There was once a snow monkey named Pepper who lived in the basement. And didn't Doug Moen and .... oh what was his name--the junk dealer... live down there for several years?
So this surprises me not.
However, as much as I resent what ER is doing to the place--killing its chances to ever be what it ought to be--it seems like if they were to roust out all the folks living in the odd corners of downtown, we'd just have more homeless people on the street. Focusing on the NorShor for this seems a bit unfair. (Though anyone who lives somewhere without the sanction of the "authorities" ought to be prepared to look like it's their "office" at any point of the day, you would think.)
Renting out the NorShor as a strip club is like...tarting up your own grandmother and sending her out on the street to earn money.
In the article, the strip club owner says they're spending thousands of dollars to bring the NorShor up to code (and HOW many years have they been saying this??). Yeah, sure... and yet somehow they missed the fact that there were people living in the building.
Once found a homeless dude living in my friend's dank old basement. No idea how he got in, but he had made a cozy "nest" out of their laundry. Missing your favorite shirt awhile? Or your dog won't stop barking at empty boxes in the corner? You might be a landlord too.
Seeing the bright side of this...new venues(note) are popping up without us clinging to the cold barren wasteland that is the Norshor (although I *always* enjoyed playing there).
[note: Teattro Zuccone, Harbor city theatre, and many other spaces that have been renovated or are planned for renovation.]
When I played with the Black Labels I met the guy who lived in the basement of the Red Lion. Kinda creepy...and fascinating at the same time. I also found myself late night beneath the NorShor once with a small group of old regulars. They told me somebody lived down there, but I didn't believe them. I was really blown away to find quasi-living quarters down there.
...Finally, there is hope that this once grand theater will emerge from the cesspool and be what it could be ... and once was ... Please ... someone ... save this place.
Damn shame Mr. Ringsred didn't sell the Norshor to Alan Zeppa a few years ago. It's a blight on a thriving part of downtown, and it could have been so much more.
My giant heart is broken over this ... all of it. All over and all around. The sensationalism, the uneven hand of justice, the mockery of human decency, the damaged reputations, the seediness, the poverty, the brokenness and ... just all of it. I can't even see the humor of Scotty's Monkey comment today (although I will verify it's true).
I thought I might stop caring about that place some time, but apparently it still hasn't happened yet. Somebody throw me a bone here, or a life preserver, or something, I'm sinking. Don't even know if I want to open the paper anymore.
I have an office in the Temple Opera Block, and always suspected someone (s) lived down in the basement. Didn't bother me, I never felt unsafe in my office. I'd rather deal with the mole people down in the basement than have to deal with the creeps who frequent the Norshor these days. JP, I understand why you feel the way you do, you really fought the good fight and tried to make the Norshor a hub of activity in Old Downtown, a place where people of all kinds felt comfortable hanging out. I don't know *anyone* who goes there now. What a loss to our community.
I wonder how much Dr Ringsred wants for the place. Has that been the sticking point with potential investors, that his price is so high?? When the conversation comes up of what you would do if you won the lottery, I always say that I would buy and renovate the NorShor. And I would have the Brian Jonestown Massacre play opening night. And I would open up the balcony again. And people would love me and I would have a really good looking, smart, red haired girlfriend that wanted to drink beer with me all day.
OH...I would also put back up that big metal tower that used to be on top. You can see the pictures on News Tribune Attic.
Mumbo Jumbo! Mumbo Jumbo! All you had your chances to save or support the Norshor. What happened to your ideas of free market? Is there a different rule for Cliff Dwellers?
The idea of some people not rich enough to afford coffee and a home must drive all you back into your caves. Duluth isn't perfect anymore. Duluth has nothing to offer for normal people. You people who live on this board can have this town and drink your coffee and listen to Perfect Day Duluth radio every Wedneday.
The city is so close to bankruptcy, and yet you bitch about some people who made a choice to stay warm and dry. Why don't you talk about influx of people from chicago? You won't.
Let the true face of the cliff dweller be reveled.
Am I missing something? I didn't see anyone slamming the homeless people. There was some surprise that they were living under the Norshor, but I don't think anyone expressed surprise at the fact Duluth has homeless people.
Seriously though, is it really necessary for you to be a complete tool on thread after thread on here. What do you hope to accomplish? Do you honestly think you're making converts? I hope Mayor Ross is preparing for the endless stream of Duluth's expats that want to come and be a part of everything Superior and Craig represent. I'm packing right now...
Why are you attacking me? The title of this post is called "mole people in duluth". So people who seek warmth and shelter underground should be named "moles"? Why couldn't the post say "homeless people seeking shelter at the norshor"?
You cliff dwellers can laugh at the fact that these people had no real shelter. They are survivors. I hate you put this news on this happy go lucky cliff dweller elitist board, but a lot more people are going to lose their jobs and move away. That's the people who fuel the economy in Duluth. Laugh at this all you want, Chris. It's real funny.
