Today is the last day for the public to comment on a controversial city development project next to the Como neighborhood, a community filled with University students, faculty members and employees.
The project entails using city dollars to rehabilitate several old warehouses in the Mid-City Industrial area into facilities equipped for high tech businesses.
Project developer Hillcrest Development say they can bring 8,000 new jobs to the area.
But several residents have voiced concern over the potentially negative impacts those jobs will bring in the form of increased automobile traffic and pollution.
Furthermore, some residents are concerned city officials have not given the neighborhood adequate notice of the project.
Another criticism of the project is the displacement of many artists whose studios are located in the affected buildings.
But Minneapolis Community Development Agency officials and the city council are optimistic about the potential job growth the project could bring to the area.
Two weeks ago, the Minneapolis City Council voted to commit $16.6 million toward the project’s first phase and for the MCDA to obtain eight buildings through the eminent domain process.
For more information on the project contact the Southeast Como Improvement Association at 676-1731. To give your opinion on the project, send written comments by 4:30 p.m. today to Sally Benjamin at:
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 673-2728

Max Rust covers the community and agriculture. He can be reached at [email protected].