The people of the Camden community deserve to hear the other side about a new library in North Minneapolis, not rumors and gossip. The Hennepin County Commissioners representing our community are committed to building a new, first class library. They have held open houses, presented the possibilities, made architects and staff available to the community, and listened to neighborhood input. In 2007, they created a new library project where none existed before. And we agree with them that this new public amenity should be built right, even if that means it is not built fast.
The vision our community discussed with Commissioners Mike Opat and Mark Stenglein is for a new walkable, bikable and accessible library from every direction, complete with sustainable architectural and construction practices. We believe this vision is shared by almost everyone in our community. While some have asked why we don't simply do what we can right now and dismiss this vision, we think it's worth the work and the wait to get it right. We know how valuable every tax dollar is in this economic climate. If the County is pushed to build the library on an ill-suited site, then we would have to acknowledge that we lost our nerve, wasted a precious public investment and abandoned our shared vision.
We must not pursue that reckless path. Rather, let us work toward completing the right site for a library and get it done right-at the corner of Humboldt and 45th. With banners, streamers and "For Sale" signs on the front lawn of 1423 45th Ave. just a few years ago, it should have been easy, not difficult, for the County to acquire this property. Yet, we are now told by County representatives that the owners of this rental property are looking for $1 million for a property that was assessed at $370,000 in January 2009. Who among us would expect in this depressed housing market to sell any home for nearly three times its value? Who among us would want our tax dollars to be spent on an overvalued parcel of land? And so the project is stalled and the entire community waits.
This much is known: The rental property at 1423 45th Ave. was clearly for sale until the County took an interest in buying it. The County has made offers to purchase it and relocate the glass-block business, which is prohibited by City ordinances to be at that location. We recognize that the property owners live in the neighborhood, so we hope that they too share the vision of so many who need a world-class library facility that serves the entire community.
In the face of the owners' apparent change of heart, the path forward is clear amid several bad options. Hennepin County cannot offer $1 million for the rental property, obviously. Nor can the county "build around" the property, which would gamble with a $12 million community library that the site will remain vacant, or be rented, homesteaded, redeveloped or sold to an unknown or untrustworthy buyer. That means that we must wait, press the County to keep the lines of communication open, and hope that property owners abandon any hope of receiving a real estate windfall at the hands of the taxpayers. Hennepin County should be fair, but not bullied.
As long time Camden residents and former Minneapolis Library Board Trustees, we agree with those who say North Minneapolis has for far too long not been given the funding or attention it deserves with regards to libraries, specifically Webber Park Community Library. During our terms of office, we fought tirelessly to get our governmental colleagues to invest in our community. Now that we finally have County Commissioners willing to make that investment, some seem ready to settle for second best by calling for the library to be housed in an abandoned grocery store or overshadow a private home. Still others vehemently opine about the direction the building may face, whether it will have one entrance or two, and even what name should grace the structure. Having been involved in several capital improvement projects, we understand the value and necessity of community input, and there will be such an opportunity for such. However, let's not put the cart before the horse. We must first have an appropriate parcel of land upon which we can build a library; a library with plenty of study space for students, accessible space for seniors, and program space for our immigrant neighbors and new Americans. In other words, space enough to house the diversity of thought for a diverse population.
It is our responsibility to help bring about the shared vision for a vibrant public square on a block where now exist only bleak, empty buildings. Hennepin County must not shortchange future generations for the profits of the very few today. We know there is a way to complete this site and build a great library. Our community must not blink and sell ourselves short on this project. Let's get it right.
Marilyn Borea, Victory
and Alan Hooker, Victory