Snow Emergency - December 17

(Editor's note:  Finally, maybe, we'll get the streets clear!)

From:
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=905

Saint Paul has declared a Snow Emergency, beginning Tuesday, December
17th, at 9:00 p.m.  All Night Plow Route plowing will begin at this
time.

We are declaring a snow emergency to clear all of our streets curb to
curb. This is necessitated for several reasons:

• We received several inches of snow over the last several days from
several small snow systems.

• Temperatures began rising Monday and are expected to remain in the
low twenties to low 30's through Thursday, loosening the compacted
snow on the residential streets.

• With parking bans it allows us to minimize the cars we plow around
and eliminate as many windrows as possible before the cold sets in
again. (These windrows are a problem once it freezes again.)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-mZKh0Kzc


All snow emergencies start with Night Plow Routes at 9:00 P.M. on the
day of the declared snow emergency.

Plowing begins on Night Plow Routes at 9:00 P.M. and continues through
the night into the morning until the snow is plowed to the curb.
Parking is banned on these routes until snow is plowed all the way to
the curb. This plowing operation takes 8 to 12 hours to complete
depending on the amount of snow. Night Plow Routes are typically the
busy streets -- marked with signs that say "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE" -- plus
one side of north-south residential streets with signs that say "NIGHT
PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET."

PLEASE NOTE:  A number of north-south streets located in the north
central section of the city which were previously designated as Day
Plow Routes have now been designated as Night Plow Routes.  More info
and map here.

All downtown streets are on the night plow route.


Day Plow Routes begin the following morning.  There are no signs on
Day Plow Routes.  Plowing starts after the night routes are plowed,
which is typically around 8:00 A.M.  Parking is banned on these routes
until snow is plowed all the way to the curb.  The Day Plow Routes are
the east-west residential streets PLUS one side of north-south
residential streets -- the side WITHOUT the plowing signs.  There are
some exceptions to these rules but they are all well marked.

The tagging and towing continues for 96 hours after the snow emergency
has begun.

For 24-hour Snow Emergency information call (651) 266-PLOW (7569) for
an up-to-date recording of current snow emergency conditions or (651)
266-9700 to talk to Street Maintenance personnel.

Macalester-Groveland Community Plan

Help the MGCC out by participating in their community planning process! And help SARPA out by indicating that "historic preservation" is one of your top issues! Win-win!

Planning for 2023:

The Macalester Groveland Community Council (MGCC) is working hard on your behalf to fulfill its mission: Fostering citizen participation in government and community decisions that make our neighborhood a desirable place to live, work, learn and play. A key focus of MGCC’s work for the next 16 months is the revision of our neighborhood’s community plan. This plan, revised every ten years, becomes part of the City of St. Paul’s plan. With the force of law, it will guide development in our neighborhood for the next decade. Do you remember what our neighborhood was like ten years ago? How about twenty years ago? Thirty? Forty? What changes have been made in the last decade which we now take for granted? Think smart phones, tablet computing, wi-fi. What do we want this neighborhood to be like in 2023? What steps do we need to take now so that it continues to be a desirable place to live, work, learn, play?

Through December 31st, we are asking neighborhood stakeholders four questions:

1. What do you love about the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood that is essential to keep?

2. What might we improve over the next 10 years?

3. What should we start or create in Mac-Groveland that isn’t here now?

4. What should we stop doing?

We want to hear from you: homeowners and renters, business owners and workers, students, representatives of educational and faith institutions and many others are critical to this process.

Help shape the future of this great neighborhood as we plan for the next decade. To participate online through December 31st, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/macgroveplan.  

Thanks!

Holiday Shopping - Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District

We're thrilled to have the authors of Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District kick off our Lecture Series on January 9!

More information coming soon!

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When was the last time you drove down Summit Avenue and wondered what those beautiful historic mansions look like inside?

Architectural photographer Karen Melvin wondered the same thing as she walked the street at dusk and marveled at the beautiful things she saw inside the houses built more than 100 years ago by railroad magnates, lumber barons, captains of industry and the merchant class.

