Minneapolis Real Estate Blog

I had a showing appointment for an organization of “green” people. They want to rehab an old, in need of repair, house, and use it to showcase their work, and to show people how they can “go green” in their own homes. I arrive at the first house, and notice that they are all on bikes, there is about 6 of them. They bike from house to house, while I drive. After I left the last house and was on my way home, it suddenly struck me, they are “green” by riding bikes, and I am driving an 8 cylinder, gas guzzling car! I sure hope they don’t notice the V8 on the truck of the car! Not very eco friendly of me. Maybe I should buy a hybrid for cases like this.

Sue Kaltinger
Minneapolis Real Estate Agent
612-290-4931

The Eagan Police Department is proud to announce that the PIMA (Police Incident Mapping Application) Web crime mapping tool is now available through the City’s website.

The PIMA Web mapping application was designed for easy use by those accessing the Internet. It provides a geographical view of specific crime incidents within the City of Eagan for the previous 90 days. The application allows the public to access police report data regarding crimes of burglary, robbery, arson, theft and vehicle theft. The information provided is classified as “public” data pursuant to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, Chapter 13 of the Minnesota State Statute.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to make use of this web based mapping application as a resource to familiarize yourself with what events are occurring within the City and your neighborhood. If you have further questions, please contact Eagan Police Department Crime Analysis John Rogers or Officer Danielle Anselment (651) 675-5700.  If you haven’t bookmarked the site in your favorites and wish to find it again, go to www.cityofeagan.com/police and then click in the left hand column on PIMA crime report map.

The $652 million spending plan is up 2.4 percent, even with fewer students expected when classes resume.

The Minneapolis school board voted Tuesday night to adopt a $652 million budget for next school year that officials said better reflects the academic priorities of the district.That budget is up 2.4 percent, despite the expectation that 1,600 fewer students will enroll in district schools next fall, requiring 63 fewer teachers. In part that increase reflects the approval by the Legislature of $16 million more than the amount of state aid anticipated when the budget was drafted.

One academic priority in the budget is money to buy new math textbooks for elementary and middle school students. They’ll be put to use in the 2008-09 school year after teachers are trained. There’s also money to beef up International Baccalaureate programs at Northeast and Anwatin middle schools.

The district faced a $16 million gap between projected spending and expenses when budget discussions began in January. It dipped into reserves for half of that and made operating cuts for the balance.

The district cut busing costs by $1.8 million by making bus scheduling changes that offered charter and nonpublic schools less favorable times. The savings came from more efficient routing and some nondistrict schools opting to arrange their own buses.

The district also plans to close its three-person musical instrument repair shop, which has operated since the early 1950s. It will send instruments out for repairs.

The school board recently was told by finance chief Peggy Ingison that it ended the 2005-2006 school year with a $30 million available fund balance. That’s the best since at least the mid-1990s.

The district drew down $6 million of that to balance the past school year’s budget and is planning to use $8 million in the upcoming year. That cuts the balance to about $18 million, with Ingison projecting at least a $30 million budget gap over the following two years as enrollment declines more. That requires more cost-cutting, she said.

Meanwhile, the board voted to pursue negotiating the first lease of district classroom space to a charter school, Oh Day Aki, which it sponsors.

By Steve Brandt, Star Tribune

The 30th annual Minnetonka Summer Festival is set for Saturday, June 23, 2007! Events will be held at the Burwell House grounds, 13209 East McGinty Road, with a parade kickoff at 10:30 a.m., as well as the Minnetonka Civic Center grounds, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., with main events beginning at 4 p.m.

When

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Location

Burwell House grounds,
13209 East McGinty Road, Minnetonka, MN, 55305

Minnetonka Civic Center grounds,
14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN, 55345

Contact

City of Minnetonka, 952.939.8203

Fridays at Purgatory Creek free concert series kicks off this Friday, June 22.

Come to Purgatory Creek Recreation Area every Friday through Aug. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. to enjoy the weather or eat lunch while listening to music from a variety of artists.

This Friday guitar player Andy La Casse will perform.

Purgatory Creek Recreation Area is located at 13001 Technology Drive.

Click to View the Map of all the properties in foreclosure in Plymouth, MN.

