st. paul

I have a lot of simpathy for the businesses that closed during the construction. Hwever, as anyone who has ever lived near any major construction project can tell you, they all havve an impact on the local area, some bad and some good. That doesn't mean we don't undertake the projects, especially when they have such great potential as Central Corridor has for benefitting everyone in the corridor. Hopefully it hs been a learning experience for the Met Council and the other stakeholders on how to improve the next project.

Mn2, I agree with all you say, but with one addition. Bureaucrats are often late to help small businesses, with too many hoops and barriers to accomplish the goal.

The city should have tried harder to save the businesses we lost, ma and pa pushed out by corporate as usual sending our money out of state or as in case of the walmart to china, sad.

76 businesses closed in a year and a half. Think about that. This project effected so many people, and for what? The LTR has been a huge waste of tax payer money. The losses to the public are huge,The report concluded that $11 million in subsidies and other assistance were somewhat effective -- at least as a public-relations tool. but you dont hear those numbers. ...I think this statement says it all. "somewhat effective". If I were somewhat effective in my job, I would be fired. For these guys it is a success. SMH

"especially when they have such great potential as Central Corridor has for benefitting everyone in the corridor" Define potential? Are small passenger rail trains going to be different in Minnesota than every other place in this country? The light rails all over this country remind of the Simpsons episode where the monorail guy swindles the city saying how great all the benefits will be.

Great, so a net loss of 3 businesses, and that's a positive? Most construction projects do not shut down every business in site. Of course most projects are not as bloated as this one either. Over budget, considerably behind schedule, etc....

The problem with Caribe (the Caribbean restaurant) was they had inconsistent hours. I tried going there on a few occasions and they were closed. A restaurant should be open at 7pm on a Saturday night. If the owners were not interested in being open during the busiest time of the week, they should not have opened a restaurant.

I visited Caribe over on Raymond Ave. (thankfully) before it closed. Disappointed to see it become yet another casualty of the Central Corridor wrecking ball. I sincerely hope they can reopen in another location, something I have been hearing rumors about. I am not nearly as enthusiastic about the falafel place that replaced it.

76 businesses closed OR MOVED, 73 businesses opened. That is a net gain in businesses.

It would sure be nice to see just how much "public subsidy" (i.e., taxpayer money) is being given to these businesses so the urban controllers (Met Council, et al) can ram this LRT boondoggle down our throats. Not only how much, but to whom, and what are the political connections of those opening the new businesses. As usual, the "reporting" is lightweight and only scratches the surface. DOn't journalists have any inquisitiveness anymore?