Downtown Living: Tower Lofts

Wonderful industrial loft in the heart of the North Loop. Concrete floors throughout, high ceilings, and large windows to bring in lots of natural light. The updated bathroom, bedroom, and light fixtures make this one not to be missed. Two indoor parking stalls are a unique bonus. Enjoy the community rooftop deck with over 5000 square feet with amazing downtown views. Open House: Saturday 4/13 from 11am-1pm

1 bed | 1 bath | 2 parking | $1,360 sf | $435,000

View listing details online...

Share Your Feedback on Vision Zero

Via an April 4 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Vision Zero: Safe streets for everyone

The City of Minneapolis has joined the national Vision Zero movement to eliminate deaths and life-altering injuries on our streets. It is unacceptable that people die in traffic crashes on our streets. Together, we can prevent severe injuries and deaths caused by traffic crashes.

To reach this ambitious goal, we are working with people from across our community to develop a Minneapolis Vision Zero Action Plan. The Action Plan will set our path to achieve a safe transportation network for all people. We expect to release a draft plan in fall 2019.

The City of Minneapolis committed to Vision Zero in September 2017 through adoption of a City Council resolution. The Vision Zero Action Plan is being coordinated with the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan, which is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design, and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around. 

Learn more about Vision Zero at: www.visionzerompls.com/

Sign up here to receive Vision Zero email updates.

Follow VisionZeroMpls on Twitter and Facebook and share your thoughts with #VisionZeroMpls.

Take our Vision Zero survey

Minneapolis is creating a Vision Zero Action Plan that will set our path to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on our streets by 2027.

Help us prioritize efforts in the Vision Zero Action Plan by completing this 10-minute Vision Zero survey.

Join us at upcoming community workshops

The City is hosting 5 community workshops and 1 online open house in April to collect public input on two transportation-related plans: the Vision Zero Action Plan and the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan.

Community Workshop (Southwest)  
Tues. April 9  
4–6pm 
Richfield Lutheran Church  
8 W 60th St

Community Workshop (South)  
Thurs. April 11 
5–7pm 
Longfellow Recreation Center 
3435 36th Ave S

Community Workshop (East)  
Tues. April 16  
4–6pm 
Northeast Recreation Center 
1530 Johnson St NE

Community Workshop (Downtown) 
Mon. April 22 
4–6pm 
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room 
300 Nicollet Mall 

Community Workshop (North) 
Wed. April 24 
5–7pm 
Farview Recreation Center 
621 N 29th Ave 

Online Open House (Facebook Live) 
Tue. April 30 
6:30–7:30pm 
City of Minneapolis Facebook page

Your participation is encouraged and welcomed. If you require assistance, reasonable accommodations, interpreting services or materials in alternative format please contact Millicent Flowers, Public Works, 612-673-3310 or email visionzero@minneapolismn.gov. People who are deaf and/or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-673-2157. 

Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Update

The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge was repaired last year.

Via an April 4 announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Contractor returns next week to finish up work

The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge reopened last November after an extensive repair project revitalized the 118-year-old structure.

Beginning next week (the week of April 8, 2019) workers will be onsite to perform remaining work not completed in 2018. This includes site grading and turf establishment, concrete abutment work, paint touch-ups, and electrical work.

The follow-up work is not anticipated to close the bridge, but please use caution around construction areas.

A Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled this year and details will be publicized soon.

About the Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge

The current trail connection between Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island was originally built in 1901 as a railroad bridge. In the 1970s, the rail yard it served was cleared and the bridge was given to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which converted it to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the 1980s.

In late 2013, the bridge was closed to emergency and maintenance vehicles after significant deterioration was discovered during an inspection. Emergency repairs were completed in July 2015 and permanent repairs were performed May-November 2018.

Project Page

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Announces PopUp Dinner at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation invites you to join them in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center for the summer's most artful and delightful picnic-in-a-park, Saturday, August 10. Event proceeds benefit the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. PopUp Dinner Twin Cities is a beautiful picnic and vibrant gathering under the stars. The dress code is all-white attire, with hats, belts and accessories in the color of your choice. Enjoy outdoor dining in style, along with a live band and dancing.

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Reserve Tickets

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board launches new Comprehensive Plan effort, “Parks for All”

Two-year process will set vision for the next decade of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is excited to announce “Parks for All,” a new comprehensive planning process that will set its priorities and policy direction for the next decade.

Parks for All will engage Minneapolis residents and park users, along with MPRB staff and commissioners, over the next two years to shape the future direction of Minneapolis’ park and recreation system.

What is Parks for All?

The last MPRB Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2007 and set a vision through 2020. Parks for All is the next MPRB Comprehensive Plan, which will guide the Minneapolis park and recreation system for the next decade.

The MPRB Comprehensive Plan guides everything done by the MPRB. It articulates why the MPRB exists, identifies how the MPRB performs its work, and describes what the MPRB hopes to become.

Parks for All is separate from the recent City of Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It solely covers the Minneapolis park and recreation system. It will build off other recent MPRB plans including service area master plans for neighborhood parks, master plans for regional parks and other plans and policies that have been developed by MPRB in recent years with community input.