10109 37th Ave N, Plymouth
1035 Magnolia Ln N, Plymouth
10630 Rockford Rd #203, Plymouth
10720 Rockford Rd #308, Plymouth
10727 32nd Ave N, Plymouth
10730 35th Pl N, Plymouth
10750 Rockford Rd #313, Plymouth
11286 50th Pl N, Plymouth
11315 42nd Ave N, Plymouth
11815 61st Ave N, Plymouth
12250 61st Ave N, Plymouth
12301 26th Ave N, Plymouth
12320 24th Ave N, Plymouth
1235 Goldenrod La N, Plymouth
12605 25th Ave N, Plymouth
13400 60th Pl N #147, Plymouth
13420 60th Pl N #139, Plymouth
13705 54th Ave N, Plymouth
13787 54th Ave N, Plymouth
13800 53rd Ave N #201, Plymouth
13907 54th Ave N, Plymouth
14000 53rd Ave N, Plymouth
14010 44th Pl N, Plymouth
14120 37th Ave N, Plymouth
14210 44th Place N #4, Plymouth
14225 39th Ave N, Plymouth
14400 42nd Ave N, Plymouth
14765 38th Ave N, Plymouth
15380 40th Ave N, Plymouth
15604 27th Ave N, Plymouth
15605 25th Place N #A, Plymouth
15605 26th Ave N #A, Plymouth
15620 47th Ave N, Plymouth
15625 16th Ave N, Plymouth
15635 17th Pl N, Plymouth
15730 6th Ave N, Plymouth
15809 27th Ave N, Plymouth
15931 18th Place N, Plymouth
16100 24th Ave N, Plymouth
16410 15th Ave N, Plymouth
1655 Evergreen La N, Plymouth
1740 Merrimac La N, Plymouth
17710 12th Ave N, Plymouth
17915 24th Ave N, Plymouth
18020 48th Ct N, Plymouth
18130 20th Ave N, Plymouth
1890 Ithaca La N, Plymouth
2185 Shenandoah Ct, #D, Plymouth
2200 Ranchview La #140, Plymouth
2320 Larch Ln, Plymouth
2422 Hemlock Ln N, Plymouth
2434 Medicine Lake Blvd E, Plymouth
2435 Rosewood La N, Plymouth
2756 Upland La N, Plymouth
2775 Kirkwood La N, Plymouth
2900 Everest La N, Plymouth
3300 Queensland La N, Plymouth
3340 Xenium La N, Plymouth
35 Nathan La N #201, Plymouth
35 Nathan Ln N, Plymouth
3600 Holly La N #100, Plymouth
3635 Trenton Ln, Plymouth
3790 Nathan Ln N, Plymouth
4112 Goldenrod La, Plymouth
415 Harbor Ln N, Plymouth
4201 Merrimac Ln N, Plymouth
4290 Ximines La N, Plymouth
4350 Trenton La N #109, Plymouth
4465 Trenton La N, Plymouth
4550 Weston La N, Plymouth
4620 Forestview Ln, Plymouth
4840 Wellington La N, Plymouth
4990 Archer Ln N, Plymouth
5005 Holly La N #205, Plymouth
5038 Yuma Ln N, Plymouth
5341 Dallas La N, Plymouth
5525 Nathan La N #3, Plymouth
5605 Trenton Ln, Plymouth
6000 Goldenrod La N, Plymouth
7860 Yucca La, Plymouth
805 Lanewood Ln N, Plymouth
9339 45th Ave N, Plymouth
9635 26th Ave N, Plymouth
9905 55th Ave N #4, Plymouth

Thomas The Tank Engine Toys Recalled

The company that makes Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys issued a massive recall Wednesday.

RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., has recalled 1.5 million wooden pieces in Canada and the United States due to concerns that the paint used on the toys may contain lead.

The recall pertains to wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set parts imported and distributed by RC2 Corp. that were sold from January 2005 through June 2007 for between $10 and $70.

Toys marked with the letters WJ and AZ are no included in the recall.

If ingested by children, lead can be toxic and can lead to brain damage.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy.

RC2 Corp. can be contacted toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. CT Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at recalls.rc2.com

This summer offers lots of recreation opportunities for twin cities residents. A great family friendly activity at the Landscape Arboretum - Tunes and Tales in the Trees will be held until August on Thursday evenings, from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. at the Trex deck / Ordway Shelter.

Take advantage of this fun time with your kids because admission is free every Thursday after 4:30 p.m. Gather at dusk and be dazzled by puppeteers, storytellers, musicians, and artists celebrate the wonder of plants, nature, and the Earth. There will be hands-on projects. Bring a picnic and blanket, family, friends and kids.

Call (952) 443-1400 for details and directions.
 Schedule is:

• June 7: “Too Many Apples” with Shoestring Puppet Theater
• June 14: “Birch Doodles” with Abrakadoodle, presenting art for kids
• June 21: “Stories for a Midsummer’s Night” with the WonderWeavers
• June 28: “A-Mazing Tales” with storyteller Carol McCormick

Yesterdays meeting addressing panhandling was considered a success by all who attended. The hearing took place in Public Safety & Regulatory Services Committee Meeting Council Chamber at 1 p.m. Comments from the public addressed the proposed changes which included :

The current Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance states solicitation is unlawful if:

• In a restroom
• At a crosswalk, bus or light rail stop or shelter
• On public transit
• In a vehicle parked on a public street or alley
• In a sidewalk café
• In line to be admitted to a government or commercial establishment
• Within 20 feet in any direction from an ATM or financial institution

Here in Big Lake we are in real danger of losing our small town charm with the recent dramatic increase in population. In 2006 the population was 9,174. If we keep growing like this, pretty soon we will have a traffic problem just like North Minneapolis. So, in order to prevent this terrible tragedy from ruining our idyllic lifestyle, I am opening this thread for proposed measures to “Keep Big Lake Minnesota Small”. Please post your suggestions below.