Craig,
For not being and "elitist cliff dweller", you sure spend enough time on our blog....btw, is there a good superior blog? Awww... guess not...Too bad cause I'd love to see what's @ the Belgian Club tonight? I know, maybe we could go to the Palace for a show.(apologies to Ted Pellman and others efforts to save that great old building). FYI I don't know a PDD'er who doesn't love Superior despite your repeated attempts to defile it. Except for the the 25 mph speed limit part...call us when your not driving with a permit and get your real license.
Cave people, mole people,
Cliff dweller, troll,
Living in this beauty wood,
Won't you be my neighbor?
I think letting homeless people stay there is a far better use of the place than a strip club, rock bar, or movie house.
Craig, if you're serious...which I doubt ... then DO something about it...The "big picture" is that we're all in this together ... duluth superior folk rock metal disco glam slam dixie polka softcore hardcore emo mathrock if we ALL support each other then we ALL get supported. I for one am really glad you focus on metal...I think it's been underserved by "the scene" and not-so-secretly sometimes wish I was in a metal power trio. Just do what you do and people (from both sides of the bay) will support you. Now, I'm done threadjacking...sorry c-freak.
Craig's offensively provincial attitude aside (what's with the bit about "the influx from Chicago" anyway? Let's not get into that old racist tripe), he has some good points. First of all, why are people faulting a) homeless people who have nowhere else to go in Duluth to avoid freezing, and b) Eric Ringsred, who has enough of a heart to turn a blind eye to squatters desperate enough to ignore his numerous admonitions to them not to sleep there? I don't know if anyone on this board has noticed, but we have a full-blown economic crisis going on here, with people losing jobs and losing their homes right and left. Such radicals as the Sheriff of Cook County (Chicago), Illinois have encouraged people evicted from their homes to squat "illegally."
Today's News Trib carries an article interviewing Dave Anderson, former owner of Browser's internet cafe, who was one of the squatters. These are not just hopeless bums. They are down-on-their-luck folks like the rest of us. The real criminal in this situation is the economic system that allows homelessness to exist where there is so much vacant housing, that puts private property over the needs of human beings and uses minor "safety" statutes to deny the immediate needs of squatters and force them into danger from exposure.
Want a solution? Luxury property owners could offer to put up all the "mole people" and the rest of Duluth's homeless population in the unoccupied condos atop the new Sheraton or in The Ledges free of charge or on a sliding scale tied to their level of employment and wages. I doubt you would have too many of them refuse the offer.
@ RedIguana: "First of all, why are people faulting a) homeless people who have nowhere else to go in Duluth to avoid freezing, and b) Eric Ringsred, who has enough of a heart to turn a blind eye to squatters desperate enough to ignore his numerous admonitions to them not to sleep there?"
RedIguana, you must be reading something in the above comments I'm not seeing. I don't read that people are faulting the homeless for finding shelter where they can, or even Eric Ringsred for turning a blind eye to people living in Temple Opera's basement. I think people are faulting Eric more for letting the Norshor go to seed like he has, and are expressing that frustration on this thread. As someone who actually rents an office in the Temple Opera, I'd like the 2 guys to stay in that bldg as perhaps caretakers, but Eric does have to work with the city to make sure they are safe. It would suck if there was a fire and these two guys burned to a crisp b/c they couldn't get out and no one knew they were there. BTW, I've known David Anderson for the past 10 years, a nice, nice guy, it was sad to hear he's fallen on hard times and to read about it on the front page of today's paper. His experience should be a lesson to all of us -- there but for the grace of god. . .
okay, first of all "mole people" refers to a book by that name that was all about homeless people in NYC. it is not a joke, and is not derogatory. it's what the people who *lived* in the tunnels in NYC called *themselves.* so. no one is making fun of anyone.
also, Dave Anderson has been suffering with his alcoholism for years now, as anyone who's been a downtown dweller knows, and i think we knew that one way or another we would know at least one of the people ER's allowed to live down there. there have been people on this board who have lived illegally in the Temple Building in the past, and i considered it myself back when i had an office there and even less $ than i have now.
i actually thought it might be a different alcoholic that many of us know.
in any case, Craig, i don't know if you're for real or what, but you seem to have a real difficulty in reading things without skewing them through a really negative filter.
in fact, i don't know why i'm even bothering to speak up to you at all. it's obvious you are far from interested in real conversation or a real dialogue.
what's frustrating is that the homeless thing is probably entrenching ER even more in his me-against-the-world attitude. which does the building no favors. the saddest thing in the world is the number of people in the poll on the DNT site that call for the place to be torn down, even *now*. WTF, people?
because of the publicity, hopefully these guys will find a place.
cool about the Cook Co Sheriff, rediguana. i hope we see more people simply refusing to leave their homes when they've been booted. it's unfortunate that the paper decided to focus on the "get them out of there" side of things, instead of doing something to get them housing.
i made the original post and there is no mention of FUNNY anywhere. hbh1 is correct about the mole people reference. thanks craig. you've turned another one of my posts into a cluster-fuck of hate and pathetic ASSumptions.
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