Our view: Joshua Avenue extension wasn’t needed anyway
December 4, 2012 at 6:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
The Duluth City Council once again slammed the brakes on talk of extending Joshua Avenue as a route from eastern Duluth to the mall area. Skepticism over the ability to land federal money for an extension project estimated at $5 million to $7 million was cited at Monday’s council meeting, just like it was two years ago after then-U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar failed to secure the money and then was ousted from office.
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But if the city could have sucked up those Federal dollars they would have gone ahead with a project that isn’t needed.
Just where do you think those Federal dollars come from?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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That money comes from the federal money tree (I am being sarcastic, people seem to think that “federal” money is free)
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Sid….Yes, I have seen where the City of Duluth has gone ahead with projects ( that were not needed ), just because they did NOT want to lose the Federal dollars….so, they plowed ahead with the project that was not needed and they could not afford even the local dollars! That is what happens when the City of Duluth has stars in their eyes….but, they cannot see 2 feet in front of themselves!
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Time to bring the street grid back into force. I believe much of the City is already platted. That’s why N 81st Av W is hanging in Bayview Heights and more or less aligns with 81st in Norton Park (although it’s oriented to the St Louis River there). Quite why it’s Goldsmith St on the lower side of Vinland St is one of the many inconsistencies you see across Duluth.
In a city like Duluth that’s 26mi long with an extensive shoreline and rugged topography, there must be a logical and systematic street plan and address zoning. It seems to be going to pot with the numerous street and alley vacations and abandoned rights of way that the City has granted willy-nilly.
Let’s put a stop to the residential enclaves that are springing up all over town and go back to building traditional neighborhoods befitting of a proper city like Duluth.
If Duluth keeps getting carved up into self-contained bedroom suburbs, we are going to see more of the chaos, conflict and polemic that characterizes this Joshua Ave mess.
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If you’re going to thumbs down, then explain your position.
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I’ve heard both sides of this argument, but I’m glad that this piece has come out. Sure, from a transportation perspective, it makes sense to complete this almost 30 year old paper road. But really, there’s no need to build yet another $5million road to get people to the mall twenty seconds faster. I just type of austerity was exercised when developers nationwide decided that suburbs and the ensuing urban sprawl were good ideas.
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(I just wish this type of…)*
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You probably wouldn’t have an issue with urban sprawl existed on a light rail line, right?
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Urban sprawl only exists because of a lack of public transport. A light rail line wouldn’t create urban sprawl, it would help prevent it. Example, Duluth circa 1950.
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This has been going for 40 years, why rush..?
Time for Donny to start one of his “Commissions”.
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Joshua will get extended someday….hard to put dollars tward a new street when we can’t maintain what we have now. We always have money to throw at projects like the Cozy or the Norshor. We should put our streets on the historic register.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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john (R)….So true….unfortunately! So…will the City officials EVER learn how to do things the correct way? If so….when…..in another 50 years? I doubt it….so long as we are governed by the left! Guess I will never live long enough to see it happen!
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