My hat’s off to Tom Altenhoff, 46, who needed to run errands after work Tuesday night. Altenhoff, who works for Hennepin County Human Services, pulled on his wool hat and turned up his coat collar before walking for nearly 30 minutes in the 14-degree wind chill from the Hennepin County Government Center. In a parking lot at Nicollet and Groveland, he jumped into a light blue Toyota Prius and off he went.

Altenhoff isn’t a car owner, or a car thief. He’s quietly taking part in a Twin Cities revolution that is sneaking up on an impressive milestone.

Begun five years ago with $360,000 in private and government funding, Hourcar (www.hourcar.org) provides hourly access to a fleet of cars that are way cleaner than mine.  Go here for the rest of the story!

*****

Quiz–Do you know that there is an HourCar Hub in Kingfield at 38th and Nicollet?!  You too can be a member!!

–Sarah Linnes-Robinson, KFNA Director

By Jake Weyer, SW Journal

Construction of a 42-unit development for at-risk youth and young adults was scheduled to be underway by the end of November at 3700 Nicollet Ave. S.

Nonprofit housing developer Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation (PCNF) partnered with homeless-youth service provider YouthLink on the long-anticipated and initially controversial project, called Nicollet Square. First proposed in the fall of 2007, the Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA) approved plans for the development in April of 2008 after months of in-depth community discussions. The Minneapolis Planning Commission followed with its approval in September of that year.

The project was delayed while PCNF worked to secure $9.2 million in private and public financing, accomplished in part through federal

November 30, 2009
Full Article

Celebrate 38th Street–Connecting South Minneapolis for over a century!

Live music, performances, art, food, special treats, garage and sidewalk sales, open houses, history snapshots, and more!! Events and happenings all along 38th street. Check the Celebrate 38th page of this website for events, locations and times as they are confirmed.

• Kids and families: Come at 9:30 am to 38th & Pleasant to make instuments
• Join the parade starting at 38th and Nicollet at 10:00!
• Diverse music and dance performances ; live ‘garage band’ music 2-7
• History Hounds: Come anytime to Investigate 38th!
• Activities stretching from Lakewood Cemetery east to Bloomington Avenue!

More to come–check back on the Celebrate 38th page as the date approaches…

38th Street has connected our communities for over a century–it’s time for us to Celebrate 38!

Businesses, organizations and residents: What can you add to Celebrate 38?!? Let us know: Email sarahg@kingfield.org

Thanks to all who helped make 2009’s first-annual event a success! Below are some photos from a beautiful day on 38th Street. For more photos, go to http://gallery.me.com/sidebyside#100023 or check out neighbor/author Melanie Benson’s album on Facebook.

Mexico Lindo dancers

Sidewalk Parade participants

Aliveness Project

Pleasant & 38th

Grand Cafe flea mkt

Peter Pan

Grill at Quality Coaches

History Hounds @ Ace Hardware

38 Cent Slushies @ Best Food

San Miguel volunteers

Parade prep

NEHBA car

The action was clustered at:

• 38th and Dupont (Lakewood Cemetery–enter off 36th)
• 38th and Grand
• 38th and Pleasant
• 38th and Nicollet
• 38th and 4th Ave.
• 38th and Chicago
• 38th and 12th Ave.
• 38th and Bloomington

Ride the bus: 38th Street has been an important cross-town bus line since the days of the streetcar. Today, MTC Route 23 moves along 38^th Street from Bryant to the river. There is service every 30 minutes on Saturdays. For $1.75 ($0.75 for seniors/youth), you can ride the Route 23 for 2.5 hours in both directions to enjoy all the events of Celebrate 38th!

‘History Hounds‘:  Sniff out history up and down 38th while you enjoy the day’s events–then bring your completed History Hound card to Nicollet Ace Hardware between 11 am and 2 pm to receive your free prize and a chance to win a collectable replica of a 1927 ace hardware tri-motor monoplane in a drawing to be held at 2 pm. All prizes donated by Nicollet Ace Hardware.

Events and activities:

• 9-11 am: Garden with Bancroft Neighborhood Association + Lemonade & cookies! @ 12th Avenue
• 9 am-2:30 pm: Locally grown bouquets and glads available at Peterson Flowers @ Grand
• 9 am-4 pm: Rummage Sale & Soup Kitchen at Incarnation Church, celebrating 100 years @ Pleasant
• 9:30 am: Kids and families: Come make instruments with volunteers from San Miguel and Lake Country schools, and join the West 38th Street parade! @ Pleasant
• 9:30 am-4 pm: Facing Challenges and Creating Solutions: A Housing and Mortgage Foreclosure Forum, sponsored by KFAI and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder; free and open to the public @ 310 E. 38th
• 10 am: West 38th Street Parade begins @ Nicollet (picking up kids & families @ Pleasant)-Bring your dog and join the Doggie Brigade!
• 10 am-2 pm: Center for Performing Arts Open House, with free massages, activities and lessons on the lawn; performance Stage  with live music and dance; and free caramel apple treats @ Pleasant
• 10 am -2 pm: 38 Cent Slushies on the sidewalk at Best Food Market @ Nicollet
• 10 am-4 pm: Flea Market in the backyard of Grand Cafe, with goodies from the historic Baker Boy oven @ Grand
• 10 am – 4 pm: Local art show organized by Mentoring Peace Through Art, and “Taste of Marla’s” samplers from Marla’s Caribbean Cuisine @ Bloomington
• 10 am-5 pm: 50 Cent Children’s Clothing Sale at Better Than Ever @ Grand
• 11 am-2 pm: Free eco-friendly bags full of resources and info and free hot dogs from the 38th and Chicago Business Association @ Chicago
• 11 am-3 pm: Sidewalk sales of purses by Jan, original greeting cards by Charlie, and free bottled water as long as it lasts, at historic Peter Pan Cleaners @ Grand
• 11:30-1:30 pm: Free hot dogs on the grill by CarQuest @ 20 W 38th
• 11:30-3:30: Eat cookies with new neighbors The Aliveness Project @ 3808 Nicollet
• 12 – 2 pm: Self guided history tours (walk or drive) at Lakewood Cemetery @ Dupont (enter from 36th)
• 12 – 6 pm: “Garage Bands”: Live music at Quality Coaches, celebrating 38 years @ 20 W. 38th
• 2 pm: Drawing for special prize at History Hounds HQ at Nicollet Ace Hardware @ Nicollet
• 2 pm: Mural dedication for the Red Engine Building @ Bloomington
• 3 pm: Free Nicollet Pothole Ice Cream until it’s gone, provided by Lander Group
• 4 pm: In-store drawing for BIG backyard prizes: rain barrel, smoker, garden fountain, garden cart, firepit from Nicollet Ace Hardware @ Nicollet. Enter Friday or Saturday to win!
• 5 pm: Reception with snacks at Quality Coaches
• All day: Watch for the HOURCAR to take the MN Energy Challenge and win prizes!
• Open House at Quality Coaches celebrating 38 years! @ 20 W. 38th
• Historical tools and products display, live entertainment @ Nicollet Ace Hardware
• Exhibit and food concessions by The Minnesota Spokesman Recorder @ 4th Ave.
• Bancroft Neighborhood-Wide Garage Sale, Chicago to Cedar; maps available at Kevin’s Profuel @ Bloomington and at CUP Foods @ Chicago
• Information and resources from FairVote, Metro Transit, KFNA, San Miguel Middle School…

And much more!

Also connect with the 5th Annual Autumn Festival @ 48th and Chicago: Food, demos, moonwalk, pony rides, street dance & more, from 10 am until the fun ends!