Hennepin County Open house answers some questions on Camden projects
By: Buzzy Bohn 11/01/2009
Hennepin County held an informational meeting at Loring Community School on October 13 to let community members know how things were going on several Camden area projects. The items discussed were the Victory Memorial Drive renovations, Osseo Road traffic concerns, 44th and Penn revitalization, and the new library. Both Hennepin County Commissioners Mike Opat and Mark Stenglein were present as well as some consultants and county employees who've been working on these projects. People were encouraged to walk around and look at the plans/drawings on various easels and talk to the consultants who were standing next to them. There was very little time given for questions and answers.
What time there was ended up being taken up by questions and opinions about the new library. The county has acquired the old Kowalski's site and two other properties on 45th Ave. N. The county would like to purchase the remaining two properties, the one on the corner of 45th and Humboldt and the one facing Humboldt, but the couple that owns the properties does not want to sell. The county has decided not to take the properties by condemnation or eminent domain. Commissioner Opat wants to have the new library face 45th rather than 44th. If the new library were built along 44th Ave. N these last two properties would not have to be acquired, but if it were built along 45th Ave. N it would necessitate the county having to purchase these two parcels. Subsequently, because of this stand off, the new library has been put on hold indefinite