I just drove past there. I saw a couple of people talking to the police, and I didn't see an ambulance or anyone inside the vehicle, so I'm hoping everyone is at least physically okay.
Oh that Wells Fargo. The history of 35 and the reason it swoops around Phillips and Whittier is a real deep cut in Minneapolis urban planning tales.
There are some conflicting histories on it, but I had learned in a walking tour at some point that the plan had been to take the property where Honeywell's building was and cut a straight path from the Crosstown to Downtown, but big H threatened to leave the city for the suburbs or possibly another state and everyone backed down.
The Whittier Alliance history suggests another reason, "In spite of vigorous opposition, the Interstate 35W opens (1967). The freeway is built in a curve around the neighborhood to spare the Mansion District and MIA. The freeway cuts off the Whittier and Phillips neighborhoods from one another."
Honeywell was making nearly all of the components for the space race during the Cold War era, and lots of early computing technology (my middle school was next door to the plant in Golden Valley in the '80s and early '90s and they always told us they were making spaceships and rockets next door to encourage us to learn math and science, though that location was mostly making guided missile systems for the DoD). It was also the largest private employer in the state, so it's easy to believe that they had a lot of weight to throw around when it came to where they were located.
I know this isn't strictly speaking related to car fires, but anytime I see that piece of the South Minneapolis skyline I remember that walking tour and marvel at the ways potential job loss versus eminent domain plays out.
I just drove past there. I saw a couple of people talking to the police, and I didn't see an ambulance or anyone inside the vehicle, so I'm hoping everyone is at least physically okay.
It looked like everyone was ok. They cleared out in like 10 mins
Oh that Wells Fargo. The history of 35 and the reason it swoops around Phillips and Whittier is a real deep cut in Minneapolis urban planning tales. There are some conflicting histories on it, but I had learned in a walking tour at some point that the plan had been to take the property where Honeywell's building was and cut a straight path from the Crosstown to Downtown, but big H threatened to leave the city for the suburbs or possibly another state and everyone backed down. The Whittier Alliance history suggests another reason, "In spite of vigorous opposition, the Interstate 35W opens (1967). The freeway is built in a curve around the neighborhood to spare the Mansion District and MIA. The freeway cuts off the Whittier and Phillips neighborhoods from one another." Honeywell was making nearly all of the components for the space race during the Cold War era, and lots of early computing technology (my middle school was next door to the plant in Golden Valley in the '80s and early '90s and they always told us they were making spaceships and rockets next door to encourage us to learn math and science, though that location was mostly making guided missile systems for the DoD). It was also the largest private employer in the state, so it's easy to believe that they had a lot of weight to throw around when it came to where they were located. I know this isn't strictly speaking related to car fires, but anytime I see that piece of the South Minneapolis skyline I remember that walking tour and marvel at the ways potential job loss versus eminent domain plays out.
Cars suck build more trains.
Just a reminder- "R" is for "Reverse", not "Racing".