Being the amazing, true-to-life adventures and (very likely) misadventures of a writer who seeks to take his education, activism and seemingly boundless energy to North Minneapolis, (NoMi) to help with a process of turning a rapidly revitalizing neighborhood into something approaching Urban Utopia. I am here to be near my child. From 02/08 to 06/15 this blog pushed free speech to the envelope, so others could take heart and speak unafraid. Email me at hoffjohnw@gmail.com
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wafana's Moving Toward Demolition...
Photos By Jeff Skrenes
A couple nights ago, the Hawthorne Housing Committee approved $20,000 to be used toward the cost of demolition of the old Wafana's store on Lyndale Ave. N.
This building used to be what some North Minneapolis residents refer to as an "inconvenience store," which is a business where thugs hang out, crimes take place, and sometimes stolen goods are sold. An "inconvenience store" is more of a hindrance than a help to the neighborhood and this is exactly what Wafana's was, kind of like the old Uncle Bill's store in the Willard-Homewood. (Note how Urban Dictionary Dot Com has a different definition, click here)
This decision to allocate $20,000 awaits ratification by Hawthorne's board. However...
It appears the Wafana's building is riding the greased-up skids to Demolition City and I say BON VOYAGE AND GOOD RIDDANCE.
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6 comments:
Somebody better give Lennie a heads-up so he can run buy it quick. A shrewd man, that Lennie.
STING! They beat me to the punch line.
But, you should be careful not to get punched yourself. We read about that temper of his.
"Do Not Stand In Front Of The Store"
'????'
Why, is it going to fall before Lennie gets there?
The "DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE STORE" is a remnant from Wafana's bad old days when it got over 1,400 911 calls in a 12-month period.
Shockingly, the thugs, dealers, users, prostitutes, pimps, and johns who blatantly flouted the law did not pay heed to the sign either. I have no idea WHY...I mean the directions on the sign are PERFECTLY CLEAR. (sarcasm font)
Wafana's reminds me of the Big Stop...
So, there is a lesson to be learned here...there are others out there, but let me start it with this one...if you have to post a sign in the window that says: "DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE STORE," you may be an inconvenience store...
This is a terribly short-sighted approach to problem properties.
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