Images of the interiors and exteriors of these homes and mansions, built from civil war time to the early 1900's, are now on display and in full color in the new book, Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District (Big Picture Press, Oct. 2013, $54.95). Released just in time for the 2013 holiday season, the book includes Summit Avenue and the Hill District's most important houses - six of which are in areas like Crocus Hill, Ramsey Hill and the Summit Hill neighborhoods.

Until now most of us could only experience these houses from the street, but thanks to Melvins' new coffee table book, the doors to 24 of these remarkable architectural gems are open for all to see, featuring the amazing architecture and detail of a bygone era.

“I wanted to take people inside to see the beautiful design choices that were made by original architects," said Melvin, who conceptualized the book a few years ago while walking down Summit Avenue photographing the Classical design details on the facades of the houses. There are more than 400 images in the book, which not only serves as a catalog of St. Paul’s most stately homes, but a history of one of the most famous Victorian boulevards in America.

"You will see a range of house style and size, but my main criteria was to feature houses that have been restored to their original grandeur, especially the interiors,” said Melvin.

Fascinating stories penned by four award-winning writers accompany the hundreds of colorful photographs Melvin took after being invited into the homes. The authors are architectural historian Paul Larson, who has written many books of history featuring St. Paul and architect Clarence Johnston; Bette Hammel, an architectural journalist and widow of the founder of HGA Architects, Dick Hammel; Melinda Nelson, who writes about beautiful living and lifestyle from the homeowners viewpoint; and Dave Kenney, who writes not only about a house's history, but also the present day owners and renovation.

Melvin recruited the authors to work on the project after making the decision to self- publish the book. Melvin’s first two books with author Bette Hammel, the highly popular Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka, which came out in 2009, and Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes, released in 2012 (MHS Press), are both regional bestsellers.

Melvin is proud to have had the foreword for her latest title written by one of St. Paul’s most famous residents: longtime Summit Avenue resident Garrison Keillor, host of the American Public Media radio variety show, A Prairie Home Companion. In the foreword he wrote, “What remains and is so clear in Karen Melvin’s lovely pictures is the fine workmanship of the buildings, the stonework and brickwork and wood carving and cabinetry and carpentry of thousands of anonymous men... who rode the streetcars or climbed up the hill from the flats... to work on the construction crews six days a week, ten hours a day.”

"It has been a wonderful journey meeting the homeowners and getting to know St. Paul in a more intimate way. All the homeowners were very welcoming and wanted to share their story with readers. But then again, that’s St. Paul - friendly, close knit and proud of their traditions in architecture. It's really like our little Europe," said Melvin.

Copies of Great Houses of Summit Avenue and the Hill District are available for purchase at Common Good Books, Barnes and Noble and other fine bookstores and gift shops throughout Minnesota. The book is also available online. Autographed copies are available by ordering direct from the publisher at www.summitavenuebook.com.

Member Holiday Party

Member Holiday Party

at the home of board member Carolyn Will

Friday, December 6, 2013

5:30 - 7:30pm

1583 Summit Avenue (at Summit and Snelling)

Come explore this fascinating home, built by a bootlegging family during the height of Prohibition!

Look forward to seeing you there.

(Though it's just for members, you can join that night! A household membership is just $30 and is entirely tax-deductible)

Drinking for Preservation!

Head over to the other side of the river tomorrow night, and enjoy a pre-Thanksgiving pub crawl!

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota tells us:

It’s time for our Historic Pub Crawl Series to return to Minneapolis! We’ve explored downtown and NE Minneapolis and now wanted to make sure that we hit up one of Minneapolis’ historic commercial corridors.

Historic Pub Crawl: Minneapolis (Lyn Lake)
Tuesday, November 26th
5:30-8:30pm
$10

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

The Lyn-Lake area, centered around the intersection of Lyndale and West Lake, is one of the city’s most distinctive neighborhoods. The core commercial district is one of the oldest in South Minneapolis, thanks in part to its strategic location along several early streetcar lines. Over time the neighborhood evolved from the blue collar industrial worker to a more bohemian community. Even today, the Lyn-Lake neighborhood has maintained a very diverse community for those who live, work, and play in the area, all the while balancing the historic character of the community.