Get involved now

• Visit the Parks for All website at minneapolisparks.org/parksforall and subscribe to email updates.
• Follow the Parks for All Facebook page
• Fill out the Dream Park Survey online
• Submit your ideas in person using a Park Dream Box at any MPRB recreation center or at MPRB Headquarters
• Invite MPRB staff to attend a meeting or event in your neighborhood, organization or community. Email cchristensen@minneapolisparks.org to share ideas!

Community Collaborators

MPRB invites local grassroots, neighborhood and cultural organizations to convene their own conversations about the future of Minneapolis parks and recreation through the Community Collaborator program. Please consider submitting a project proposal designed to broaden community engagement for Parks for All.

Funding varies $500-$3,000 according to the project idea and proposed budget. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis with three rounds of submission and review in April, August and December 2019. First deadline is April 22.

Community Collaborator Application [PDF]

The MPRB is hosting two pre-proposal information sessions about the Community Collaborator program:

• Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 4:30 pm
• Monday, April 15, 2019, 4:30 pm

Both meetings are at MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road. They are not mandatory.

Coming Soon

• Apply to serve on the Community Advisory Committee. The application will be released in late April.
• Participate in community meetings and events. Meetings will be posted on the project website as they are scheduled, please sign up for email updates!

Lunds & Byerlys NE Puts on a New Face

Article and photos by Merle Minda

Lunds & Byerlys Northeast has spruced up its 12-year old store with a new look, new fixtures, a more open traffic pattern and hundreds of new items. It is now ‘on-trend’, one might say – and in the swing with the newest popular products and opportunities for shoppers.

But in actuality, it is more than that. The remodeled grocery store has a cross marketing perspective. So if you are buying grapes, for example, several cheeses are right there as well. You no longer have to go halfway across the store to get them. Also, hamburger buns are in the meat department, and mini angel food cakes sit next to fresh strawberries. It’s handy and it gives shoppers ideas.

Store Manager Katie Swenson is rightfully proud of the remodeled store.

As Store Manager Katie Swenson notes “It was time for a redo; our first in the 12 years we have been here.” Amazingly the store never closed throughout this renovation, even among some of the more aggressive construction.

Ike Wagner, cheese guru, has been with this store since it opened.

The new, wider aisles for fruits and vegetables are unbelievably tempting. The fresh or “wet” racks are easier to reach and not stacked so high with product. This makes everything incredibly good to look at, almost like a country market stand or a sidewalk veggie store in New York City or even Paris. Smaller amounts of stock on the racks mean they are refilled more often making products fresher too.

Produce Manager Chris Dehart takes in fresh deliveries daily.

Ripe avocado stand takes the guesswork out of when to use them.

There are over 800 new grocery products which add a boon to any shopping experience. For example, the new Kombucha station has been installed. Fill up your “Growler” mug and take off. Coffee now comes in cold brew cans for a quick buzz – cold brew coffee is another hot new product line. And hey, how about the new vintage soda section, with interesting sodas I have never seen before. Lots to try and taste.

Cold brew coffee is a new “thing.”

Vintage sodas are fun to try.

You will find heaps of new Lunds & Byerlys branded products throughout the store – they are so appealing, from cook-it-yourself, ‘Hello Fresh’ style, to fresh pizzas or pop-in-the-oven quiches. Yet to be installed on my walk-through is a new food bar with the makings of tacos and salad options and all the hot food. One of the new installations I love is the Poke Bar, with its sushi-like fixings that you put together yourself, a first in grocery stores in our market. Bachman’s flower and plant bar installation is now like a real flower shop, expanded to twice the size and beautifully laid out. I see the Bachman’s people there daily, watering, trimming and adding fresh stock. And how many kinds of yogurt? Mind-boggling.

Pop in the microwave shrimp steamer is a delicious new product.

The Poke Bar makes for a delicious choice.

Bachman’s flower stand bigger and better than before.

With the newly installed flooring and LED lighting, the whole atmosphere is improved, making it quieter to walk through with your new smooth-moving cart. Seems like more staff on the floor to help customers as well. Or shop on your Lunds & Byerlys phone app with free drive-through pick-up. Do-it-yourself checkouts too, if you wish. Very handy, 26% of customers are using them so far!

Shoppers Kathy and David Cooper were away for a few months and returned to a totally revised store.

Plus lots of small touches, a revised product layout, with all the cold and frozen stuff behind big easy-to-open doors, keeping them much colder and the store warmer, says store manager Katie Swenson. And large new signage throughout – so you know where you are and can find things. There is clearly a lot of thought and marketing know-how behind these changes – and it all benefits the customer. The other handy installations at this location still there include Caribou Coffee, the very complete Pharmacy and drug store, the Wells Fargo ATM and St. Croix Cleaners.

At Lunds & Byerlys NE, you can do it all in just one stop! Open from 6am to midnight, just about every day of the year. (They close only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.) Get over here; it is beautiful.

Northeast Minneapolis, 25 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414  LundsandByerlys.com

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About Merle Minda

Journalist and free-lance writer Merle Minda writes about travel, business, people profiles and other subjects for a number of national and regional publications, including Delta SKY, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business, Star Tribune, Twin Cities Statement, Minnesota Monthly, and now Mill City Times. She can be reached at mminda@earthlink.net or TravelOverEasy.com on the web.

