Photos and blog post by John HoffThe Star Tribune recently had an informative article on Sherman And Associates, a local real estate developer with a billion dollar portfolio, click here. The article mentioned many of George Sherman's various properties, including his exciting and visionary redevelopment of Riverside Plaza in the West Bank area.
One Sherman and Associates property noticeably ABSENT from the article is our very own...
...Hawthorn (sic) Crossings strip mall, a location which (it must be admitted) has cleaned up a bit lately, but still remains quite troubled by drug dealing and loitering. Pictured above (photographed from two angles) is one piece of evidence that Hawthorn (sic) Crossings is the ragged, neglected stepchild of the Sherman and Associates empire.
This fence, obviously hit by a car and bent out of shape, has remained in this sorry state for, well, more than a year. I think it was about a year ago that I called 311 about this fence. I can remember making the call because the fence is quite a distance from the strip mall, and I distinctly remember thinking, well, what address should I use? I ended up using the address for the McDonalds, because it's located across from that business in the strip mall on the other side of the parking lot.
More than a year later, it's still unfixed, still bent out of shape, still a pony-could-get-loose-and-run-in-traffic situation. Click here for musical homage.
I must confess, before I read the article in the Star Tribune, I had no idea how financially successful George Sherman is or how extensive his property holdings are...though I'd heard about his plush condos down by the Mississippi River. After reading the article, I can't help but think: why can't this highly successful man make Hawthorn (sic) Crossings a better asset to the community?
7 comments:
Hawthorn Crossings I and II
Here's from the Sherman and Associates website:
For Lease
This mall was constructed in 1997. It has been very successful over the years and currently has a variety of tenants including restaurants, a bank, a medical clinic, some office space, a beauty supply store, a dollar store and a laundromat. It is located on a very busy main street with an approximate traffic count of 40,000 vpd. The building has available facade, pylon signage available from time to time. This mall has become a retail landmark in the community.
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This is not exactly the way I would describe the mall.
Here is more:
24-hour emergency maintenance
Concrete floors and walls
Controlled Access Parking
Elevators
Handicapped accessible
Lawn sprinkler
I guess for the past year the broken fence has not fallen under "emergency maintenance."
Wow. That's ironic. I just recently gave Sherman and Associates some props on my Fb after I saw that article. The properties they owned where I used to live were so much better maintained than any of the surrounding properties. The concrete block town homes in Hawthorne are aesthetically pleasing and the landscaping always has fresh mulch, evergreens, and roses. I was surprised last year to notice that even behind Hawthorne Crossings, along the McDonald's drive through, even the rear of the building isn't disregarded but has mulch and flowers. I actually have been very impressed with Sherman and Associates. That said, you have a point about the fence. I hope you bring some attention that gets the fence fixed. But overall, I'm glad they are here.
Why even rationalize and defend any owner of any property who you know has the money to promptly take care of a problem but waits until they are given a warning or ultimatum or incessant complaints waged by surrounding community members leaves them no alternative but to take action to cover their respectives asses? Whew!! Let me catch my breath. M.Clinton maybe has a point since i am not too familiar with Sherman and associates, but they still need to fix that fence and i'm sure they will. According to Clinton they seem to care and all i know is that this country misses the hell out of Clinton.
Dear Mr. Hoff,
We appreciate your email.
We have submitted a service request to Housing Inspections. Your reference number is 573874.
If there is anything else we can help you with please contact us. Thank you for emailing the City of Minneapolis.
Jauna
Minneapolis 311
Sherman and Associates have shown us that they have the ability and resources to maintain their properties immaculately. This is a good thing and M.Clinton makes a good point that we are lucky to have them as landholders in our community.
This is a good opportunity to point out to them that although they have such resources and access to staff, they have been slacking here and we are watching them and expecting more.
Win-win situation. Yay!
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