We’re going to be visiting Moto-i, Herkimer Pub & Brewery, and Lyndale Tap House. At each of our drinking establishments we’ll be sharing some cool facts about the buildings and the neighborhood and we’ll also do a little trivia with prizes.

With all that in mind and a nice mix of historic drinking establishments to explore, we invite you to our Historic Pub Crawl: Lyn-Lake Neighborhood.

We hope you’ll join us!

Monster Dash - Oct 26

Latest press release in our in-box:

Road Closures for Monster Dash, October 26 

Monster Dash, the spooktacular Half Marathon and 10 Mile race, is coming to the area the morning of October 26th, 2013. It is important you are aware that you could encounter temporary road closures around your residence.

For residents off of Summit Avenue:

All lanes of Summit Avenue will be closed between Nina Street and John Ireland Boulevard starting at 6:30 a.m. and will be closed until 9:30 a.m. All lanes of Summit Avenue between Nina and Lexington will be closed between 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The Westbound lanes of Summit Avenue will be closed from Lexington to Mississippi River Boulevard from 7:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. However the Eastbound lanes will be open for traffic from Lexington to Mississippi River Blvd. The St. Paul Police will open roads after the last runner has gone past.

For residents off of Mississippi River Boulevard South:

Summit Avenue to West 7th/Highway 5 will be closed from 7:30am-11:30am.

For more information please see our websitehttp://www.minnesotamonster.org/ or email us atinfo@teamortho.us

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SARPA was recently told that street closure fees in Saint Paul are much less than our sister city to the west — hundreds, rather than thousands of dollars. maybe that's why every major race seems to go down Summit?

Fix-It on Summit

Mark your calendars for Macalester-Groveland's first Fix-it Clinic:
Sunday, October 13th • 12pm - 3pm 
at Laura Jeffrey Academy at 1550 Summit Avenue 

How it works:  Fix-it Clinics are completely free events where ANYONE can bring broken electronics, furniture, clothing, small appliances and other household items and receive help from a skilled volunteer to repair, mend, and fix them.  With our first event just around the corner, take a look around your basement, garage, or closets to find items you'd love to use if only they could be repaired... and bring them to the Fix-it Clinic!  You can even pick up a free reusable bag while you're there.

Volunteer fixers are still needed too! For more information, please contact Lauren at 651-695-4000 orlauren@macgrove.org.

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(do you think they can fix the pavement on Summit?)

Today Summit, Tomorrow Hollywood

In the immortal words of the musical RENT, " I hear that Spike Lee's shooting down the street..." (well, "Spike-Lee-style...")

Have you wondered what all those start trailers and movie stuff has been on the 1000 block of Summit?  

"Dear White People," which has been described as a Spike Lee-style satire about being a person of color in a city filled with white people, has been shooting on Summit Avenue, near the Governor's Mansion, finishing up a few weeks of filming at various Twin Cities locations (also including the University of Minnesota). Hoping for a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah next January, "Dear White People" stars Dennis Haysbert, who has a long movie resume but is best known as the authoritative voice of Allstate Insurance.

Ramsey Hill House Tour - Thursday, Sept 19th, 2013 4 to 9pm

 We invite you to 'Celebrate the Charm' of this Saint Paul Summit Avenue Historic Neighborhood at a candlelight tour. It features nine homes with unique architectural styles, giving a glimpse into some of the oldest and best-preserved Victorian-era homes. The tour highlights a variety of distinct homes, including one originally built for Louis Hill, son of James J. Hill; a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1887; another is new historic reproduction, and yet another that was quite controversial when built.

Other tour highlights include a docent-led tour of one of America's most beautiful church sanctuaries, an inviting German Rathskeller experience, and a chance to stop by the University Club to help them celebrate their 100th anniversary. Mark your calendars and get your tickets!

