On The Issues. . .And Getting Things Done

Economic Development

      Dan was a member of the Phalen Corridor Steering Committee for more than a decade – from 1996 to the final meeting early in 2007, from a time when the project was only a concept through the completion of the last section of Phalen Boulevard on October 15, 2005, and more than a year beyond that as the committee finished its work. As a St. Paul Port Authority commissioner, he played a role in the entire development, from Mississippi Street to Prosperity Avenue, from the new MTC bus garage that replaced two junkyards to the new Bureau of Criminal Apprehension building. The Phalen Corridor already has brought more than $600 million in investment to the East Side and created hundreds of well-paying jobs.

    And there is much more – many smaller development projects that have brought jobs to our community and sometimes replaced urban blight with attractive new buildings and landscapes. Among these are the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension building, the Wells Fargo Bank, and new locations for stores such as Walgreen’s, CVS drugs, SuperAmerica and Holiday.

    Dan continues to promote new development, such as another Walgreen’s and possibly a Cub Foods store.

BCA_Wells_Fargo.jpg Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Housing

     Dan has been heavily involved in improving the housing stock in Ward 6. Several hundred new or refurbished apartments, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes have been built in the ward since he joined the City Council in 1996. Many have been part of the Phalen Corridor project. These include a major cluster of housing at the east end of the corridor, on and near the former site of the Phalen Shopping Center.

 

DSC_0157.jpg Townhomes at Maryland and Forest

 

     In addition to his work on new housing, Dan has focused on renovation of existing housing and tearing homes down when they are too blighted for repair. He has emphasized turning vacant and abandoned property into owner-occupied homes.

   

    Dan co-sponsored a city ordinance that will lead to major progress in cleaning up blighted neighborhoods and reducing crime. Adopted by the City Council in January, it requires inspections of rented single-family homes and duplexes so these buildings can be shut down if landlords violate safety or health codes. Previously, the law covered only rental property with three units or more.

Public Safety

    Dan served as a St. Paul Police officer from 1964 to 1990. He uses his background in education, law enforcement and the community to provide a balance of city services and to keep St. Paul and the East Side safe, clean and affordable.  

P1020103.jpg Dan with members of the St. Paul Police Department

*This candidate is endorsed by the St. Paul Police Federation.  Use of the official police uniform has been approved, but is not intended to imply endorsement by the police department.

    Dan has give special attention to the improvement of code enforcement, fire and paramedic services, and police protection. In December 2006, Dan successfully advocated for 25 new police officers. The St. Paul Police Federation  and the city’s Police Retirement Association have endorsed Dan. 

 

Recreation, Parks and Playgrounds

    Dan knows that public parks and recreation centers are important elements of a vibrant city. He is particularly concerned with assuring that St. Paul’s young people have an outstanding and varied array of opportunities for after-school and weekend activities.

 

    Since Dan joined the council, he has worked with residents and neighborhood groups in a successful effort to improve and expand the city’s recreation centers. Two major projects have been completed. One is the new Hazel Park Recreation Center. In Phalen Park, the Phalen Recreation Center got a new addition, and the existing facility was renovated.

 

   Hazel_Park_Rec.jpg  Dan visits the new Hazel Park Recreation Center

 

 Dan is now working on two more projects. He is seeking funding for a new Duluth-Case Recreation Center. And this year’s proposed St. Paul Capital Improvement Budget includes money for a new Arlington Recreation Center near Maryland and Payne Avenues. It may become part of a major development with two other projects now in tentative, planning stages – a new Arlington Hills Library and a new Merrick Community Center.

 

     In Furness Park, a linear park in the middle of Furness Parkway, walking paths were repaved last year. Extension of the walking paths and other park improvements are planned.

 

     Dan also got funding for a handicapped-accessible playground in Phalen Park and for playground equipment at Ames Elementary School (see picture at bottom of page).

Education

    In the field of education, it takes experience to get things done. Dan has been involved with education issues since the 1970s. His passion about these issues was driven by his desire that his three boys receive an education that would prepare them for adulthood. All three graduated from Johnson High School.

   

    Dan was a member of the PTAs at St. Paul public elementary and secondary schools; he served as president of the Prosperity Heights Elementary School PTA. He was elected citywide to three terms on the St. Paul School Board and served six years as board chairman.

    

DSC_0149.jpg  Bruce Vento Elementary School

 

     Dan took the leadership role in the renaming of East Consolidated School, now the Bruce Vento Elementary School. Several million dollars of investment in the school followed the renaming. Dan and Vento, a long-time U. S. Congressman, were classmates at Johnson High School.

 

DSC_0171.jpg New Playground Equipment at Ames Elementary

 

     In the spring of 2006, Dan secured funding from the St. Paul sales tax and revitalization fund for playground equipment at Ames Elementary School. Dr. Delores Henderson, principal at Ames, pointed out the need to him, and he found the money for the equipment.

 

dominos.jpgTHE DOMINO EFFECT

     Efficient planning can lead to a domino effect that results in several new development opportunities. Dan is a methodical planner with a good eye for the big picture. Here is an example of how that worked for the East Side:

 

      Dan led the charge to locate the Achievement Plus School program in the former Johnson High School on York Avenue near Arcade Street. The building, which had been used for shops and storage since 1964, was renovated and restored to become the John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School.

 

    Initial plans placed the school on a site in the Phalen Village area. Putting the school at Johnson High allowed the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to construct a new building at the site previously considered for the Achievement Plus School.

 

YMCA_Old_JHS.jpg Achievement Plus Elementary & New East Side YMCA

 

   A new East Side YMCA was built adjacent to the school, and the old YMCA at Magnolia Avenue and Arcade Street was demolished. Dan assisted the Hmong American Partnership in building a new facility on the YMCA site. As a result of his efforts, three East Side neighborhoods benefited from reinvestment and gained new opportunities.

 

 

      See the “That Was Then . . .This is Now” section for more on economic development, housing, recreation and other progress in your neighborhood.

 

Prepared & paid for by the Bostrom Volunteer Committee- 1646 E. Shore Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55106-1139

stpaulward6@gmail.com or 651-233-9238