Black Bear Crossing may remain at Como Pavilion

Black Bear Crossings may remain at the Como Pavilion this year.

The city and Black Bear Crossings are currently involved in litigation regarding who will run the Pavilion. A pending lawsuit will determine whether the city of St. Paul must extend Black Bear’s current lease at the Pavilion through 2018.

According to Brad Meyer of the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department, “This lawsuit does not impact current or future bookings at the Pavilion, and despite the parties’ disagreement, Black Bear and the city agree that any wedding or event that is scheduled at the Pavilion will go forward on the scheduled date and time.”

He added, “Black Bear Crossings and the city of St. Paul are committed to ensuring the smooth operation of the Como Lakeside Pavilion for couples, organizations, and other customers who have booked weddings or events in 2014 or beyond.”

The St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department has accused the Glasses of breach of contract, and argued that the restaurant should be earning higher revenues in order to be considered successful. The Glasses have disagreed.

Extreme makeover: Seal Island edition

Como requests state to approve $13.8 million to update the seal and sea lion exhibit

by Tesha M. Christensen

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is ready to give Sparky’s home an extreme makeover.

To move forward, Como is asking state legislators to approve $13.8 million in general obligation bonds. Another $1 million will come from private donations.

“Sparky is an ambassador for conservation education, through the 2 million plus visitors to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory each year, including 500,000 school age kids taking part of some educational programming,” stated Como’s Campus Manager Michelle Furrer. 

“Today we see multi-generations visiting and making connections with the animals like Sparky and our hope is that this will continue for generations.”

There was no funding set aside for Como Zoo in Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed bonding request to the Legislature, but there was $8.9 million in transportation and access improvements for the surrounding Como Regional Park. There was, however, $53.3 million in bonding requests from the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley.

PROJECT WILL OCCUPY SAME AREA AT COMO

Currently, the seals and sea lions split their time between Seal Island in the summer and the Marine Mammal Building in the winter. Sparky is housed year-round in a separate pool from other seals and sea lions.

“Como has been a part of Minnesota’s lives for over 100 years and Sparky for nearly 60 years,” observed Furrer.

The $14.8 million project being planned will use the same 64,500 square feet that currently house Seal Island and the amphitheater. However, the amount of pool area will jump from 146,000 gallons to 244,000 gallons.

When Seal Island is renovated, all the seals and sea lions will be housed together, rather than in groups of two or three. Currently, Como has six pinnipeds (the classification for seals and sea lions), and will have room for eight with the changes to their habitat area.

GUESTS WILL EXPERIENCE TRAINING FIRSTHAND

The outdoor exhibit for seals was originally called Monkey Island when it was built during the WPA in the 1930s. It was converted in the early 1980s into Seal Island and an amphitheater was added nearby. The habitats were not built with training in mind, nor do they meet updated standards of animal management, according to Furrer.

With its freshwater pools, Seal Island no longer meets federal requirements. The renovation plan replaces the freshwater area with two saltwater pools. These will provide zoo guests with both underwater and above water viewing that is available year-round. Guests will be able to see the animals in a more naturalistic habitat year round. Plus, visitors will be able to experience the operant conditioning training of the animals firsthand.

Because the current facility was not designed with training in mind, Como trainers face the challenge of needing a trainer for each animal during sessions. “This means that if there are four animals on the island, we need four trainers,” explained Senior Keeper Allison Jungheim. 

The new construction will give trainers more options. Using the principals of positive enforcement, the pinnipeds at Como receive 2-3 training sessions a day, during which they get most of their daily food.

“Training is mentally stimulating and very enriching for them,” stated Jungheim.

NOT ABOUT GETTING BIGGER BUT BETTER

The update to Seal Island follows upon the heels of the $11 million Gorilla Forest that opened in June 2013, and the $15 million Polar Bear Odyssey that opened in June 2010.

“With the development of these last series of projects for Como, it’s not about getting bigger but doing what we do better,” said Furrer. “We want to ensure that, for generations to come, Sparky will be an ambassador for conservation and education. In order to do this updates are needed.”

This story was printed in the February 2014 edition of the St. Paul Monitor.

Longtime St. Paul company to run Como Golf Course

City council approves 5-year agreement with Prom Management Group 

by Tesha M. Christensen

As a boy, Bill Given of Prom Management Group, Inc. played golf at Como. As a man, he and his brother will be running things.

St. Paul has reached a five-year agreement with Prom Management Group to manage both Como and Phalen golf courses. The city council approved the agreement at its Jan. 22, 2014 meeting on a 4-3 vote, with Councilmember Bostrom, Councilmember Thune and Councilmember Tolbert voting against it.

“I am most excited to see this new adventure become successful and profitable for both our company and the city,” said Bill. “If we can accomplish this, and provide exemplar customer service and products, this will be a win for everyone, including those who pay taxes in the city and do not play golf.”

TIES TO ST. PAUL

Bill and his brother Tom were born and raised in St. Paul. “We have a very rich history in St. Paul, spanning more than three generations,” stated Given.

The company began in the 1940s when their father, Harry Given, visited the original Prom Ballroom on University Ave. to do advertising and promotion for the popular dance hall. After a few years, Harry became the general manager, and eventually the owner.

During the late 1980s, Tom and Bill brought the company from their father and shifted it into catering, event management and concessions operations. They operated out of the Prom Expo Center on Smith Ave. in St. Paul, and became involved in the catering aspects of local and national PGA tournaments. As the business grew, they expanded into a new 40,000-square-foot facility in Oakdale.

Today, Prom Management Group caters to over 30 golf tournaments nationwide, including: PGA TOUR, Champion’s Tour, USGA National Championships, the LPGA Tour, the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, THE PLAYERS, The Presidents Cup and the 3M Championship- TPC of the Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.

“We took over Theodore Wirth in Minneapolis and Columbia in Minneapolis seven years ago, and have doubled the food and beverage revenues in that time,” noted Bill. “We have expanded food options, specials, beverage options, as well as service and catered offerings that the patrons never had previous to our arrival.  

“Many years ago, we did the same at Keller Golf course, and we have been very successful at that venue for 28 years.”

A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE

Como will represent a new business venture for Prom, as it will be the first time they have managed tasks outside food and special events, but the Givens are looking forward to the prospect.

“This is a natural expansion of our golf interests, and a platform that we believe will have many more opportunities,” said Bill. “We believe we can deliver a better customer service experience for our patrons, expand menu and food and beverage options, and still produce a profit. I am most excited about the structure and development of this new business segment.”

 AGREEMENT HELPED CITY KEEP AAA RATING

Prom will assume total financial responsibility for losses or gains at the golf courses. Prom will pay the city 4% of gross revenues from both courses, with a minimum guaranteed amount of $65,000 (regardless of performance). The city’s total annual payment will increase from the minimum annual guarantee if gross revenues totaled more than $875,000 at Phalen, and/or $750,000 at Como, in a season.

Prom will be required to provide the city with monthly financial performance statements and an annual financial report.

While Prom will set the rates at the golf courses, the city will have final approval.

Prom may use the current city-owned turf maintenance equipment and furniture, fixtures and equipment at each course, but will be responsible for repairing and maintaining it.

The city will contribute $30,000 per course each year for capital improvements. Meanwhile, Prom will spend $10,000 per course for the first three years, and $20,000 per course for the remaining two years.

The city will continue to operate the ski program at Como and the cross-country grooming at Phalen during the winter.

About 20 full-time unionized public employees who work at the Phalen and Como courses will be affected by this agreement. Most will be reassigned to work at the Highland courses filling positions previously being held by temporary/seasonal/out of title workers. The staff that are impacted have been officially notified of any changes to their existing positions, and only a few will not have a position, pointed out Brad Meyer of the Parks and Recreation Department. Some opted to retire. The city will eliminate all operating liability, and after all expenses are factored in, the net benefit of the agreement will be in the range of $400k annually.

The city’s golf deficit grew to more than $7 million in 2013. According to parks and recreation staff, getting this draft agreement in place and eliminating the operating liability at Como and Phalen were essential to maintaining the city’s AAA credit rating.

“So this agreement with Prom that eliminates losses and allows the courses to stay open with enhanced food and beverage options is the best case scenario in this situation,” said Meyer.

PLANS FOR CHANGE

The Givens believe they can do a better job than the city at running the golf courses, in part because they will be able to promote more events (such as weddings, golf tournaments, etc..), and drive revenues in a way that a city can’t.

Prom plans to get liquor licenses in order to give patrons more choices and keep the golfer after their rounds.

“We also plan to offer some new pricing options to try to fill open tee times,” said Bill.

The Givens expect challenges. “Both courses will always be challenged with weather – it’s obviously one thing we cannot control,” said Bill. 