Final Four Arrives in Downtown Minneapolis

With March Madness in full swing, the Final Four is right on our heels! Setup for this week's festivities have begun across downtown, including at The Commons, which will serve as an entry point to U.S. Bank Stadium. The NCAA is bringing more than just the big game to Minneapolis; check out the fan festival, music series and free practice games too! Click here for more information, including road closures and event times. Final Four Friday: April 5, U.S. Bank Stadium - free open team practices and all-star game March Madness Music Series: April 5 - 7, The Armory - free music series, pass required Final Four Fan Fest: April 5 - 8, Convention Center - kids 12 & under free Tip-Off Tailgate: April 5 - 8, Nicollet - free activities and entertainment National Semifinals: April 6, U.S. Bank Stadium Final Four Dribble: April 7, Convention Center - free youth basketball practice National Championship: April 8, U.S. Bank Stadium

Peavey Plaza Revitalization Underway The new Peavey Plaza is on track to open summer 2019. To date, a new accessible ramp has been installed, the granite basin raised, and fourteen of thirty-five new trees planted. Work continues in the equipment room and on the plaza fountains. Learn more about the project.

Spring Planting at Hennepin-Lyndale Around the Corner In 2018 Green Minneapolis partnered with MnDOT, neighborhood organizations and cultural institutions to transform the Hennepin-Lyndale Crossroads. This year Green Minneapolis will maintain the new plantings and look to expand the project's footprint north and south.

Chameleon Shoppes Select Dates | April 1 - 26 Now in Gaviidae Commons, visit four Chameleon Shoppes - short-term pop-ups with new treats, eats and retail from a rotating collection of local minority- and women-owned businesses. View shoppe retailers here.

25 Communities to Compete in Step To It Challenge

25 communities to compete in Step To It challenge

Build healthy habits by joining the Step To It challenge, open to people of all ages and abilities at no cost to participants.

Track your activity online from May 1 – 28 for the chance to win prizes. Almost any activity counts, such as mowing the lawn, gardening, yoga and manual wheelchair use.

Compete solo or as part of a group

• Cities/communities — 25 communities will compete to win one of three titles: Most Active Community, Most Active Residents and Most Engaged Community. The most active people from each community will win Minnesota Twins tickets and recognition on field at a Twins game.
• Schools — Two elementary schools with the most participation will win Twins tickets and a Twins collectible.
• Workplaces and other groups — Earn bragging rights while focusing on personal wellness goals.

All participants are eligible for Twins tickets and Step To It t-shirts through random prize drawings conducted in each participating community.

Learn more and register at steptoit.org.

March 29 Newsletter from 7th Ward Council Member Goodman

City preparing for Final Four festivities

Minneapolis is gearing up to welcome teams and fans for the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four April 5-8.

The City is focused on ensuring the four-day event in downtown Minneapolis is a safe and welcoming experience for visitors and residents.

In addition to the games at U.S. Bank Stadium, there will be several family-friendly events:

• A free three-day music festival at the Armory.
• Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
• Activities and entertainment on Nicollet Mall.
• A free open house at U.S. Bank Stadium for team practices and the All-Star Game.
• The “Final Four Dribble” with youths dribbling basketballs on downtown streets.

The City has worked with event organizers and downtown stakeholders to minimize traffic and parking disruptions as much as possible. There will be limited road and lane closures around U.S. Bank Stadium and Nicollet Mall.

There are many ways to get around downtown for Final Four activities. Transit and walking are great options. For planning to drive, park once and enjoy downtown by foot. For more tips, visit finalfourminneapolis.com and watch the recent Final Four “Know Before You Go” press conference.

City closing streets, restricting lanes around U.S. Bank Stadium, Nicollet Mall for Final Four festivities

The City began the first phase of street closures around U.S. Bank Stadium in preparation for the 2019 Final Four in downtown Minneapolis April 5-8.

Through Friday, April 12, the following streets are closed around the stadium:

• Chicago Avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets.
• Norm McGrew Place between Third and Fourth streets.

Additional closures and lane restrictions begin Wednesday, April 3, as noted on the map. Roadways, bike facilities and sidewalks will reopen beginning Tuesday, April 9. Chicago Avenue South and Norm McGrew Street will be closed through Friday, April 12.

The City is also closing portions of Nicollet Mall and adjacent streets for Final Four festivities. Closures begin Monday, April 1, and all roadways will reopen Thursday, April 11 if not sooner. Note: 11th Street from Marquette Avenue South to LaSalle Avenue South will be closed intermittently April 5-8.

Pedestrian access and sidewalks along Nicollet Mall and cross streets will remain open.

The City of Minneapolis has worked closely with event organizers and stakeholders to craft a traffic management plan that will enhance the Final Four experience while minimizing disruption to traffic and parking as much as possible.

Apply for openings on Minneapolis boards and commissions

Several board and commission positions are open for City Council and mayor appointments this spring. Board and commission members in the City of Minneapolis help shape key policy decisions, give community-based input into the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting services are available on request so all residents can participate.

People can apply through the open position pages linked below and stay up to date on vacancies, position descriptions and timelines by visiting minneapolismn.gov/boards/openings. The positions are open until filled.

There are 77 open positions on 10 City boards and commissions:

• Animal Care & Control Advisory Board. Apply by April 19.
• Census Complete Count Committee. Open until filled.
• Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. Apply by April 12.
• Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Apply by April 19.
• Racial Equity Community Advisory Committee. Apply by April 12.
• Southside Green Zone Council. Apply by March 30.
• Upper Harbor Terminal Community Planning and Engagement Committee. Apply by April 14.
• Violence Prevention Steering Committee. Open until filled.
• Workplace Advisory Committee. Apply by April 12.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment. Apply by March 30.

Boards, commissions and advisory committees

The City of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that advise the City on issues and help develop policy and administer services. Boards and commissions fall into a handful of categories: appeal boards, development boards, general advisory boards and special service districts (defined areas within the city with special services).

Appointments to boards and commissions are made twice a year: in the spring and fall.

Minneapolis’ appointed boards and commissions are becoming more inclusive with a steady increase in residents of color serving. A new study shows that the City has met its race diversity benchmark with board and commission members within 80 percent of the city’s demographics. Thirty-three percent of the City’s board and commission members are people of color, whereas the population of Minneapolis is 36 percent people of color.

The City still pursues more diverse representation in its appointed boards and commissions with:

• High school and technical school graduates.
• Renters.
• People ages 18-24.

Potential applicants can find more information at 612-673-2216 or OpenAppointments@minneapolismn.gov.

2019 collection of leaves and bundled brush begins week of April 8

The 2019 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 8. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day.

Yard waste must be in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a reusable container 26-32 inches high, no more than 26 inches wide, with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided garbage, recycling or organics recycling carts.

Preparing yard trimmings and leaves

• Less than 40 pounds.

Preparing brush

• Less than 40 pounds.
• Less than 3 feet long.
• Branch size less than 3 inches in diameter.
• Must be bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).

Reusable containers

• Less than 40 pounds full.
• Between 26 and 32 inches high.
• No more than 26 inches in diameter.
• Must have sturdy handles.

Which bags can be used in the program?

• Compostable plastic bags labeled with the BPI logo.
• Paper (Kraft) bags.

Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.

It’s against the law and bad for our lakes, creeks and river to rake leaves into the street.

For questions about leaf and brush pickup, customers can call Solid Waste & Recycling at 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. People can also find more information here.

Youth Violence Prevention Week events March 30-April 6

The City of Minneapolis joins a national public education effort by participating in its fifth annual Youth Violence Prevention Week. Activities and events March 30-April 6 will call attention to the issue of youth violence, identify strategies to combat this public health epidemic and promote the positive roles young people and adults can play in making their communities and schools safer.

A diverse array of youth-oriented activities includes a pop-up recording session, basketball tournaments, art, dance, a girls’ symposium and personal safety workshops.

Find details in the 2019 Youth Violence Prevention Week event list.

Minneapolis among top metro areas nationwide for solar jobs growth

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is among the top metro areas nationally with Chicago, Miami and Seattle for the number of solar jobs added in 2018.

The Solar Foundation released a map on the number of solar jobs in every state, metropolitan area, county and congressional district revealing how solar energy is supporting local economies nationwide. The report found 242,343 solar workers in the United States as of 2018.

To tackle climate change, Minneapolis has set clear and ambitious goals to get Minneapolis to 100 percent clean energy by 2030. The City of Minneapolis and Xcel Energy offer these programs and uses these practices that help support solar jobs:

• Incentives for solar projects through the City of Minneapolis.
• Incentives for solar projects through Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards.
• Solar panel installation on select City buildings.
• Community solar garden subscriptions.
• Purchase of Renewable Connect for City energy use.

Find out if your home or business is right for rooftop solar.

Find the interactive solar jobs map and detailed state fact sheets at SolarStates.org. Find complete information on the National Solar Jobs Census 2018 at SolarJobsCensus.org.

Join 2020 Census celebration April 1: We Count

Join Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Abdi Warsame, the Minneapolis Complete Count Committee and leaders from nonprofit organizations, business and community organizations to kick off the yearlong 2020 Census complete count campaign:

We Count Minneapolis kickoff 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 The Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Ave.

We Count Minneapolis will promote awareness and participation in the 2020 Census. The goal is to ensure everyone is counted and fairly represented, regardless of immigration status, age or income level.

Getting a fair and accurate count in the 2020 Census is a major focus of the City of Minneapolis, which is the only municipality in Minnesota to dedicate funds toward the effort. Reaching historically undercounted communities will be a priority. The kickoff event will bring together community stakeholders committed to ensuring a complete count. 

Find more information at minneapolismn.gov/census.

Help shape the future of transportation in Minneapolis

The City is hosting five community workshops and one online open house in April to collect public input on ways to improve the city’s transportation system as City staff develop the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan and the Vision Zero Action Plan.

The Transportation Action Plan will be a 10-year plan to implement the transportation vision outlined in the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. It will develop strategies and actions on advanced mobility, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, freight, street operations and street design.

The Vision Zero Action Plan will be a three-year plan to advance the City’s commitment to ending traffic fatalities and severe injuries resulting from traffic crashes on our streets by 2027.

Community workshop (southwest) 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 Richfield Lutheran Church-Fellowship Hall, 8 W. 60th St.

Community workshop (south) 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 11 Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.

Community workshop (east) 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE

Community workshop (Downtown) 4-6 p.m. Monday, April 22 Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall

Community workshop (north) 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 Farview Recreation Center, 621 29th Ave. N.

Online open house (City’s Facebook page) 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 City of Minneapolis Facebook page

Public Works will conduct community engagement to gather input and feedback on these two plans throughout the year. Staff is expected to submit the plans to the City Council for approval in 2020.

Can't attend an event? You can still get involved.

You can learn more about the Transportation Action Plan and provide direct feedback on our interactive website. Our topic pages include short surveys and are a great place to share your thoughts. You can also use #gompls to talk transportation with us and follow the City of Minneapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jobs with the City

Ever considered working for the City of Minneapolis? Opportunity is knocking. The City of Minneapolis has more than 900 different job types. Find your dream job today.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs.

2019 Housing and Community Development Action Plan

The 2019 housing and community development draft action plan shows how Hennepin County and partner suburban cities plan to use approximately $4.7 million in federal funding for housing and development activities in suburban communities.

This funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through three federal programs:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $2.9 million: Funding primarily used by cities to fund a variety of infrastructure, community development, and social service activities
• HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) - $1.8 million: Funds affordable housing development and preservation for very low- and low-income families or individuals, homeless families, and persons with disabilities.
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) - $230,000: Funding primarily used to rehouse people experiencing homelessness through short-term tenant-based rental assistance and supports.

Learn more and view the plan

Comment on the draft plan

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Public hearing April 16

Hennepin County will host a public hearing to gather comments and feedback on the draft plan:

Tuesday, April 16
1:30 p.m.
Hennepin County Government Center Board Room (A-2400)
300 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55487

Submit written comments by April 30

You may also submit written comments on the plan by 4:30 on April 30. Send written comments to:

Julia Welle Ayres
Hennepin County Community Works
701 4th Avenue South, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Watch: Annual Eagle Survey on the Mississippi River

From the Mississippi Park Connection:

"Every year we monitor the park's bald eagle population by locating nests via helicoptor and assessing how many chicks are in each nest. Our annual survey is happening next week!

Throughout the week we'll post videos from previous surveys, which are part of the Mississippi River Visitor Center display at the Science Museum of Minnesota."

Reminder: Public Comment Closes this Sunday, March 31, on Neighborhoods 2020 Policy Document

Submit your comment through email, voicemail, postal mail or text

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Read the Neighborhoods 2020 Framework Recommendations now open for public comment through Sunday, March 31, 2019.

To submit your comments:

• Leave text message or voicemail: (612) 440-5762
• Email: neighborhoods2020@minneapolismn.gov
• Write to: Neighborhood and Community Relations 
                    105 5th Ave South, Suite 425, Minneapolis, MN 55401
• Call 612-673-3737

Read more about Neighborhoods 2020

Jack Link’s Final Four Event April 4 - 6

During Final Four weekend, Jack Link’s is inviting visitors to participate in a head-to-head battle at the Wild Side store (Target Center Skyway, Level 600, 1st Avenue N) to vote between two NEW special edition batch flavors: Atomic Cinnamon and One Hot Peach.

Stop by the store Thursday, April 4 or Friday, April 5 from 11am to 6pm or Saturday, April 6 from 12pm to 5pm.

Jack Link’s will also be introducing three other limited-edition flavors of their fresh, deli-style Jack Link’s Signature Batch: Supper Club Old Fashioned, Berry Good Barbeque and Umami Boom.

Limited Edition Batch Flavor Descriptions:

• *NEW* Supper Club Old Fashioned: The classic flavor of smashed orange, cherries, peaty bourbon and bitters has been elevated to new heights with this bold jerky flavor.
• *NEW* Berry Good Barbeque: This unique take on a traditional barbeque sauce captures the flavors of sweet molasses, apple cider vinegar and hickory smoke with hints of chipotle and blackberry.
• *BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND* Umami Boom: Inspired by popular cuisine, the Umami flavor profile is bold and savory, lending itself perfectly to beef.  Slightly smoky and sweet flavors are accompanied by hints of roasted mushroom and tomato.
• *NEW* Atomic Cinnamon: Warm cinnamon spice sets the tone for this sweet and hot jerky that finishes with a well-rounded flavor of smoky whisky.
• *NEW* One Hot Peach: This sweet peach flavor is accompanied by a floral orange hit of habanero that finishes with a build of heat and rich smoke.

Applications Now Being Accepted for the Cedar-Riverside-based Study Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

Now accepting applications: Community Advisory Committee for Cedar-Riverside-based study

About the predesign study

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is exploring the potential for building a new recreation center in the Interstate 94/Riverside Corridor, integrated into a larger development on the east end of the Augsburg University campus. The new recreation center would help supplement the programming offered at the Brian Coyle Community Center. A renovation or nearby relocation of the Brian Coyle Community Center is also being explored as part of this study. Additional information and key documents are on the project web page. 

About the community advisory committee (CAC)

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The predesign study will be guided by a community advisory committee (CAC), with members appointed by MPRB commissioners and an MPRB selection committee. 

Community advisory committees provide volunteer opportunities for stakeholders to share insight and resources and serve to build and sustain relationships between the community, partner agencies, and the MPRB. Members of the CAC are expected to represent the views of park users and to work collaboratively with each other and the public to provide comprehensive recommendations to the Board about the project.

Find out more

• Project Summary – English [PDF]
• Project Summary – Korean [PDF]
• Project Summary – Oromo [PDF]
• Project Summary – Somali [PDF]
• Project Summary – Vietnamese [PDF]

Submit your CAC application

• Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Application – English [PDF]
• CAC Application – Korean [PDF]
• CAC Application – Oromo  [PDF]
• CAC Application – Somali  [PDF]
• CAC Application – Vietnamese [PDF]
• Online CAC Application – English

All applications are due by May 3, 2019.

Questions?

Contact Project Manager Dan Elias at 612-230-6435 or delias@minneapolisparks.org.

To subscribe to notices for all advisory committee opportunities, please click here.

New Survey Reveals Hotel Availability During “Minneapolis Madness”

A recent survey of Minneapolis hotels indicates hotel rooms remain, but availability is limited and most guests should expect a 4-night minimum stay

Minneapolis is preparing to welcome the best college basketball teams, the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention and tens of thousands of sports fans to the city, next week. In a recent Meet Minneapolis survey of Minneapolis hotels, more than 76 percent of respondents state hotel rooms are still available for the Final Four; however, 57 percent indicate availability is very limited. In addition, the average daily rate for a standard hotel room exceeds $350 per night for the majority of those hotels. The survey was conducted March 21-26, 2019, and includes responses from 21 Minneapolis hotels.

“The good news for visitors is that there’s still availability for Minneapolis hotel rooms. That means being close to all the action, from Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center to Tip-Off Tailgate on Nicollet and the games at U.S. Bank Stadium,” stated Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis President and CEO. “However, fans who still want to secure their accommodations within walking distance of all these events should be prepared to pay a premium price, because the remaining inventory of hotel rooms is quickly diminishing.”

In the Meet Minneapolis survey, Minneapolis hotels were asked:

Do you currently have hotel rooms available for the weekend of the Final Four?

Yes, some	19.1%
Yes, but very limited	57.1%
No rooms available	23.8%

At this time, what is the average daily rate for a Standard Room at your hotel property during the Final Four (April 4-8) not including taxes?

Less than $250 per night	0.0%
$251-$350 per night	9.5%
$351-$450 per night	28.6%
More than $450 per night	52.4%
No rooms available	9.5%

When asked, “What is the room night minimum for your property during the Final Four?” nearly 80 percent stated there is a 4-night minimum for reservations.

• Note: The NCAA required a 4-night minimum stay for hotels within the NCAA hotel room block. The vast majority of Minneapolis hotels are included in the contracted hotel room block.

Overall, there are 9,293 hotel rooms in the city of Minneapolis. Visit www.minneapolis.org/hotels for details on hotels throughout the Minneapolis area.

For more information about events, activities and what to see and do in Minneapolis, particularly during the Final Four, visit www.minneapolis.org/final-four. To learn more about how tourism and hospitality impacts our community, watch here.

NEW: Great River Road Plan Your Trip App

The Plan Your Trip interactive map application (be patient, it takes a minute to fully load) features the Great River Road and Mississippi River (bicycle) Trail routes in Minnesota, over 700 points of interest, over 200 local food providers and more. It also includes expanded interactive travel guides for each of six distinct regions from the headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Bluffs Region in the southeastern area of the state. Each region has unique features and histories, towns and recreational opportunities. This information is also the most updated that Great River Road Minnesota has available.

Follow the Great River Road to find unique places to explore along the Mississippi River in the Metro Region. Statewide, Minnesota’s Great River Road offers 565 miles of byway with over 700 places to experience this great river.

Plan for Final Four Road Closures

Certain roads in downtown Minneapolis will be impacted leading up to and through Final Four weekend. These road closures and lane restrictions will be located around the Final Four Venue and on Nicollet between 8th Street and 12th Street. This phased process will begin on March 25 and be completed by April 12. See the maps below for full impact timelines.

Road Closures:

• Norm McGrew Place (March 25 – April 12)
• Chicago Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets (March 25 – April 12)
• 4th Street between Park and 11th Avenues (April 3-8)
• Park Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets (April 3-8)
• 5th Street between Park and Portland Avenues (April 3-8)
• 5th Street between 11th and 13th Avenues (April 3-8)
• 13th Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets

Lane Restrictions:

• Park Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets (April 3-8)
• 4th Street between Park and Portland Avenues (April 3-8)
• 11th Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets (March 29 – April 9)

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Road Closures:

• Nicollet from 4th to 5th Streets (April 3-9)
• Nicollet from 8th to 12th Streets (April 1-9)
• 10th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 2-10)
• 11th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)

Lane Restrictions:

• 8th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)
• 9th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)
• 11th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 2-9)
• 12th Street from Lasalle to Marquette Avenues (April 5-8)

The Minneapolis City Hall

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Standing four blocks from the Mississippi riverfront is one of the city’s most historically, culturally, and politically important buildings, the Minneapolis City Hall. It has been one of the few constants in this ever-evolving city, and it holds many amazing facts and stories. While it may just be another stop on the light rail for some, many have made a name for themselves within city hall’s walls. Let’s take a look at this praiseworthy building.

