After over a year of fundraising efforts, Raeann Ruth, executive
director of the Portage for Youth, has succeeded in raising enough money
to begin renovation of the Mounds Theater. Three grant awards in mid
November from the Saint Paul, Bigelow and Mardag Foundations guaranteed
that the project could commence in early 2001.
   Architectural plans are now being drawn up.  The actual transfer of
the building from its present owner, George Hardenbergh, to Raeann and
the Portage will occur in January 2001. Remodeling will start in
February with the grand opening scheduled for later in the year.
   Once finished, the Mounds Theater will be used for a number of
activities.  Foremost will be theatrical presentations.  While plans
aren't finalized yet, other activities may include educational programs
for children and adults, neighborhood gatherings and even weekend movie
matinees.
   Funding for this project comes from many sources.  George
Hardenbergh, of course, is donating the theater itself.  A $200,000
matching grant came from the Saint Paul's STAR (Sales Tax
Revitalization) program.  An anonymous donor contributed another
$100,000. The 3M Foundation gave a two-year, $40,000 donation while the
Marbrook Foundation added another $10,000.
   The latest grants were $90,000 from the Saint Paul Foundation,
$40,000 from the Bigelow Foundation and $20,000 from the Mardag
Foundation.  Beyond that, smaller but just as important donations have
come from individuals who believe that the Mounds Theater should once
again become an active part of Dayton's Bluff.
   The Mounds Theater, 1029 Hudson Road, was built in 1922 and operated
as a both a legitimate and motion theater until its closing in the mid
1960s.  It has been used as a warehouse ever since. Despite that fact,
most of the original theater, including the seats, stage, projection
booth, lobby, ticket booth and balcony was preserved, making the
renovation possible.

Community Council News 
by Al Claussen

On Monday, November 13th, the Dayton's Bluff District 4 Community
Council held its monthly Housing, Land Use, and Community Development
meeting.  Persons representing many issues gave presentations and asked
for support from the Council as they proceed through their approval
processes.
  Vicki Tobroxen from Healtheast spoke about plans to expand the level
of services offered to senior citizens at the Marian of Saint Paul
campus.  This facility, formerly the Mounds Park Hospital and currently
an 85 resident nursing home, is seeking to add several buildings to
their property to provide 75 congregate housing apartments, 50 assisted
living apartments, and a chapel. A variance is required because lot
coverage regulations restrict impervious surface to 30% and as planned
this project would have coverage of 39%. Two motions were passed
concerning this project, one in support of the lot coverage variance,
and another requesting that officials from this facility meet with those
neighbors most closely affected by the development to answer questions
they might have, especially regarding traffic changes in the area.
    Jerry Frisch spoke on the status of the planned development for the
Johnson Brothers site.  Due to the need to install pilings beneath any
structure built on the site, it is unlikely that a multistory structure
could be constructed at a reasonable cost.  This sets the project back
considerably and Mr. Frisch is now exploring other options for this
site.  Roger Curtis from the City of Saint Paul spoke some about the
city's goals for more housing, 2500 units over the next 3 years time,
and urged the Council to work with the developers to add housing to this
site.  Dennis Guptil, developer of many projects in Saint Paul,
including the New Bridge townhomes project at 5th and Clarence, detailed
the soil problems from a construction point of view and made it clear
that single story is the only construction option for this site. The
Council will supply to the developers the guidelines already established
for design purposes and assist with the process of providing
neighborhood input.
  Larry and Sue Bies and Tom Kokasiel, Bies and Kokasiel Inc., are in
the process of purchasing Paul's Lounge at 1045 Hudson Road. They plan
to create a pub style lounge, improving the over all appearance in the
process. They sought Council support for their Liquor License
application and a waiver of the 45 day grace period so they could secure
the necessary financing and close the sale at an earlier time than would
otherwise be possible. The Council voted in favor of both of these.
  Steve Cairl, owner of Mounds Park Lounge at 1067 Hudson Road, is
seeking to acquire a liquor off sale license to establish a liquor store
at 1047 Hudson Road. Much work had been completed in preparation for
this when the former owner of Paul's Lounge was a partner in a similar
venture planned for this site. During the previous licensing process,
restrictions on inventory were agreed to and will also be agreed to by
the new proprietors. The Council supports the granting of the license
and waiving the 45 day grace period.
  In response to a request from a District 4 Board member, both liquor
establishments expressed the desire to avoid the hassles associated with
cigarette sales by refusing to seek cigarrete sales licenses. They also
hope to work with the neighborhood to ensure that the livability of the
area is not negatively impacted and will also continue to maintain the
grounds adjacent to the freeway wall on the south side of Hudson road.
  Ann Hunt from the Neighborhood Energy Consortium appeared before the
Board to request support for their proposal to lead efforts to establish
a recycling center for the processing of recyclables generated within
the City of Saint Paul. The goal of their proposal is to ensure that the
citizens of Saint Paul retain the means to make decisions about the
operation of the recyclables collection program, seeking the most
cost-efficient system possible.  Support was granted and a resolution to
that effect was signed and delivered immediately.
  On Monday, December 11th, at 7pm the Council will discuss Parks and
Recreation needs for the Dayton's Bluff area. Please plan on attending
this meeting to assist the Council in developing a list of goals for our
future. These recommendations will be sent to the Parks and Recreation
Commission. The Commission will be meeting to discuss these long-range
and city-wide priorities at their regular meeting at 6:30 pm on
Wednesday December 13th at Arlington Senior High School, 1645 Rice
Street. Ideas and comments may be mailed directly to Parks and
Recreation staff at the following address:
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Attn.: Mike Rossberg
300 City Hall Annex, 25 West 4th Street
Saint Paul, MN  55102