Additionally, the clubhouse configuration and space at Como is not ideal for promoting any catering or even expanding food and beverage service.  However, the Givens intend to add outside seating and furniture that is rain resistant, and improve options on the beverage carts to counteract these negatives. 

Because Como does not have a driving range, the Givens know that expanding golf to the public and trying to gain new golfers will be difficult.

“As you know, the golf population has been shrinking over the past 10 years.  We are going to try to make the experience easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable,” said Given.

This story was printed in the February 2014 edition of the St. Paul Monitor.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Winter carnival on Lake Hiawatha set for Saturday

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

February 07, 2014

Take a hayride along the lake, warm up next to a roaring bonfire and enjoy free food at the family-friendly Lake Hiawatha Heartwarmer set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 from 12-3 p.m.

“This is a completely free event! Come down and check us out!” urged Lake Hiawatha Park staff member Ryan Vossen.

Kids DanceDj will be providing beats. There will also be live music, prize drawings, ice skating and ice golf. Hot dogs and veggie dogs, coffee and cider offered free, along with some other local foods.

Step inside the rec center for face painting, arts and crafts, and demonstrations from local businesses like Music Together, Toddler Yoga with Tree of Life Yoga, and Musikgarten.

This completely free event is made possible through donations by individual community members and contributions by the independently owned businesses of the Standish-Ericsson, Longfellow, and Nokomis community.

More at: www.HiawathaHeart.org

Printed at Twin Cities Daily Planet. http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/02/07/winter-carnival-lake-hiawatha-set-saturday

Longfellow: the new Highland Park?

A once-languishing corridor is now very much in vogue

by Tesha M. Christensen

“Longfellow is the new Highland Park,” according to Eddie Landenberger of Redesign, a private, non-profit commercial and housing real estate developer based out of Seward that also provides community development services.

Landenberger noted that recently opened Longfellow restaurants are enticing folks from Meriam Park to cross the river and dine in Longfellow, rather than head south to Highland Park.

And Longfellow residents that were driving to Highland Park are “happy to have these options in their neighborhood,” he stated.

A real estate broker and senior projects manager at Redesign, Landenberger observed that much of the success of an area is based on perception, and when there are vacant buildings residents and business owners are discouraged from not just moving in but also frequenting the businesses already there.

SONORA GRILL REVIVES MOLLY QUINN BUILDING

Redesign has focused on filling empty buildings on Lake St., and has stepped in to rehabilitate buildings that others won’t touch.

Such was the case with the former Molly Quinn building at 3300 E. Lake St., now occupied by Sonora Grill. A collapsed foundation had doomed the property to vacancy since 2008, and there wasn’t a bank that would provide capital until Redesign got involved.

This is the first brick and mortar location for Sonora Grill, which has operated out of Midtown Global Market since 2011. 

Opened by Mexican immigrants Alejandro Castillon, Conrado Paredes, and Fernando Arnanda, the made-from-scratch menu is a fusion of South American and Spanish flavors. Since opening the Longfellow location in mid-December, Sonora Grill has been busy, despite the fact that January tends to be a slow month in the restaurant business.  Plus, they’re employing 35 local residents.

“Things are really good,” noted Paredes. “We’re really happy.”

Parades credits Edie Landenberger of Redesign for their move into Longfellow. “Edie did a good job presenting the project to us and showing us how it would look,” he said. He appreciates that they were able to occupy just part of the building, which made it seem like a “safer” investment for the Sonora Grill crew.

And Paredes believes that their presence and the support they’ve gotten from the neighborhood will encourage other small business owners to start up.

“Our goal was not just to turn the property around, but to turn the corner into an asset for the neighborhood,” stated Landenberger.

Sonora Grill is glad to be part of the revitalization of East Lake St.

“I think the fact that the building is not sitting here falling apart makes a big difference,” said Paredes. “That’s what I hear from neighbors and customers.”

292 TRANSFORMS FORMER MASSAGE PARLOR

A few blocks east, another decrepit building has been transformed by the 292 Design Group. The interior at 3533 E. Lake St. was gutted and replaced with an airy floorplan.

The building was once the notorious home of Diane’s Massage Parlor, just one of a string of prostitution fronts in the neighborhood that city officials and residents drove out over the last 30 years.

The new location brings 292 Design partners closer to their homes and their clients. Pam Anderson is a Nokomis resident and Mark Wentzell lives in Longfellow. Tom Betti lives just across the river in St. Paul.

The design firm has worked on the YWCA buildings in Midtown and Uptown, and is currently working with neighbors Merlin’s Rest and Graphic Systems. 

