To the Banks, Broadway, and Back - October 19

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director, top photo originally used at www.northbynorthside.com, and reposted at the Twin Cities Daily Planet.

On Wednesday, October 19, Hawthorne leaders and partners will be meeting at the corner of 26th Avenue North and 4th Street North, near the Farview Park sign.  We will walk down 26th towards the Mississippi River, and highlight the fact that the bike lanes diverge from sidewalks.  The bike lanes take 26th to 2nd Street, then down to 22nd Avenue, and east to the Mississippi trails.  The easiest continuous sidewalk route veers south on Washington instead of 2nd, and then across to the River at 22nd.  Pedestrian access to the River becomes difficult as a result.

The second picture shows a staircase on the Northeast side of the River.  Although we do have trails and a park on the north Minneapolis side, there are no paths or steps inviting people to come to the water's edge.  We will discuss ways that the Mississippi is a wonderful amenity to Hawthorne and north Minneapolis, while also brainstorming ways to improve upon river access.

Come and join us at 5:30 on Wednesday!

Celebrate the EcoVillage Garden October 1, 3-6 p.m.

Post and videos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.

On Saturday, October 1, Hawthorne will celebrate the first year of its community garden in the EcoVillage! The garden was featured on the Minneapolis parade of community gardens in August, and we'll have more of the delicious food, prepared and served fresh. Come and stop by anytime between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. for a great meal! In the videos above and below, EJAM organizer Harriet Oyera takes us on a quick tour of the garden.


The area in front of the garden is free for anyone to come by and take food.
Harriet finds a hot pepper that I claim as my own.
Harriet shows us some of the other vegetables growing in the garden.

Free Trees Still Available at EcoVillage Tree Nursery!

Post and photo by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.

Earlier this summer Hawthorne was able to assist several dozen households throughout NoMi with new trees after the tornado.  Some trees are still left from that initial push, and the EcoVillage Tree Nursery has received several more trees as well.

We have:

11 Redmond Linden trees
9 Juniper trees
7 Autumn Brilliance trees
4 Greenspire Linden trees
2 Kentucky Coffeetrees

These are available to any homeowner in north Minneapolis, one per household, and they are all free.  As an added bonus, there are some small spruce trees that were left at the site.  The summer heat wave did a number on a few trees that might not make it through the winter.  So if any talented arborist thinks they might be able to save one of those, we'll let you take a regular tree AND one of the ones in need of some tender, loving care.

Think about that:  you get one tree for free already, and then a second tree also free of charge.  That's an increase in the value of your acquisition of infinity percent.  You won't find a deal like that anywhere else, guaranteed.

To make an appointment to pick up one of these trees, contact the Hawthorne office at 612-529-6033 x204, call me on my cell phone at 952-210-1086, or email me at jskrenes@hawthorneneighborhoodcouncil.org.

Tax Forfeited Properties in Hawthorne

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Housing Director.

The city of Minneapolis has published a list of properties that the state of Minnesota or Hennepin county have taken through tax forfeiture.  They are seeking community input regarding the potential acquisition or disposition of these properties.  There are three options people can recommend for these properties:

• That the city acquire the property if there is a developer interested in reuse.
• That the property be withheld from the public market while a reuse is determined.
• That the property be sold on the private market.

The city of Minneapolis is asking for public input on these properties by September 26, 2011.  People can go to their respective neighborhood groups with recommendations or contact the city directly.  

The letter explaining the process can be found here, and click on this link for a list of all properties citywide.  To search for more information on the properties via the city of Minneapolis, click here, and to do the same at Hennepin county's website, click here.

There are twenty such properties in Hawthorne, and 2511 4th St N is pictured above.  The other nineteen properties are after the jump...

