East Calhoun Comm. Organization (ECCO)

ECCO News - Dec. 1998

Dec 22, 1998

ECCO Board Meeting December 15th, 1998 By Renee Gust

City Council Report Upcoming Meetings: City Council Member Lisa McDonald invited everyone to attend the January 7th meeting addressing parking issues in Uptown. The goal is to get all four surrounding communities to attend and discuss plans for expanding the parking ramp next to Calhoun Square, increase parking space next to the Lagoon theaters, and changing the parking code at the Sons of Norway parking lot. The meeting will be held at Bryant Square Park at 7:00 p.m. A transit transportation meeting is scheduled for January 21st to discuss issues of public transportation and to provide residents with an overview of what the city council is doing regarding these issues. The meeting will be held at Bryant Square Park, also at 7:00 p.m.

Cal Surf Plans: Cal Surf is no longer able to expand its business to the adjacent houses on the corner of Knox and Lake Street, says McDonald. A local developer, Micheal Lander, is offering to buy the two houses for future development as both houses are zoned for commercial business. Dave Frankel, ECCO resident, asked about the dilapidated condition of the houses and the torn tarp that is currently falling off one of the house's roof. McDonald said Cal Surf is delaying re-roofing due to financial problems and will re-tarp the roof this week.

Budget Plans: The City Council approved a 3.3 percent property tax increase last week. McDonald voted no on the increase and said ECCO has been hit particularly hard with tax increases this year. McDonald recommended concerned residents attend the Truth in Taxation hearings discussing this issue.

Suburban World Changing Hands Cinema Grill is offering to buy and renovate the Suburban World, converting the current one-screen theater into a two-theater complex with a restaurant and bar. Cinema Grill operates over twenty company and franchise locations throughout the United States and is currently developing sites in thirty other markets. Brian Henry, vice-president of Cinema Grill Inc., said the concept is to provide an atmosphere where people can see a movie and enjoy a causal meal and beverages. The organization is also committed to renovating old theaters that are a part of neighborhoods and communities. Most of the renovation is planned for the interior with some enhancements on the exterior, retaining the current look.

Park Board Review: The ECCO board asked Scott Neiman from the Park and recreation board to attend the meeting to discuss issues surrounding Lake Calhoun and the ECCO community. Many board members voiced concern over the poor and unsafe conditions of the East Side stairways leading to the lake. Neiman acknowledged the problem and said he will ask for priority treatment and funding for the stairways. Neiman said the Park Board is supportive of the NRP's proposed tot-lot planned near the lake at 34th street. The problem is with maintenance, said Neiman, but he has advocated that the Park board be responsible for maintenance in the future. Also, design parameters will need to be worked out between the Park board and the implementation committee. Gary Farland, board president, asked Neiman to look into the Park boards policy on tree trimming. Farland voiced concern over unnecessary, overzealous clearing of young and old tree limbs, drastically affecting the aesthetics of the trees and streets of East Calhoun. Neiman said there are certain height standards that have to be met for clearance and visibility.

The next ECCO Board Meeting will be Tuesday, January 19th, at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church at 7pm.