Demo Alert - 3009 Park Ave South - The Pauline Fjelde House

On Saturday, December 13th the Housing Committee of the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) held a special neighborhood meeting at La Vina restaurant to discuss the future of a home that once belonged to Pauline Fjelde at 3009 Park Avenue South.
 

The home was built as a duplex in 1908 by Pauline Fjelde  a Norwegian Emigrant who came to America with her Father, Brother, and Sister. Her father was a master wood carver, her sister a musician, and her brother a sculptor. Her brother studied in Denmark and Rome and is the most famous member of the family. His works are located both in the U.S. and in Europe and locally he sculpted the Minerva sculpture above the entrance of the original Minneapolis Library as well as the iconic Hiawatha statue at Minnehaha Falls with other work located at Como Park.

Pauline built this home near the business district for a reason - she was a seamstress and acclaimed weaver and embroiderer who ran her business from her home. She IS the "Betsy Ross" of Minnesota.  She embroidered the prototype of the Minnesota State flag that won first place at the 1893 Chicago Exposition and was adopted by the State Legislature upon here return. It was on display at the capital as well as the massive Hiawatha Tapestry (Based on the Sculpture created by her Brother) that took ten years to create due to the need to work off a pattern displayed on a mirror behind her because of the reverse pattern work. It was on display in the capitol rotunda for many years before being moved to the Historic Society Archives for safe keeping. (Picture of the homes interior with the tapestry during being created are available).

The home was designed in 1907 by architects Boehme and Cordella who also designed—among other notable structures—the Swan J. Turnblad Mansion (current home of the American Swedish Institute) at 2600 Park Avenue, just four blocks north of the Fjelde home.

After construction of this residence, Pauline left Minneapolis to study in Europe for almost two years - in Luxembourg, Paris, Denmark, and Norway.  She melded traditional Norwegian weaving techniques with American and Native American motifs.  She is credited with bringing the European Arts and Crafts movement into the Norwegian American textile arts scene. Her works are on display in a permanent collection at the Vesterheim - the National Norwegian - American Heritage Museum.

The current owners, the Schoffman's; bought this property to tear it down and create a parking lot for the vacant commercial property that they own on Lake Street.

The activity taking place at this property is a disturbing trend facing other residential neighborhoods in Minneapolis. The unique difference here is the historic significance of the home in question.

Commercial businesses are encroaching upon residential zoned neighborhoods to take advantage of the foreclosure crisis and further deteriorate the quality of urban living. This home is clearly zoned residential with an alley that buffers it from the commercially zoned property on Lake Street. The most likely reason that it remained vacant for so long was due to the impact of the previous commercial tenants that occupied the Schoffman's now vacant commercial property.

If this property is allowed to be rezoned as a parking lot for the "Check Cashing" business that the owner intends to lease; the effects of community blight will likely be passed along to the next residence.

We attended the meeting and were impressed with the turnout and the civility of the discussion. Over 38 members of the community turned out and unanimously voted (the sole dissenters were the Schoffmans) to request that the CANDO Board place a recommendation for the city to conduct a designation study from the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (MHPC).

We toured 3009 Park Ave South after the meeting and were excited to see that the home was still in very good structural condition. Many others (including several architects, contractors, and former Heritage Preservation Commissioners) who toured the structure also felt the same way.

After the meeting the Schoffmans and representatives of the Lake Street Council talked with local residents regarding the problems facing their business and expressed concern about unrealistic parking requirements dictated by the city. We expressed our empathy for the financial problems facing small business owners due to these restrictions and pledged to assist them in finding solutions with the city.

In a strange turn of events, the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) Board under intense pressure from Lake Street Council attendees reversed their own residents overwhelming recommendations and forwarded the decision regarding the residentially zoned property to the "economic development" committee. The out come of this seems obvious (as well as may be the fate of any of those board members deciding to run for re-election-lol).

The escalation of this issue by local business appears to be less about the recognition of an important Historical and Cultural Landmark, the correction of misguided zoning ordinances forced on high density urban communities, or the continued support by it's base target market as it is about a win at all costs approach to gaining access to low cost parking availability along the Lake Street Corridor. 

We feel for the Schoffmans and other entrepreneurs who take on the risk of owning a business. We need them to provide the basic enterprises that make our communities vital and convenient. Yet, We want to be assured that when we locate into a community where we build our families that the precepts of economic boundaries will remain constant. It is important that the City Council and it's leadership afford us this respect.

The Schoffmans speculated that a home in the residential  zoned area of the community could be demolished and rezoned commercial regardless of the impact on the their neighbors. They would like the city to feel that their economic blight is greater than the dozens of residents around them who likely suffer a loss in home value and quality of life as a result of this change. They ignore the cultural and historic contributions of past residents and would like all to believe that the changes to this lot will produce an even greater significance for future generations.

It is unclear to us how anyone could rationalize the continued support of this proposal after reviewing the historic significance of this property or observing the strong and clear objections stated by the Central Area Neighborhood community members at the December 13th meeting. However, if and when the request for demolition resurfaces, the issue involved will become part of a wider forum in which we need your support.

Here is the contact information for the groups and agencies that are or will be part of the decision making process on this issue:

8th WARD CITY COUNCIL - Elizabeth Glidden   Email - Elizabeth.Glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Central Avenue Neighborhood Development Organization  Email - pmiller@scc.net

The Lake Street Council  Email- jwisdom@lakestreetcouncil.org

Minneapolis Zoning Commission
Heritage Preservation Commission

Please take the time to express your opinions to these key decision makers so that we can protect these historic resources.

Posted by Mpls Historic Homeowner Asso. at 12/21/2008 10:37 PM
Categories: uncategorized
 

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