Jim Stanton has passed away at age 81.
In a 2014 video commemorating his induction to the Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame, he talked about how Keith Harstad asked “what would you do if we could buy 780,000 square feet for $2 million?” The project, the Northrup King Building, Stanton said, was “the only project I ever had that had no mortgage on it and still lost money. Subsequently, my daughter Debbie runs that.”
Debbie Woodward has managed and expanded the improved space in the building, and promoted events with its hundreds of artists, art-related businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations.
She went beyond, getting involved in the neighborhood and the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. She was a driving force and huge backer of the organization’s website, signage and other efforts in the formative days.
In the video interview Stanton reflected on the work ethic and business ethics his own father instilled in him, and it’s clear he did the likewise for the next generation. Thank you, Jim and Debbie.