Types of Trees Available from Tree Nursery

Post and photo by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director

On Saturday June 18 from 8 a.m. to noon, Hawthorne will have trees available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The tree nursery is located at 404 31st Ave N.  In order to be eligible for a tree, you have to be a property owner in north Minneapolis, and the tree must be placed within the community.  Our preference is to give away trees to people affected by the tornado, but we're going on the honor system.  Here are the trees we have available:

Autumn Brilliance - 10
Kentucky Coffeetree - 4
Redmond Linden - 12
Greenspire Linden - 5
Juniper - 7
Sugar Maple - 2
Blue Beech - 1
MN Redbud - 1

One of the Autumn Brilliance, as well as the Sugar Maples and the Blue Beech look to be in rough shape.  I believe they're all alive, but those four trees need a home fast.  Everything else is in good condition.  I look forward to getting people trees on Saturday!

Tree Nursery Giveaway on Saturday June 18, 8 a.m. to Noon!

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director

In response to the huge demand for trees, Hawthorne held off on giving them away through word of mouth.  Instead, we are opening the tree nursery this Saturday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to noon for trees on a first-come, first-served basis.  The address of the nursery is 404 31st Ave N.  There are currently 47 trees still available, but two of them look like they took second place in a Charlie Brown Christmas tree contest.  (so they're probably dead, is what I'm getting at here)

A list of which trees are still available will be published shortly, but keep Saturday morning on your calendar, rain or shine!

EcoVillage Tree Nursery - 47 Trees and Counting

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.

For the past few years, the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council has distributed free trees throughout north Minneapolis through our tree nursery in the EcoVillage.  Late last week we received this year's shipment - a whopping seventy-nine trees!  Given the damage in NoMi from the tornado, a decision was made to prioritize trees for those who lost one to the storm.

I announced our new shipment of trees at the Hawthorne Huddle and posted another announcement on the Minneapolis Tornado Watch Facebook page.  Word spread like wildfire, and before any standardized method for distributing trees was set up, over thirty trees already found new homes.

In order to try and give people throughout north Minneapolis an equal chance at getting a free tree, we will schedule a time later this week or on the weekend when trees can be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis.  The specifics of that announcement will be coming within the next 24 hours. 

EcoVillage Home Featured on Minneapolis/St. Paul Home Tour!

Post by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director. Video from the Minneapolis Television Network.

The Hartzell family is one of the newest additions to the Hawthorne neighborhood, having purchased the first LEED-certified home in the EcoVillage last fall.  Before they even closed, Mayor Rybak publicly welcomed them to Minneapolis, and now their home is on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Home Tour.  Many new homeowners have been profiled in the NoMi blogosphere, to the point where we pretty much tell people that moving into the EcoVillage makes you a sort of local celebrity.  That was said BEFORE this video was released.

I'd love to gush even more about what a great place Hawthorne, and the EcoVillage is to own a home, but the Hartzells do a great job of that in the video above.  Instead, I'll quickly remind readers that we're building another similar house on the corner of 31st and 6th this summer.  And if you buy a house anywhere in the Hawthorne neighborhood, you'll qualify for $5,000 in down payment assistance money through the Hawthorne Advantage program.

So take a look at the EcoVillage, and let us welcome you to the neighborhood!

Get $5,000 in Hawthorne Advantage Down Payment Assistance!

Post by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.  Photo from a Minnesota Public Radio article on the Hawthorne EcoVillage.

The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council recently revamped its down payment assistance program from a percentage of the sales price to a flat $5,000.  Any owner-occupant purchasing a home in Hawthorne should inquire to CEE about qualifying for this assistance.  The $5,000 is recorded as a lien on the home, although we will go behind virtually any other assistance program.  The loan does not accrue interest and it is forgiven after ten years.

As an aside, it takes a while for each site that lists our down payment assistance to be updated, so even the CEE link references the old program.  That will change shortly.  And a special thanks goes out to a NoMi Realtor extraordinnaire, Constance Nompelis.  Connie did several market analysis reports for the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council board and housing committee.  These reports helped our neighborhood understand what the market was like in Hawthorne, and how we should construct an assistance program that was an appropriate response to housing conditions here.  She provided this service as a volunteer for the community, and we are grateful for her help.

Come and check out home ownership opportunities in Hawthorne!  We've got a great community and $5,000 in assistance for you.

A "Dream Home" Finally Worthy of the Nickname

Before renovation.

