The building would take up the entire six-lot footprint of the two current properties, 125 Lowry Ave. NE and 2512 Second St. NE. Roof water runoff management was not discussed. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which received and filed their initial plan, requested they add windows to break up the largely blank walls that would face the rest of the industrial neighborhood.

Even before the gates closed for the last time at the St. Anthony Lock, the eyes of the city, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), and private developers turned north to the mile-long strip of riverfront known as the Upper Harbor Terminal. The end of river traffic above St. Anthony Falls in 2015 left a large part of that area without a commercial purpose; in the last six years, a number of development concepts have been proposed. The area’s 48 acres lie between 33rd Avenue North and Dowling Avenue North, between I-94 and the river.

The Outstanding Citizen Award recognizes residents who have selflessly contributed their time and effort to helping people, the environment, and the City community, particularly those who have not otherwise been publicly recognized. Pat Sowada was named 2020 Outstanding Citizen with approval from Mayor Donna Schmitt. The City is accepting nominations for 2021.

John Kuharski is the winner of the St. Anthony Chamber of Commerce Holiday Lights Contest.

The lock and dam are next to the site of the $30 million Water Works Park under development by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Friends of the Falls is looking into building a boat ramp or marina on to-be-opened land, and are consulting with Native American leaders about an interpretive site. St. Anthony Falls has been of great spiritual importance to the Dakota people in particular for centuries. The organization has raised $2.5 million from donors and is seeking another $2.8 million from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for the project.

Most people who frequent the Coffee Shop Northeast at 2852A Johnson Street NE, especially pre-COVID-19, probably know and have talked to Courteney Ross, who managed the shop. Ross, who has worked at the coffee shop through changing ownership and locations for 22 years, has lived in Northeast most of her life. She was also the partner of George Floyd, who was killed at the hands of police on May 25, 2020.