News from Preserve Minneapolis

Via a December 5 e-newsletter from Preserve Minneapolis:

Give to the Max Success!
We want to express our gratitude to everyone that donated to Preserve Minneapolis on Give to the Max Day. We are fortunate to have so many generous preservationists supporting our efforts to educate and advocate for Minneapolis history. We raised a total of $2,350! Thank you again for the support to help us continue to offer programs like Breakfast and Happy Hour with a Preservationist, Walking Tours, and the mobile app.

Volunteers Wanted
Interested in getting involved with Preserve Minneapolis? Our various committees are looking for volunteers! If you have interest in joining one of the committees listed below, please email gbartholet@gmail.com. Indicate which committee you have interest in learning more about or volunteering for and we will put you in-touch with the committee chair.  Our committees include:

• Advocacy (blog writing and advocating for preservation)
• Events
• Summer walking tours
• Minneapolis Historical (online walking tour website/app)
• Finance (treasury)
• Communications (social media and website updates)
• Development (fundraising)

Call for Preservation Interns
Minneapolis' Office of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) is looking to add two Historic Preservation Planner positions to their team.

The 8-12 month-long part-time internship will focus on conducting designation studies and developing design guidelines for religious properties associated with under-documented groups. The posting is available through December 11 under "Internship Opportunities."

Preservation Victory
The Hewing Hotel opened on November 17th after almost two years of work on the 1897 brick building. Located at 300 Washington Street, the developers received approval from the Heritage Preservation Commission on January 6, 2015 to rehabilitate the historic building located in the Warehouse Historic District as a hotel with associated retail and restaurant space. The building re-purposed vintage materials from throughout the Twin Cities such as original wood from the first floor of the Jackson Building for table tops. The development is a showcase of the successful use of preservation techniques in an economically feasible manner.

Alatus Development Update
You may recall the recent approval of a proposed 40 story tower on the site of the Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. The Planning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit and Variance request in September with disregard to the St. Anthony Falls Historic District Guidelines. Demolition should have been underway by now, but has been delayed by Alatus, LLC after an injunction was filed by Neighbors for East Bank Livability. The NEBL group, one among many, is concerned the overruling of the Heritage Preservation Commission recommendation will set a dangerous precedent in historic districts across the city. The tentative hearing is set for December 23, 2016 at the Hennepin County District Court.
---

Get involved: Support Preserve Minneapolis with a donation or by volunteering. 

For the latest Preserve Minneapolis news and events, find us on Facebook.