Exterior after rehab

Living room/kitchen remodel

Instead of bedrooms like this...

Bedrooms are like this now.

Post by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.  First photo contributed by Alissa Luepke Pier, Hawthorne resident and project architect.  Photos 2-4 and 6 from Aesthetic Eye Photography.  Photo #5 by Jeff Skrenes, originally appearing on North by Northside.

Urban Homeworks continues to impress me.  They took something as drab and dreary as a Dream Home - which even without the exterior that so many in NoMi find distasteful, brings about memories of yet another case of mortgage fraud in this community - and turned it into a house that people would be proud to live in.  Much of the rehab can be attributed to the vision of local architect Alissa Luepke Pier, who designed the facade improvement and re-oriented the front door to create a more comfortable space.

The development project also reconfigured the second floor by removing one of the bedrooms and making the rest of the rooms a little more spacious.  Urban Homeworks staff said that floor looked "too much like a dormitory" before they changed it up.  I thought it compared more to a prison, but in all fairness, I've never been incarcerated, so maybe I'm being too negative towards prisons.

One aspect of this house that made it a viable rehab candidate is that it is what's often referred to as a "second generation Dream Home."  The first round of Dream Homes were slab-on-grade, no basement, no garage, six bedrooms, and baseboard heat.  This one at least had a full basement and a garage, making the other renovations much easier to work with.  If anyone wants to see the property, it's at 2515 Irving Avenue North.  The house has a family as its proud new occupants as well.  If you see them in their yard, make sure to welcome them to NoMi!  And thanks, Urban Homeworks! 

CEE Expands Programs to Support Energy-Efficient Businesses

Post and photo by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Housing Director

The Center for Energy and Environment has expanded their programs and they are now able to serve businesses throughout the city of Minneapolis and non-profits statewide.  Click here for a matrix of programs.

Free Home Energy Visits Also Generate Funding for Neighborhoods!

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.  Photos originally appeared on the Johnny Northside blog.

Hawthorne board member John Hoff was kind enough to allow me to document his home enegy visit from CEE.  These free home visits include tips on how to make your house more energy-efficient, supplies and materials to make that happen, and information on access to more low-interest home rehab loans.  In case this hasn't been emphasized enough, the visits and materials are FREE to owner-occupants.  The only requirement is that recipients must first attend a workshop (which is ALSO free) put on by the Center for Energy and Environment.  Here are the next two workshop dates:

Thursday, March 24, 6:00 pm
North Regional Library (1315 Lowry Ave N)

Thursday, March 31, 6:30 pm
Salvation Army (2727 Central Ave NE)

For more information, or to reserve a spot, contact Kyle Boehm at kboehm@mncee.org or 612-219-7334.

But wait, there's more!   CEE and the McKnight Foundation have been generous enough to help fund a friendly cross-neighborhood challenge.  There are various levels of awards given out for neighborhood participation.  The more people participate, the greater award each neighborhood may be eligible for.  So here's how it works for you as a Hawthorne resident:  attend a free workshop about energy savings, get free materials that will make your home more energy-efficient, sign up for a free home energy visit where experts can give even more personal tips, AND participating can help fund your neighborhood organization.

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up today?

Flier for upcoming workshops
McKnight Outreach Challenge flier

Hawthorne NRP Plan Vote Wednesday, February 9

Post by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director.  Photos from HNC websites.

Please join us for a community meeting on Wednesday, February 9th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Farview Park to vote on Hawthorne’s NRP Phase II plan. Approval of this plan will also reallocate some Phase I funds (mostly to Phase II strategies.) Your opinion and your vote is very important!

Lawmakers say "No" to Neighborhood cuts proposed by Mayor, City Council

Media release from the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, image from www.nrp.org.  Editorial note:  This post is the press release, largely unedited, from before last night's council meeting.  Results of that meeting may differ slightly from some claims made below.

Emergency meeting draws 65 including 9 lawmakers, 2 City Council members

Find video and plicy analysis by the University of Minnesota further below

Minneapolis MN - 65 people including neighborhood leaders, 9 state lawmakers, and 2 City Council members from Minneapolis turned out to a meeting at Corcoran Park on Sunday, Dec. 12, despite a weekend snowstorm that buried cars, crippled transit, and collapsed the Metrodome.

