbors will respond, ask questions, and give opinions. Representative Alice Hausman, Commissioner Janice Rettman, and Councilmember Russ Stark are planning to attend. 

Tuesday, Oct. 28 - 7 p.m. Meet at Sholom Home front desk. Take a tour of Sholom Home, then board an RS Eden van for a tour of two facilities. Please reserve your spot as space is limited. District Council 644.3889

Early November - 7 p.m. Date TBA, District 10 Land Use Meeting, Streetcar Station – Land Use will make a recommendation regarding the Sholom Home site. Land Use will recommend a community vote be held at the November 18 Board meeting. 

November 15 Last day to register for the community vote (provided it is held on November 18). You can register to vote by calling, emailing, or stopping by the District 10 offices. In order to vote you must live or work in District 10.

Tuesday, November 18 - 7 p.m. District 10 Board Meeting, Streetcar Station – The Land Use will give its recommendation to the Board. The full Board will listen and vote to make its own recommendation. After the Board makes its recommendation, the community will vote on the issue.

*If you are unable to attend either tour RS Eden and Sholom Home are willing to give tours to other groups or individuals who are interested.

Land Use Committee Meeting - Agenda

October 7, 2008
Streetcar Station, 7 pm

1. Call to order

2. Approve agenda

3. Review of current Land Use workload and issues. (20 minutes)
a. Como Pool 
b. Node Study
c. T-Mobile/North Dale Light Tower
d. Patrick’s Bar
e. Metro Deaf School (new item)

4. Sholom Home Update (40 minutes)
a. October 23 Community Forum (7 – 9 PM) location: Lyngblomsten Chapel
b. Distribute proposed schedule
c. Announce Sholom Home & RS Eden tours
d. ACTION ITEM: Resolution establishing a District 10 Ad Hoc Committee to explore reuse of the Sholom Home site.
e. Distribute RS Eden “Statement of Intent”
f. Announce collection of community concerns and questions in advance of the October 23 Community Forum.

• Other

• Set date for November LU meeting

• Adjourn 

Action Item

DATE: 10/21/08

FROM: Land Use Committee

ITEM: LU1021081

ACTION REQUESTED: District 10 establish a Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee. The Shalom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee will explore options for reuse and/or redevelopment of the Sholom Home site. The Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee will work with Councilmember Stark, PED, and Zoning to develop feasible reuse and/or redevelopment options for the site. The Ad Hoc Committee will present recommended reuse/redevelopment options to the Land Use Committee no later than February 16, 2009. Additional reuse/redevelopment recommendations may be made to the Land Use Committee at any time during the one (1) year duration of the committee. The Land Use Committee may vote on some or all of the Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations and send recommendations to the Board. The Board may vote to adopt some or all of the recommendations. Recommended reuse/redevelopment options adopted by the Board will be sent in letter form to the Mayor, City Council, PED, Zoning, Sholom Alliance, and all parties known to be interested in the Sholom Home site at the time. 

LEADERSHIP: A member of the Board and a (non-Board) member of the community will co-chair the Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee. The Board co-chair will be appointed by the Board. The Community co-chair will be elected by a majority of non-Board members of the Ad Hoc Committee. 

MEMBERSHIP: Any community member registered to vote in District 10 elections may join the Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee. The Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee must maintain a list of current members. If practicable, the Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee shall have at least two members opposed to the current RS Eden project and two members in favor of the current RS Eden project. If appropriate, the Co-Chairs may decide to divide the Ad Hoc Committee into sub-committees charged with specific tasks. All meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee and its sub-committees must be open to the public.

RECOMMENDATIONS: All Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee recommendations presented to the Land Use Committee must have been voted on and adopted by a majority of Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee members at a public meeting.

BACKGROUND/ RATIONALE: Reuse of the Sholom Home site is an important issue in District 10. Creation of an Ad Hoc Committee will allow members of the Board and community to work together to find an appropriate reuse of the site. Creation of the Ad Hoc Committee will give community members ownership in the process. 

Article X, Section 1(b) of the District 10 Bylaws provides: “Ad-hoc committees may not exceed twelve (12) months in duration except with a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the organization. Ad-hoc committees shall be chaired by an elected member of the organization and may be co-chaired by any member of the District 10 – Como Community Council… and shall be appointed by the elected members of the organization.”

IMPLEMENTATION: The Board co-chair of the Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee will regularly report progress and issues to the Land Use Chair and Board Chair. The Land Use Committee will be a resource to the Sholom Home Reuse Ad Hoc Committee and, as practicable, will assist the Ad Hoc Committee. 

ISSUES UNRESOLVED OR YET TO BE DETERMINED: Final disposition of the RS Eden issue. Selection of co-chairs and membership of the Ad Hoc Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee schedule. 


A list of recommendations for the Re-Use of Sholom Home

These excellent suggestions come from concerned Como Park neighborhood residents. These and other ideas need to be presented to Council Member Russ Stark and County Commissioner Janice Rettman, and ultimately to the City Council. There are ways and means to attract and develop such alternatives. This is a start, not a definitive list, but these ideas are viable.

1. Group housing facility for developmentally and otherwise disabled adults. Private ownership must fund and get licensed FIRST – then various government support in money and services are obtained. Important: See this website: www.arrm.org. Private providers have formed this alliance to procure funding and licensing of facilities. 1185 Concord St. N, #424 South St. Paul, MN 55075 651-291-1086.

2. A Veteran's Administration Rehabilitation Center. A facility of rehabilitation for disabled veterans, perhaps for those coming from Iraq and Afghanistan with head injuries.

3. Charter or Public Elementary or Pre-school site. Great River Charter School has been looking for possible new space as an alternate to the current Energy Park location. Two or more schools could easily share this location.

4. College Satellite Facility. Hamline University, Bethel University, or the University of Minnesota (St. Paul Campus or other) could use the site for graduate housing, married housing or as administrative office space, etc. or extra classroom space.

5. Section 8 housing for the Elderly.

6. A Sports Gym or Fitness Center.

7. Como Park Technology Center. HIgh tech companies and other start-up companies could adapt this space into a beautiful high-tech center for developing alternative energy resources, low-power technologies, and other high-technology. Anyone who has ever been to Palo Alto, California, the home of Silicon Valley, will recognize the inherent possibilities that are created when bright people and paired with lush, beautiful surroundings.

8. Wellstone Multi-Cultural Center. A headquarters, or program facility for our Hmong, Vietnamese, Hispanic, Somali, and/or other populations. The leaders of these communities could be asked to evaluate the property for their use. The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Cultural Understanding, perhaps?

9. Administration Building. Holy Childhood may wish to expand it's religious, or school, or administrative facilities.

10. Neighborhood Medical/Dental Center. A medical or dental facility or some combination of health services. An Urgent care facility. Heathpartners, Healtheast, Aspen Medical Centers are a few possible organizations interested in the space.

11. New Public Library.

12. Ronald McDonald House.

13. Offices for the State Fair.

14. Como Park Center for the Arts. A theater, music rooms, artist resources. This would give artists of all stripes a chance to have low-cost facilities to pursue the music and arts in a peaceful setting. 

Press Coverage and Editorials

Park Bugle Editorial 

Park Bugle Article

Park Bugle Letter

Fox 9 Article

Fox 9 Video

MPR Story related to Sholom Home Re-Use

Pioneer Press Article on Sholom Home Re-Use