The proceeds from the tour provide two year funding to the RHA, which is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the integrity and beautification of our historic neighborhood.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of the event. Purchase online at https://ramseyhill.org/housetour2013.html or at the following retail locations: All locations of Kowalski's, Bibelot, and Mississippi Market; Hirshfield's metro area Decorating Centers; Subtext: A Bookstore; Paper Patisserie; Common Good Books; Solo Vino Wine; and Frattallone’s Ace Hardware’s Grand Avenue locations.

Summit Walking

Our neighbors and friends at the Sweatshop (at Snelling and Selby) are holding a fun-sounding free event this Sunday:

Our ALL club River Run/Walk and Stretch will meet at the Sweatshop at 8 am, so bring a water bottle and desire! We'll break into groups by speed & ability and head off down to Summit Avenue at your best pace.  

Sweatshop staff will have mats and refreshments set up at the river (end of Summit at the statue), where trainer Debra Hunt will lead a stretch session. And enjoy a walk back with Sweatshop Friends. All members and your friends are welcome but please RSVP (651-646-8418) so we have enough of everything for you.

BONUS: All participants that are signed up for Perkville, our reward program, will get 100 points for the River Run AND another 100 points if you bring along a guest for this event--or any of this weekend's Open House events.

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Even if you don't do this walk, the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend, so why not take advantage of it and go for a walk?

Organics Recycling Drop-Off Site

Interested in reducing the amount of waste you toss into your trash can, minimizing your environmental impact, or saving money on your trash bill?  

The Macalester-Groveland Organics Recycling Drop-off Site is now open to ALL Saint Paul residents! With a location just off of Summit and Snelling (in the Patagonia parking lot), it's convenient and economical to bringing your compostable organic waste, meat, dairy, bones, and non-recyclable paper to the Drop-off Site. 

Joining the program is easy:  sign up through the Macalester-Groveland Community Council office (located at the Edgecumbe Rec Center), pick up compostable bags at a local grocery or hardware store and start collecting food scraps, leftovers, nonrecyclable papers and much more.

 The 2013-2014 registration fee is $28 for renewing members and $36 for brand new members. Your registration fee provides 24/7 access to the Drop-off Site through May 31, 2014 and covers the cost of hauling the organics to a commercial composting facility. Even better, there are scholarships currently available to those who meet income requirements!

For more information, check out the MGCC website, or contact Project Coordinator Lauren Anderson at 651-695-4000 or lauren@macgrove.org.

Some Great Garden Stroll Pictures!

Wrap up coming soon, but until then, here are some great visuals!

Fiddlin' Gals

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Herb Challenge

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Garden Owner Jan Hahn relaxes in her garden

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Strollers

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Sue and Dave Klevan Welcome You to their Garden

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A Closer Look

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Colorful Strollers

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Summit Gets Historic Trees--From Gettysburg!

The Pioneer Press reports that Summit Avenue's Civil War Memorial has received six red cedar trees from the battlefield in Gettysburg, thanks to persistent activist and St Paul resident Patrick Hill. The historic trees encircle the Josias R. King statue in Summit Park, located in front of the Cathedral, at Summit's easternmost point.

Image from the Pioneer Press article, "Six of eight red cedar trees survived the move from the Gettysburg Battlefield to Summit Park on Old Kellogg Boulevard [and Summit Avenue] in St. Paul. Patrick Hill wanted to honor the First Minnesota Infantry Division, which distinguished itself at the battle 150 years ago, and spearheaded the effort to have the trees transplanted. (Courtesy of Patrick Hill)"

A very wet stormy June made for lush green gardens, and the skies even cooperated, lending a little sunshine for the 2013 Garden Stroll last Sunday.

A few highlights...