The meeting was called to discuss a recent proposal by Mayor R. T. Rybak and the City Council to re-purpose Neighborhood Revitalization funds as "tax relief," a move that would require approval by the Legislature.  The City Council voted on the proposal on Monday, Dec. 13, less than one week after the proposal was first made known to the  public by an article in the Star Tribune.

Senator Ken Kelash, Chair of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) policy board, explained that while past mayors and city councils have tried to take control of Neighborhood funding, "this is the first time we've been ambushed, aand that's what this is--it's an ambush."  Representative Joe Mullery called the City's proposal "improper and illegal," adding...

PPL Needs EcoVillage Volunteers This Week!

Post by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council Housing Director, photo contributed by PPL.

PPL Building Project-Hawthorne EcoVillage
Support efforts in North Minneapolis to build and renovate affordable housing for those in need in the community in response to the foreclosure crisis. PPL’s Housing Development dept. is renovating a house at 3023 N. 4th St. as part of the Hawthorne EcoVillage project. Volunteers needed! Construction/carpentry experience welcome but not required.

Where: 3023 N. 4th St., Minneapolis
When: Thursday 11/4, 9-5
Friday 11/5, 9-5
Saturday 11/6, 9-1

Construction experience is welcome but not required. Skilled supervision, tools, materials and snacks provided. Volunteers are asked to bring a bag lunch and work gloves.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Julie Huck, PPL Volunteer Mgr., at 612-455-5111 or email Julie Huck.

Agenda for the November Hawthorne Huddle

October 28, 2010

HAWTHORNE HUDDLE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2010

To: Friends of the Hawthorne Huddle

At this month’s Hawthorne Huddle, we will learn about local youth development projects that get young people involved in urban farming/gardening, from the planning stages to managing its growth, harvesting and marketing the produce. These programs not only educate youth about the source of our food; more importantly, they provide development opportunities that can open up new avenues for their future. Representatives from local organizations will tell us about the programs they offer to the youth of our community and how we can become involved. Please join in the discussion; we welcome and encourage your input and ideas.

The Hawthorne Huddle will be held from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room at Farview Park, located at 621 29th Avenue North. A continental breakfast will be available at 7:15 a.m.

Sincerely,

Ellen Luger

A G E N D A

• WELCOME Ellen Luger

• SAFETY UPDATE Representative, Minneapolis Police Department 4th Precinct

• MAIN PROGRAM TOPIC: YOUTH PROGRAMS--URBAN FARMING/GARDENING

Panelists:

• Amanda Stoelb, West Side Program Director, Youth Farm and Market Project

• Marilu Thomas, Executive Director, Redeemer Center for Life

• Representative, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

ADJOURNMENT

Photos from President Carter's Visit to Hawthorne

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council housing director.  Group photo above taken by Pat Carney.

More photos from the day of President Carter's visit to Hawthorne after the jump...

Photos from Day 1 of Habitat Week

The first volunteers of the week!

At the beginning of the week, there was only a foundation at 430 30th Ave N.

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council housing director.

A technical, editorial note:  Blogger is acting up and only allowing one photo at a time to upload.  Posts therefore are coming in more slowly than I'd like due to time constraints with other job duties.

More photos after the jump...

Photos from the Habitat Week Opening Ceremony

Post and photos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council housing director.

More photos after the jump...

Video Footage from Habitat Week Closing Ceremonies

Post and videos by Jeff Skrenes, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council housing director; videos with Jeff Skrenes in them contributed by Habitat staff or volunteers.

With such an extraordinary month, capped off by thousands of volunteers and a visit from  President Carter, Hawthorne still has photos and videos to share from the events of the Habitat week.  Above are several videos from the final day of work.

Former HNC board chair Peter Teachout asked for a statement of his to be read at one of the final events, and I obliged.  Some people have said that the sound quality on that video makes it difficult to hear.  In response, I've posted Peter's speech after the jump.  Peter said...