Christmas at the Mounds Theater

   Do you remember going downtown to see the Christmas displays in
department store windows?  Do you remember when downtown had department
stores? Do you remember when downtown had windows?  Or have you only
heard about Christmas windows from your parents or grandparents and
thought they were make-believe like the Land of Oz, Peter Pan or a
Vikings Super Bowl victory?
    Like the Mounds Theater itself, the Christmas display window is
returning, not downtown but right here in Dayton's Bluff.  Stop by the
Mounds Theater at 1029 Hudson Road this holiday season and see a "Snoopy
Wonderland" featuring none other than our very own Thespian Snoopy.
After playing Hamlet and the Great Pumpkin, Snoopy has decided to tackle
his greatest role yet, Santa Claus.
   Aided by his faithful elf Woodstock, Snoopy Claus will rule over an
enchanted Winter Wonderland filled with lights, Christmas trees,
animated figures and a few surprises.  Just press your nose against the
window and see what Christmas was like in the days of old.  Maybe it
isn't as old as Charles Dickens' Victorian England, but old enough to
bring back some good memories and create a few new ones.

   The Great American History Theatre is presenting Christmas in Swede
Hollow written by Buffy Sedachek and directed by Peter Moore.  It is a
delightful play about Christmas and life in Swede Hollow.  It runs this
holiday season through December 30th.
   The history theater is hosting a food drive for the First Lutheran
Church located just above Swede Hollow and will give a $5.00 gift
certificate good toward any performance at the History Theatre for any
nonperishable food donated during the production of Christmas in Swede
Hollow.  For ticket information call 292-4234.
 

   1234 McLean will have over 20,000 lights and 130 figures in a
delightful display for Christmas.  Santa will be there to hand out
treats to children on December 22 and 23rd between 6 and 8pm.
   George Hruza started his yard Christmas display 20 years ago and it
has been getting better each year.  George continues to do this each
year in memory of his son who died a number of years ago.  His son
enjoyed the display and encouraged his father to do it each year. Last
year 600 children stopped by to see Santa.  Be sure to stop by and bring
the family.

