Get a neighborhood watch going. I know the cops step up when a community doesn't police itself. My neighborhood has two nice ladies who walk around with flashlights all hours of the night. Nothing makes me feel more safe than Betsy welcoming me home when I get there late... I don't know how safe I feel for Betsy, but a can of bear mace and a 500,000-volt taser probably keep her sleeping soundly at night both after and during her midnight ventures.

I would be your neighbor but I don't live even remotely close to there.  I like the idea though.

Convince your landlord not to rent to drug dealers.

Tag "Clean our neighborhood" on every outdoor surface. It'll get the point across to everyone. Really though, I'll lend a hand where needed. Possibly even two.

Thanks everyone!! There are some damn fine ideas here. Don't stop...and stay tuned!

I think I did a short blurb about the new managers there about three years ago. I must not have uploaded it to the Hillsider blog. They seemed decent. I wonder if they are still there. They had two dogs. One was a Jack Russell terrier

Put some Banksy-esque paint up that is thick with irony, making the average sheep strolling by uncomfortable, spurring them to finally question exactly what their role is the big mix of things.

[img]http://senseslost.com/third-rail-content/uploads/2007/07/banksy.jpg[/img]

You are basically talking about community organizing.  As Tom suggested, talk to Allen Richardson at CHUM, there are already organized neighbors in the area, no need to re-invent the wheel.  This is the first thing you should do.     

If you really want to be effective, go into this with as little ego as possible and make an effort to be pragmatic and flexible.  

As a former organizer in the hillside, I saw so many opportunities lost to individual goal-seeking.  Trying to get people organized to change their neighborhood is extremely challenging, but very possible.  Have your goals, but recognize victories outside of your own goals as victories, not as personal slights.     

Goals pertaining to 'revitalization' change from building to building and from block to block.  Being clear about what you want, plugging into organized groups, and using existing momentum to your advantage are the most efficient ways to see change in your neighborhood.

So do they have the same managers, Kim & Mike Kloos, or are there new managers?

Milk,
W????

What a terrible thing to say. We moved here because we wanted to. The old houses are wonderful. The tall trees and the hills add to the charm. Duluth still has its own personality, it isn't just another suburb. Duluth has a lot going on. 

For a town of its size there is lots of music, theater, clubs to join. Not a day goes by where there aren't two or things to do at the same time.

I wonder if you just posted that as a troll or a plant to raise a ruckus...

If it is so terrible why do you stay? 

I'll say it again, we could have gone to the Twin Cities or further away. We chose to come to Duluth.

Milk, you are a tool (if not a troll). Let me go through your list of grievances:

Old houses -- would you prefer tract upon tract of McMansions in foreclosure?

Climate -- some of us actually enjoy all four seasons.

Populace boring -- really? Speak for yourself, blowhard. More than 40 intelligent, eloquent, well-read, well-traveled Duluthians came to my BBQ yesterday. I couldn't invite EVERY cool person I know in Duluth.

Local cuisine -- Smoked fish is pretty good in my book. So are the following eateries (an incomplete list): Duluth Grill, Uncle Louie's, Zeitgeist, Hanabi, Lake Ave. Cafe, AtSara's Table, Clyde Iron, Va Bene, New Scenic Cafe, Burrito Union and the Brewhouse. You don't have to eat at a chain in this town if you don't want to -- good gawd!

Local pastime -- Duluth is home to how many live theater companies? How many venues? Here's another incomplete list of venues -- Teatro Zuccone, the Duluth Playhouse, the Play Ground, Luce, RT's, Brewhouse, Mitchell, Weber, Sacred Heart, Zinema, Clyde Iron, Amazing Grace, Sir Ben's, DSSO at the DECC, Carmody, etc. Have you heard of Homegrown Music Fest? Oh, maybe YOU are too wasted to know what a plethora of fantastic things there are to do and see in Duluth. It is also an out-and-out lie that there are "large numbers of low-income" people moving in from urban areas. This myth is being propagated by Brad Bennett and his flock of complete droolers on local hate radio. 

As for politics, the citizens of Duluth often have the highest or next to highest voter turnout in the nation! Only an engaged, civic-minded citizenry would come out to vote, so I'm thinking they've made fairly good choices. Duluthians didn't give Bush or Pawlenty a lot of votes. 

Houses are not "illogically expensive" here either. Compare the number of single family homes in Duluth to any comparably sized community in the United States and we rank pretty high on affordability.

So, back to your cave, troll!

Well, it takes all kinds, I guess! Again, thanks to all who have shown any interest in this topic whatsoever (Yes, even Milk.). 

As for the management, it has been taken over by the Kozy management team, who -- I must say -- are some of the most dedicated, patient, and friendly(!) people I've met in a while. The things these folks put up with!

As for the rent, etc.: you can check out the Craigslist ad I just posted. It's pretty radical, but why not?!

$830/3br - 3 bedrooms in stylin' building

And just between you and I, there is some wiggle room on the rent. Oh! and it's by no means roach infested!!! And there are plenty of open apartments.

I agree with you. Milk, if you find it so reprehensible and don't want to do anything but gripe about it, you ought to leave immediately.

Milk's spot under the bridge is unoccupied right now, Opponent.

The Opponent: I've posted the link to the craigslist ad in a previous post. BTW: I've had a couple of very enthusiastic responses! Thanks again for everyone's two cents...even Milk. In Milk's defense, I've had some similar bitter sentiments after not having a substantial b.m. for a few days...hmmm...

I realize this posting is old, but does anyone have any experience renting at St. Regis? What's it like?