Mr. Merwin...TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!

Photo By John Hoff 

At the last Hawthorne Neighborhood Huddle, Lieutenant Mike Sauro of the 4th Precinct discussed some increased police presence on Broadway, which will include cracking down in the area of Hawthorn Crossings, a location notorious for open air drug dealing.

In the course of that discussion...

...Sauro mentioned how the area around the parking lot for Merwin's Liquor has a deeply flawed design problem, because a low wall gives individuals a place to sit all day, hang out, and deal drugs. Sauro said if he had his way, the wall would be torn down. Sauro said if anybody knows the owner of that liquor store...well, it would be a good idea to have a little chat with him about how the fence around his property has become, in effect, seating space for dozens of no-accounts, crackheads, winos, and drug dealers.

That's my summary, not Sauro's. Sauro just mentioned how the constant "hanging around" is a problem, and how he wished the wall could be torn down and, well, maybe somebody who knows the owner could pass on the message.

I don't know the owner. But I'm sure passing on the message.

Just a few days ago, I saw a photo showing how Merwin's looked in 1974, advertising the SODA FOUNTAIN which used to be inside. Now they sell Mad Dog 20/20 to chronic inebriates which hang around like green bottle flies on rotting road kill. One of my first experiences in North Minneapolis was at Merwins, at night, and it left quite an impression.

How a mighty name in the neighborhood has come to mean so much less than it once did! If Mr. Merwin, the founder of that business, were alive today you have to wonder what he'd say. The Merwin's family name has come to represent a liquor store the size of a supermarket, with the dregs of society gathered closely around on a convenient stone ledge which seems DESIGNED for long term sitting. Would a liquor store DELIBERATELY DESIGN something to accommodate the habits of chronic loiterers, so the drunkards would stay near?

Perhaps not, but it seems to have worked out that way.