News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday December 28th 2025
Analysis: Corcoran Neighborhood about to lose a “Pearl”
BY HARVEY WINJE, CONCEPTS BY STEVE SANDBERG
A cosmetic “shell” hides a “pearl” at 2019 E.Lake St. across from Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery. It was the factory for Burma-Shave product and signage until it moved to Bryn-Mar Neighborhood.
The Mpls. School Dist. bought the property to build a Community Education building replacing one at E. Lake St. and Hiawatha sold to Hennepin County .
Corcoran Neighborhood and Lake St. businesses would do well to consider its reuse on a site rather than as landfill.
Perhaps this post and beam Burma-Shave building could invoke re-use sensibilities and be incorporated into a shelter structure for the new Midtown Farmer”'s Market two blocks away or, as Phillip”'s resident Steve Sandberg also recommends, moving it to the empty lot at East Lake Street and 17th Ave.
See www.startribune.com October 26, 2015, “It may be razed/Instead of saved/Say so long to/Burma Shave” by Steve Brandt.
Waste of resources is no surprise: the School District demolished Phillips Jr. High School because it “wasn”'t needed”; but bought and renovated Mt. Sinai Hospital three blocks away, four years later! Neighbors had protested in favor of reuse as a community center and/or housing. Neighbors were victorious in saving the 1972 Pool and Gym addition.… Read the rest “Analysis: Corcoran Neighborhood about to lose a “Pearl””
The Great Transition
By Peter Molenaar
403 – 221 BC”¦
The newly developed cupola type furnace emerged like so many mushrooms upon the land. Masses were rallied to the stacks”¦all available iron was to be sacrificed between layers of glowing coke (i.e., coal). Such was the Warring States Period in Chinese history.
June 1979”¦
I would survive Smith Foundry”'s last “cupola campaign.” After which, under an environmental mandate, the beast was put to sleep. A new electric furnace was to draw its power from a coal-fired plant some distance away. Actually, Mother Earth was seen rolling her eyes and shaking her head.
2015”¦
“When the Clean Power Plan is fully in place in 2030, carbon pollution from the power sector will be 32% below 2005 levels,” so says the EPA. (32%?!) Meanwhile, Xcel Energy has announced plans to cut carbon emissions, by 60%, mainly by switching from coal to natural gas.
Related Images:
Keep citizen journalism alive!
Analysis Councilmember Cano Convenes Discussion between Residents, Business Owners, Law & Order
BY HARVEY WINJE
“In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups – the police who investigate crime and the district attorney who prosecutes…” ”“ Law and Order
Monday night Oct. 26, a State Representative, Mayor”'s Staffperson, City Council member and Staff, Crime Prevention Specialists, HN Cty. Chief Public Defender, Hn Cty, Prosecutor, City Attorney, Police leadership, and others met with residents and business owners at Circulo De Amigos Child Care 2830 Cedar Ave. for fears and frustrations to be told and acted upon.
9th Ward Council member, Alondra Cano, assembled appropriate city, county and state officials to answer specific complaints such as:
Related Images: