THE FIELD TRIP on Sept. 27, 2008

Tour participants met at the corner of East 4th
Street and Maria Avenue at 9:00 am. Carol
Carey, Executive Director of Historic Saint Paul,
described the status quo of the neighborhood.

Carol and Becca Hine, also of HSP, led the group
on a tour of the neighborhood. One of the first
stops was the Children’s Garden which occupies
publicly-owned land on Third Street East.



The group explored Third Street, which has a
mix of residential and commercial and services.
Businesses appeared to be struggling and the
discussion revolved around the need to upgrade
existing enterprises and encourage new ones.


The tour proceeded south on Third Street
and participants noted opportunities for
further development. Third Street leads to the leads to the Kellogg
Bridge, which is located at the southeast
corner of neighborhood and provides
immediate access to downtown.

The next stop on the tour was one of the
three houses that have been purchased by
the HRA on Fourth Street. The HRA plans to
issue an RFP for rehabilitating these houses.

Fourth and Fifth Streets terminate in cul de
sacs overlooking downtown. The group discussed
development options for the narrow
strip of public land along the edge of the
bluff, where a sweeping panorama of the city
and the river valley beyond is unobstructed.

The group saw great potential for a large
piece of property adjacent to the strip of public
land along the bluff. This property is occupied
by the highly visible, prominent white house
that is a familiar sight from the freeway below.

The house, which has been vacant for a long
time, is for sale. Discussion revolved around potential
uses for this strategically located property
which could become a symbol for Dayton’s Bluff.


After the tour, the group reconvened at Metropolitan State University Library for a presentation of the development principles identified in recent neighborhood workshops
that preceded this event. A summary of the Development Principles that have been selected
to guide the revival of Dayton’s Bluff neighborhoods is included in Appendix 1.