The first City Hall, 1870

Back before the current city hall officially opened its doors, Minneapolis’ court house and city hall were in separate buildings. The first official courthouse was located on 8th Avenue S and 4th Street while the first city hall was on Hennepin and Nicollet where Gateway Park currently sits. During the first two decades of Minnesota’s statehood Minneapolis grew at a very rapid rate. Because of this, the need for a larger courthouse and city hall quickly became apparent. In 1887 the state legislature assigned a commission to work with the city and Hennepin county to jointly construct a new courthouse and city hall.

The firm that was tasked with creating this new municipal center of the city was Long and Kees, who also designed the Lumber Exchange Building, the Flour Exchange Building, and the Masonic Temple, now the Hennepin Center for the Arts. The firm’s signature style was Richardsonian Romanesque as it was one of the most popular styles in America in the late 1800s. This style can be seen in almost every city that saw success during that time. Cincinnati, Toronto, Salt Lake City and Fort Wayne all have Richardsonian Romanesque style city halls. 

The Minneapolis City Hall began construction in 1888 and it took three years for the first “cornerstone” to be laid. Since this ceremony happened three years after construction started, the cornerstone is actually thirty feet above ground level. To make the timeline of construction even more confusing, the building was officially competed in 1906, although the county and city had been using it for about a decade already. During that time serious court cases were being conducted in the building, and the last execution in Hennepin County happened in the 5th floor attic in March of 1898. Some say John Moshik still roams the halls.

The building itself was not intended to be made completely out of granite, but once the citizens of Minneapolis saw the beauty of the Ortonville red granite, they petitioned for the entire building to be made out of it instead of just its foundations. This contributed to the lengthy construction time, as some of the stones weigh more than 20 tonnes. The final price tag for the new city hall was over $3.5 million, or almost $99 million in today’s dollars.

City Hall, 1904

The expense was worth it. The Minneapolis City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and its most noticeable aspect is its clocktower. At its time of completion not only was it the tallest building in the state, the clock face was also the largest in the world, beating out Big Ben in London by 18 inches. The building’s interior is also something the marvel. Its five-story rotunda features 41 unique grotesques, or faces, carved into the capitals of the marble columns. My favorite feature of the rotunda lies right in the middle. The “Father of Waters” sculpture depicts a reclining Poseidon-like figure with various iconographic objects of the Mississippi River around him. Sculpted by the American artist Larkin G. Mead during his time in Florence, Italy, he used the largest block of marble ever to come out of Italy’s Carrara quarries to create his masterpiece. Those same quarries were also used by Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo. Rumor has it, if you rub the sculpture’s big toe, good luck will find its way into your life.

The "Father of Waters" sculpture

While the Minneapolis City Hall is now dwarfed by its neighbors, it is still an amazing example of American architecture that is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Water Works Update: Mezzanine Phase

First proposed in 2011, the Water Works project has seen several design concepts, finally settling on something fairly close to the original from December 2011 (watch video below):

The first phase of the project goes before the City Planning Commission on Monday, March 25.

Download staff report & site plan...

View full size images...

Project description below, excerpted from the staff report & site plan:

SITE DESCRIPTION AND PRESENT USE. The site was once occupied by the Bassett s Second Sawmill, the Columbia Flour Mill and the Occidental Feed Mill. Portions of each of these mills remain on the site. In 1961, Reiko Weston purchased the property. In 1967-68, she built the Fuji Ya Restaurant incorporating portions of the Bassett s Second Sawmill and Columbia Flour Mill into the design of the restaurant structure. The Fuji Ya Restaurant operated in this location until 1990. In 1990, the applicant acquired the property and the site has been vacant ever since. In 2017, the applicant selectively demolished portions of the Fuji Ya Restaurant and stabilized the remaining mill ruins in order to incorporate them into the design of a new park building that will be built on the site called Water Works.

SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD. The site is surrounded by residential developments of varying densities, office buildings, a variety of commercial establishments and the Mississippi River. The site is located in the Downtown West Neighborhood.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The Water Works project is designed around providing a mix of indoor and outdoor public spaces and will be broken into two phases: The Mezzanine phase and the Riverside phase. The Mezzanine includes a pavilion with indoor amenities, an outdoor plaza with seating, lawn and outdoor terraces, a small hillside performance venue, and a picnicking and play area. The future Riverside phase (date TBD) will complete the link between downtown and the riverfront with reconfigured trails, public river access, a sunken performance venue, and another plaza area with water features. The two phases are not mutually dependent on the other and will develop on separate timelines as funding is procured.

The entire Water Works project area encompasses approximately 6.33 acres within the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-listed and locally-designated St. Anthony Falls Historic District (SAFHD) and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Critical Area Corridor. The milling era infrastructure, extant buildings, and structural remnants located within the Mezzanine Phase project boundaries are listed as contributing archaeological features to the SAFHD.