Anderson considers East Lake Street to be a great location, one that is easy to find, accessible by bus and walkable.

“It has been great to see other new businesses move into the area; we see a lot of excitement about the future of this neighborhood,” Anderson remarked.

CORRIDOR NOW THRIVING

“Fifteen years ago, Longfellow’s stretch of East Lake St. faced challenges: a closed gas station greeted traffic from St. Paul and the near-vacant Podany’s and Odd Fellows buildings occupied 27th and Lake,” pointed out longtime resident Dan Kennedy of Kennedy & Cain. “Three saunas, some vacant buildings, and scant lighting made the thoroughfare inhospitable.”

The revitalization of the major structures at 27th and the construction of a mixed use building at the river changed things.

 “The removal of these blighted bookends directly led to a burgeoning restaurant scene (Glaciers, Gandhi Mahal, El Nuevo Rodeo, Town Talk, T’s Place, Manny’s Tortas, Denny’s, and Longfellow Grill opened), but also created energy around maintaining momentum,” observed Kennedy.

 He credits the Longfellow Community Council and the Longfellow Business Association for championing a new business climate. The street became more welcoming after the reconstruction in 2007-08.

“Often overlooked are the stalwarts that continue to draw people to Lake Street,” Kennedy stated. “Businesses such as the used car lots, the garages, the auto parts stores, the fast food restaurants and Honda Town retain the old flavor of Lake Street. Northern Sun and Northwest Graphics are established retail stores. American Rug Laundry and Don’s Leather Cleaning dominate their industries. Despite its incongruous suburban layout, Minnehaha Mall attracts shoppers from a wide area.  

“If these businesses had failed, Lake Street would have had multiple large vacancies that would discouraged the first developers.”

Investment in the middle section of Lake Street has led to the opening of Sonora Grill at 33rd Avenue and the redevelopment of the near-vacant CTC building at 34th, where the law firms of Kennedy & Cain and Eric Day will soon join Diversity Day Care and Bukhari Institute, remarked Kennedy. Parka and Forage are new at 41st Ave. Further east, Longfellow Market at 39th will open in 2014.

“Things have really turned around and I think you’ll see a lot more business and residential development coming,” remarked Lake Street Council Executive Director Joyce Wisdom.

Ask Landenberger to look into the future and this is what he sees: “More interest, more people moving into the neighborhood. I see developers who used to just be interested in the river moving west. I see more variety and more small businesses.” And as Lake Street continues to evolve, Landenberger also foresees retail growth along Minnehaha Ave.

“The challenge now is to sustain momentum,” said Kennedy.

Local man killed by light rail train at 42nd St.

by Tesha M. Christensen

An Ericsson resident became the 10th person to die after being struck by a light rail train in Minnesota.

The Blue Line along Hiawatha Ave. opened 10 years ago in June 2004.

According to John Siqveland of Metro Transit, Michael F. Kwosek, 62, was walking westbound on the southern side of the gated intersection at 42nd St. when he was struck by the braking southbound train at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.

Kwosek was six blocks from his home on the 4200 block of 30th Ave. S.

The gate arms controlling the intersection were in the lowered position, and the train came to a stop a short distance beyond the intersection after striking the man.

The light rail line was closed and buses were brought in to transport rail passengers between Franklin and Fort Snelling stations until about 7:50 p.m.

According to Siqveland, of 10 fatal accidents since the Blue Line opened, five have involved pedestrians; four have involved motorists; and one has involved a bicyclist.

“This is the only pedestrian accident at this location,” stated Siqveland. “In September of 2004, motorist Hilmer Iverson, 87, drove through a gate arm at this intersection and his automobile was struck by a southbound train.”

Metro Transit Police, as well as Metro Transit’s Rail Safety division, are investigating the incident.

LIGHT RAIL VS. AUTOS

“Fatalities and crashes in this mode of transportation are rare, but they do happen,” observed Mantill Williams of the American Public Transportation Association. “There’s no mode of transportation that is risk free.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, fatalities on light rail lines over the last 15 years has ranged from a low of 13 in 2002 to a high of 33 in 2009.

There are 27 light rail lines in United States, and several get added every year, according to American Public Transportation Association Director of Policy Development and Research Darnell Grisdy.

He pointed out that the vast majority of deaths on light rails lines are suicides.

In comparison, 40,000 people a year died in automobile deaths, said Grisdy.

“It’s the safest mode of travel,” Grisdy remarked.

This story appeared in the February 2014 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.