Sheila Bahl
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On the article Bottineau Pros and Cons: What Do Residents Really Think?
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On the article Bottineau Pros and Cons: What Do Residents Really Think?
Sheila Bahl
10:25 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
ReplyIt is absolutely not true that the people who oppose the D1 allignment automatically support the D2 down Penn Ave. I and most of the other residents with whom I have discussed this issue, think that the D2 route would also be just awful for people that live there and that is why we would like Hennepin County to look at another possible route. We would hate to see that neighborhood divided. So please, do not assume that if someone is against D1 that they would be if favor of D2. A majority of us actually to have a great deal of empathy for the people of North Mpls. and would like to work with them to find a route that would be of benefit to all of us.
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On the article Bottineau Pros and Cons: What Do Residents Really Think?
Sheila Bahl
1:40 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
ReplyAfter attending the Open Forum last night, I think some people were left with the misconception that the residents attending were against light rail. Most seemed to be in favor of light rail, but against it impacting green space and nature and recreation areas. We were told that we were not thinking about the future, but that's exactly what we are thinking about. In 50 or 100 years we will likely have much more high-density housing in this area. This will make any nature areas in our city even more crucial in maintaining the physical and emotional well-being of our residents. Our parks should not be turned into transit corridors.
We were also told we were missing a great opportunity by not supporting this route, but isn't North Mpls. really missing out by not finding a route that could benefit the people that really need access to mass transit.? Wouldn't North Mpls. benefit from transit-oriented developemnt?
I urge the city council and mayor to vote "no" on any current or future resolution to support this route or any study of this route. Hennepin County needs to work with people from both N. Mpls. and Golden Valley to find a better solution. Any further study of the D1 allignment is a waste of precious time and millions of dollars. -
On the article Hennepin County Won't Support Local Road Project
Sheila Bahl
3:37 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
ReplyI am very proud of our city council members for not being bullied by Hennepin County.
There seems to be a lack of respect for Golden Valley by Hennepin County. They would not dream of putting the light rail through the Rose Garden or along the lakes in Mpls, but have no trouble at ruining our nature area and wetlands. I feel there is somewhat of a value judgement going on here because our lakes are not surrounded by million dollar homes. -
On the article City Will Revist Bottineau Transitway Plans
Sheila Bahl
12:24 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
But wait a minute--isn't this supposed to be a suburban environment. Isn't that why we all moved here--to be in a suburban and not an urban environment. You made a good point. The light rail would turn this into an urban environment overnight. Does Hennepin County have the right to do this? They may have the power, but do they have the right to drastically change our city in order to get people from Maple Grove (who regected light rail for their own city) to the Twins game--what was it--two minutes sooner than the other alternative? You are also correct that people would move--they would move and probably have to rent their houses because who would want to live right next to a light rail line. Do you have any idea what rental housing does to a neighborhood? I do. I lived in a neighborhood in Mpls. that had one rental property that caused everyone on the block to sell and move. We are talking about peoples lives here! Just move? When you've built your life in one spot and have many friends and your support system here? Just move?
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On the article City Will Revist Bottineau Transitway Plans
Sheila Bahl
12:14 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
And who will benefit by the light rail running through a nature area and wetlands. Will the fox and heron and deer suddenly decide to commute downtown? The idea that this area is already impacted by the existing train tracks is simply not true. I have lived here for 28 years and walk through the Mary Hills Nautre Area often and have never seen or heard a train go through this area. It would be vastly different to have light rail running through here every 7 to 10 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes at other times. This would be like "Chinese Water Torture" for
people living here. There is no common sense reason for building this except for
saving money, but at what cost to the quality of life of current and future generations. -
On the article (Poll) Do You Want Light Rail in Golden Valley?
Sheila Bahl
6:05 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
ReplyFriend of Theodore Wirth
The people that created Theodore Wirth Park and the nature areas connected to the North, were very wise. They knew that people living in a large city needed quiet places to connect with nature in order to stay physically and emotionally healthy. These parks are a treasure! We need to fiercely protect these areas for future generations. To do otherwise would be short-sighted and irresponsible. To quote Joni Mitchell, "Don't it always seem to go, we don't know what we've got 'til it's gone--they take paradise and put up a parking lot!"
Sheila Bahl
3:26 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
From what I understand, it is not at all certain whether GV would have any stops. The station that was proposed on GV Road would be located underneath the
bridge. It would be reached by elevators located on the bridge. Because the ridership would probably be quite low at this location, it may not be feasible to have a stop there. If a station was built there, Hennepin County probably would put pressure on GV for developement of that area. If this would mean more high-density housing or a mixture of this and commercial businesses, I don't know. Hennepin County has a policy of pushing transit-oriented developement along light rail lines. As it is now, there are very few people that are within the quarter mile area, which is the furthest distance people are likely to walk to a station. Since there may be no or very little parking near this station, this may also prevent this station from being viable. I haven't heard much about the other options. But yes, I would guess they wouldn't build more than one station.