This petition is to object to the construction of a multipurpose arena by the University of St. Thomas on its South Campus in St. Paul, MN.  Reasons to object to the construction include the following:

1. Damage to the environment from construction, particularly the erosion of the adjacent river bluff, loss of natural habitat, groundwater diversion, and intrusion into the Mississippi River Corridor and bird migration flyway.
2. Damage to the environment from operation, particularly the greenhouse gases from simultaneously heating and cooling the same space, from trucks and buses servicing the arena, and from the thousands of vehicles driving to and around the neighborhood, looking for parking.
3. An additional parking deficit of thousands of cars that will find no place nearby to park due to permit parking restrictions, and so will park illegally. Students and staff already are unable to park near campus.
4. The traffic generated by the vehicles attending events in the 5,500 seat arena.  Local roads are mostly one lane, and cars will clog local streets whenever there is an event.  
5. Arena traffic will be directed north on Cretin Avenue after games just as students and other pedestrians will be crossing Cretin Avenue at the same spot.  It is unworkable and highly dangerous, particularly in winter.
6. UST plans to have 66 home basketball and hockey games each winter, but the arena would also be available for other UST events (job fairs, concerts) and for rental for non-UST events (conventions, high school tournaments, concerts).  The arena will be busy year-round. 
7. The conversion of historic parkway Summit Avenue into a commercial driveway for UST trucks and buses, as well as the only drop-off route for hundreds of taxis/Uber/Lyft vehicles per game.
8. The unnecessary disturbance of South Campus residents for two years of construction.  Students should be learning, not just surviving.
9. The demolition of two buildings designed by nationally renowned architect Cass Gilbert, who designed the Minnesota Capitol, U.S. Supreme Court, and other nationally prominent buildings.
10. The availability of better sites for an arena, specifically near the LRT lines and I-94 freeway, which is closer to Tommie North dorm than the proposed arena site.
11. Additional reasons are on the website for Advocates for Responsible Development.

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