SARPA Garden Stroll in the News

Check out this article in the Strib highlighting the Garden Stroll:

The Dirt: Summit Av., Prospect Park and Twin Cities pond and garden tours

• Article by: LYNN UNDERWOOD , Star Tribune 
• Updated: June 18, 2013 - 3:01 PM

Summit tour and tea

Historic homes will showcase their legendary landscapes for the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll & Tea on June 23 from noon to 4 p.m. Here’s a chance to explore the front and back yards of the grand homes along St. Paul’s renowned avenue. Heirloom and English country gardens surround century-old Tudor villas. A secret garden hidden by vines, fish ponds and fountains, and a tropical paradise with grapefruit and banana trees are some of the highlights. Take the herb challenge to win prizes at a Georgian Revival herb garden. The informal back-yard Garden Tea will be catered by Laurie Crowell, owner of the Golden Fig. Ramsey County master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Tickets are $10 for the stroll and $12 for the tea in advance; $15 each on tour day at 1359 Summit Av. Advance tickets are available at various retailers or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For information, go to www.sarpa.org.

Carilloneurs

There is a unique event going on during most of this week in Saint Paul--a convention of carilloneurs! 

From a local post:

What, you say, is a carilloneur? Somebody who plays a carillon! No, I didn't say carrion!

What's a carillon? A set of tuned bells in a bell tower!

Why haven't I seen one? There are only 164 of them in the entire United States, while there are 182 carillons in The Netherlands!

The three carillons in Minnesota are at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis by the Convention Center, and at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. 

All this week there will be free public concerts which you can listen to from the lawn of House of Hope Church at 797 Summit Avenue in St. Paul. A tent is set up to protect listeners in case of rain. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on!

The world's leading carillon players are coming to town to play for each other and for us.

Think of your kids. Maybe this would be something they'd enjoy. The last convention of carillon players in St. Paul was 50 years ago! There IS a weekly Sunday afternoon carillon concert series at House of Hope every Sunday beginning on the Fourth of July and every Sunday for the next several weeks, at 4 p.m. Remember, they are outdoors. And if you become bored, you can just walk away or amuse yourself with a book. 

Garden Stroll Sunday June 23rd, 2013

A perennial favorite, the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll, returns Sunday, June 23^th from Noon to 4 p.m.  Ticketholders explore one of our country’s most magnificent stretches of urban green spaces as well as walk into ten Summit Avenue gardens.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at several Grand Ave. locations in Saint Paul:

·        A. Johnson & Son’s Florist                   1738 Grand Ave.

·        Frattallone’s Ace Hardware Stores       650 Grand Ave.  & 1676 Grand Ave

·        Kowalski’s Market                               1261 Grand Ave.

·        Online at www.brownpapertickets.com  or at www.sarpa.org

Ticket prices:   Purchased in advance, $10 for the Garden Stroll and $12 for the informal tea.  On the day of the event, Stroll and Tea tickets may be purchased for $15 each at the featured gardens or tea location, 1358 Summit Avenue.  

Garden strollers are encouraged to park their cars and walk to the featured gardens.  Free parking is available at Mount Zion’s Temple, 1300 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, as well as ample street parking.

 Proceeds from this year’s event will support new traffic-calming features for the public garden at the Lexington and Summit Ave. Boulevard, one of the busiest intersections in the city for motorists, bikers, runners and walkers each day. 

“We want to call attention to the volunteer-organized park on the east end of the boulevard at Summit and Lexington. It used to be a favorite photo spot for bridal couples and we want to help beautify this space again with proceeds from this year’s stroll,” said Bethany Gladhill, President of the Summit Avenue Residential & Preservation Association (SARPA).  “Garden strollers will also find this section particularly lovely and walkable. Lilac bushes fill the center boulevard for several blocks and stately old oak and elm trees provide a cooling shade canopy,” said Gladhill.  Retired gardening columnist for the Pioneer Press, Marge Hols, will be in her garden to answer questions.  Ramsey County Master Gardeners will also be ready to answer questions in several of the other gardens.