Letter to the Editor

In response to Mr. John Anderson's letter in the Dayton's Bluff District
Forum, concerning the Hamms Grain Elevators and The Phalen Corridor.
   The primary goal of the Phalen Corridor has always been industrial
development and jobs.  As we accomplish this, the neighborhoods around
the corridor have what some people consider a once in a generation
opportunity to realize re-investment in their community.  Hundreds of
acres of polluted land on this rail corridor are being cleaned and
companies with well paying jobs have begun to locate here.  In targeted
areas, housing is being rehabbed and new housing is being built as
well.  This project also gives us an historic opportunity to reclaim
green space.
   North of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks on the northern portion of
the former Hamms Brewery, a historic opportunity presents itself.
Current plans call for the building of Phalen Boulevard to gain access
to the Corridor.  Design for the road has completed the Environmental
Impact Statement process and has been adopted by the Saint Paul City
Council.  The plan includes an at grade intersection at Payne Avenue,
and access at Arcade Street.  Between these points, our current plans
call for the removal of the grain elevators for the development of the
road.  This will greatly expand the green space at the future junction
of the Bruce Vento Regional Trail (formerly the Phalen Creek Regional
Trail), and a new connection to the Gateway Trail to be constructed
adjacent to the Phalen Boulevard.  With the removal of the elevators
more natural space opens up to continue the green corridor being worked
on by community members all the way to the Mississippi.
   It is hoped that this site might be redeveloped into a wetland, with
migratory birds and native plants, which may indeed improve our urban
eco-system.  These green corridors will enhance housing investment and
community for years to come.  Thank you for your letter and thank you
for your interest.  The Phalen Corridor Steering Committee meets
(usually) on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM at Wells Fargo
Bank at Minnehaha and East 7th Street.  Please call 651-772-6220 for
details.

Curt Milburn
Project Director
Phalen Corridor Initiative

Changing of the Editor

   We would like to thank Cindy Clausen for being our editor who got the
Dayton's Bluff District Forum up and running after its five-year
absence.  Cindy is a Mounds Park resident who has been active in a
number of neighborhood projects and is a student working on a Technical
Communications degree at Metropolitan State University.  Cindy learned
about the editor internship from her husband.  Cindy said "It looked
like a fun and interesting project."  Cindy started by making the
contacts to set up the paper.  "Seeing the completed paper and knowing
that I created it" is the most satisfying.  When Cindy was asked what
she would tell the new editor "It's a lot of fun and rewarding work."
   The Board of Directors decided that an on going internship for the
editor would be a way to both have an editor with new ideas and also
strengthen our partnership with Metro State.  Cindy's internship is
completed and we do not have an intern to step in at this time.
   Angela DuPaul has agreed to take on the role of editor until the next
intern is on board.  Angela has experience working on the Forum in the
past. Angela helped with writing articles, photography and copyediting.
She is the founder and former editor of the Upper Swede Hollow News.
Dayton's Bluff District Forum board members recruited Angela to fill the
gap.  Angela has a degree in Scientific and Technical Communication from
the University of Minnesota and is working for the Saint Paul Companies.

   The Dayton's Bluff District Forum is a neighborhood driven community
newspaper and we are always looking for community people to take an
active role in all aspects of the paper.  Call Karin at 772.2075 for
more information.

You Can Help the District Forum and Win a balloon ride

   For a donation of $5.00 or more, you will help keep our paper in
business and have a chance to win an exciting hot air balloon ride.
   The Dayton's Bluff District Forum has been back in business since
August.  It is important for our community to have its own community
newspaper, and the board of directors is dedicated to keeping the Forum
alive and viable.  We need the residents and friends of Dayton's Bluff
to be partners in this endevor.  A community newspaper requires
volunteers, financial donations, and revenue generated
by advertisements. We need people to work on all aspects of the paper,
such as writing and photography, and we need the funds to print the
paper.
   A donation of $5.00 or more is suggested.  Drawing to be held
this spring.