Pavilion

The design for the Water Works park pavilion is a two-story brick building built into the Basset Engine House and Boiler Room, as well as the void left in the southern portion of the Columbia Flour Mill ruin after demolition for a Fuji Ya addition in the 1970s. The pavilion contains the public park program, including restrooms, lobby, meeting room and a small lounge, as well as a restaurant and kitchen. The majority of park programming and some back-of-house spaces are located on the first floor; careful consideration was given to expose as much of the existing mill ruins in these areas as possible, including the foundation walls of the Columbia Flour Mill in the lobby, the historic walls and ceilings of Bassett Boiler Room in the lounge, and historic walls and barrel-vault ceilings of Bassett Engine House in the meeting room. The second floor is entirely new construction, which contains an upper lobby for circulating between South 1st Street and the West River Parkway and a restaurant comprised of a small dining area and the kitchen.

The applicant has indicated that they are treating the Bassett Engine House, Bassett Boiler Room, and Columbia Flour Mill ruin as found objects in a fundamental way - doing as little as possible to obscure the historic mills, while leaving traces of the Fuji Ya construction in certain places to illustrate the evolving uses of the structure. The existing ruins are an amalgam of many different constructions, both within the period of historic significance and outside of it, and they are preserving and exposing all of these moments within the project whenever possible.

The only modifications to the historic mills consist of four widened and/or new openings between the mills existing rooms to connect existing spaces for circulation and code-compliant egress. Everything else will remain as is.

The Bassett Engine House, Bassett Boiler Room, and Columbia Flour Mill contain a mixture of different materials in significant variation as they are currently found; there are at least three different bricks, two different hues of limestone, rusted steel, several different colors of stucco, and scars created by years of appendages, connections, and alterations. To create a clear delineation between the historic architecture and the new, and to keep the new architecture simple in its expression, the team has chosen an extremely pared-down palette of a neutral monochromatic brick and glass on the exterior, and glass, wood, brick and concrete on the interior. The neutrality of the exterior brick is to provide clarity between old and new, and not muddle distinctions between what is historic and what is contemporary through the introduction of extraneous materials. It also relates to the new
upper terrace through use of a neutral color palette and horizontal emphasis (brick coursing and exposed horizontal concrete formwork).

Landscape

The Water Works landscape plan serves to reconnect South 1^st Street with the riverfront, much in the same way the historic mills and infrastructure once did, through accessible pedestrian and bicycle circulation improvements. It also provides much-needed outdoor park amenities such as seating, terraces, a lawn, performance area, and play zones within the context of the historic mills and infrastructure.

Landscape Highlights:

- South Transition Space: At the south end of the Water Works site where 5th Avenue South and South 1st Street intersect, the south transition space provides a strong ADA compliant pedestrian route between downtown and the lower West River Parkway, a difference of more than 15 feet.

- Upper Terrace: On the north side of the pavilion, the exterior Columbia Flour Mill ruins are no longer part of the pavilion construction and will remain filled. This area of the mill will become an Upper Terrace accessible from the South 1st Street public sidewalk. It will function as outdoor dining and private event space.

- Main Plaza: A Main Plaza in front of the pavilion at West River Parkway level provides flexible outdoor seating for public use as well as overflow for the pavilion restaurant. The main plaza design has moderate changes which include more green space and surface paving of modular pavers in lieu of concrete.

- Columbia Elevator: This historic milling remnant originally was part of the pavilion but has since been integrated into the site design. A portion of it will be excavated to house a remote trash storage area accessible from the Main Plaza. Along its north wall, an exterior stairway will link South 1st Street to the Main Plaza.

- City Steps: North of the Columbia Elevator, the City Steps nestle into the Occidental Feed Mill footprint and provide additional flexible seating for gathering, picnicking, and performances.

- Mezzanine Lawn: In front of the City Steps and wooded slope, the Mezzanine Lawn allows for flexible park uses. Performances may happen at the edge of the Main Plaza or on the lawn in front of the City Steps.
Wooded Slope and Play Area: Further north of the City Steps, an existing steep Wooded Slope predating the district s period of significance will be largely restored. A two- to five-year childrens play area is embedded into the lower portion of the hill.

- South 1st Street: South 1st Street bounds the western, downtown edge of the Water Works site. It also includes a short metal bridge with cantilevered sidewalk on the west side of the street. The bridge dates to the period of significance spans over the Woonerf.

- Woonerf and Rail Terrace: At the far northern end of the site, the South 1st Street and Third Avenue Bridge intersection is about 33 feet higher than West River Parkway. The Woonerf (shared travel way) connection is a former railroad bed that links South 2nd Street (a block away) with the park under a small metal bridge on South 1st Street.

Visit the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) and many other venues during Doors Open Minneapolis

Did you know Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) converts Minneapolis’ trash into energy? That energy provides electricity to 25,000 homes, plus heat to Target Field and downtown buildings. HERC is just one of the many buildings that will be open during Doors Open Minneapolis (Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19), and visitors will learn how HERC works, see the waste pit and trash trucks on a live video feed in the visitor center, and discover strategies to reduce waste.

Doors Open Minneapolis is a weekend-long event that allows the public free, behind-the-scenes access to buildings in the City of Minneapolis that are architecturally, culturally, or socially significant.

Now, it's pretty much impossible to see all the available properties in those two days, so check out the full list of buildings to plan your weekend!

There are also volunteer opportunities, which will entitle you to a free Doors Open Minneapolis t-shirt and 'front of the line’ VIP access at all other venues. (The first 100 volunteers to sign up will also receive a free book: AIA Guide to the Twin Cities.)