An informal Garden Tea will be held during the stroll from noon to 4 p.m. at 1358 Summit Ave. catered by The Golden Fig owner and Twin Cities Live celebrity chef, Laurie Crowell. Diners will have the

option to take their tea inside or out at the pool side garden of this historic home.  Throughout the afternoon tea, gift certificates will be raffled off from local nurseries including Highland Nursery, Leitner’s and Heart & Soil Design.  

While at the Garden Stroll Tea, take in a special photo exhibition by Michael Armstrong, carefully curated for the Summit Avenue Garden Stroll.  Armstrong’s show will focus on horticultural and Saint Paul images.  A portion of event day sales will go to support the mission of the Summit Avenue Residential and Preservation Association. 

                       

The Summit Avenue Garden Stroll & Tea will be held rain or shine.  Watch for more details the gardens at www.sarpa.org.   Tickets for the Stroll & Tea go up to $15 each if purchased at the tea or at any of the featured gardens.

The Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association sponsors the Stroll and Tea and is proud to be recognized as the “Nation’s Best Intact Street from Victorian Era,” by the American Planning Association.

 

Final Lecture - Nicole Curtis — The Rehab Addict — on May 1

Our series wraps with one of the most well-known popular voices in preservation. A self-taught home rehabber and designer, Nicole is also a mom, a master of salvage picking, and a spirited advocate for saving old houses. Resourceful, creative and always in motion, Nicole is hands-on with all of her projects and wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a whirlwind of ideas, energy and vision, skilled with every tool in her belt (plus a few secrets she’s got tucked up her sleeve).

Nicole harnesses her experience with interior design, contracting and real estate in Rehab Addict, her show on the DIY Network and HGTV. She also consults and tackles projects for clients ranging from revamping a single room to redoing an entire home.

You've seen Nicole's work locally in her incredible Minnehaha project, the Minneapolis "Dollar House," a project on Case Avenue in Saint Paul, and even in consultation on a Summit landmark.

Above all, Nicole is passionate about saving and restoring old homes. Don't miss this evening; even a few minutes spent with Nicole will forever ignite your preservation spirit.

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All lectures being at 6pm and last for one hour. Our generous host is the German-American Institute at 301 Summit Avenue.

Spring Art & Architecture Tour: Celebrating 125 Years at St. Thomas More

Saint Thomas More Church

1079 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105

Saturday, April 20, 2013

6:00 p.m.

Join in an entertaining and informative evening to learn about the beautiful art, architecture and 125-year history of Saint Thomas More Church, located on historic Summit Avenue in Saint Paul.

Saint Thomas More Catholic Community, founded on January 1, 2008, is the union of two Catholic Parishes on Summit Avenue: The Church of Saint Luke (1888) and The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1949). Our rich heritage from these two communities of faith has blessed us with over 125 years of Catholic worship, community and ministry in this historic area of Saint Paul.

Father Joseph Weiss, SJ, will lead this tour of the interior (and exterior, weather permitting) of this beautiful church, accompanied by wine, appetizers and good company. All are invited to attend - please invite your friends!

Suggested donation for the event is $10.00 per person to cover the costs; a free-will offering will be collected. Reservations are requested to Patti Day in the Saint Thomas More Parish Office, at (651) 227-7669, ext. 302, or pday@morecommunity.org.

This event is sponsored by the Saint Thomas More Women’s Group

Lecture #2 - Wednesday, April 3

It's already time for the second lecture!

Last year's "Buying and Selling on Summit" was one of our hottest topics. In that vein, we wanted to give you some information about what to look for when you are remodeling.

Renovation on Summit

with Carlsen and Frank Architects, Paul Ormseth LLC,

and A-Squared Construction

Renovating a historic home includes particular challenges. What kind of renovations are the most necessary — or value-enhancing — or cost-effective? What should you know before you begin your project, and how can you get the most from it? This panel of neighborhood-based experts has particular expertise in historic homes, and a love of Summit Avenue architecture.

The lecture begins at 6pm, and lasts an hour.

Our generous host this year is the Germanic-American Institute, 301 Summit. Please consider joining them, or attending one of their many open events!