Graco-Boom Island trail connection delayed
In April, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) started work on a riverfront trail connecting Graco Park and Boom Island Park. In addition to the trail, which will go underneath Plymouth Avenue, the project includes a new bridge over the Boom Island Marina and safety improvements to the intersection of Plymouth Avenue and Sibley Street NE.
According to a statement released by the MPRB, “During construction, remnants of the old Plymouth Avenue Bridge were uncovered, requiring design adjustments. In addition, extensions to the steel pile supports for the underpass had to be installed to account for varying soil conditions.” As a result, the project has been delayed. The Plymouth Avenue Bridge is expected to reopen by “the end of September”; a new trail connection is expected to open in “October or November”; and there will be a grand-opening ceremony upon completion in the fall.
Congratulations, students
Eric Donaldson, of St. Anthony Village, was named to Biola University’s Dean’s List for academic excellence, La Mirada, Calif.
Ella Bergquist, Emily Philbrook, Sol Potek,
Daniel Severson and Zalma Wardere, of Minneapolis, and Annie Welch, of St. Anthony Village, graduated from St. Olaf College.
Housing development at Sullivan Lake moves forward
The plan to develop the vacant Medtronic site at Sullivan Lake with a mix of townhomes and high-density housing received unanimous approval from the Columbia Heights City Council on July 28.
The plan calls for the initial construction of two six-story buildings, each having 132 apartments. The next phase will allow 58 townhouses with underground parking.
A third phase will include a multi-use building with 12,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 150 units of market-cost housing. In total, there will be about 500 new apartments on the 11.74-acre parcel.
The project is being developed by Lincoln Avenue Communities, a national development company.
Public reaction at the meeting was not all positive, with constituents complaining about the height of the buildings, the housing density and the access to green space by the new apartment dwellers. The council defended the project and said the additional tax revenue will allow the city to provide more for residents, including more park and recreation amenities.
The project still needs some final city approvals, but construction will begin in the coming weeks. The large Medtronic building on the site must be razed along with the 812-car parking lot.
Incumbent Park Board District 1 candidate drops out
Billy Menz, the current Park Board Commissioner representing District 1, has suspended his campaign for re-election. “My family and my teaching are my top priorities,” he wrote in a statement after the DFL Convention in late July. “This political work, over the past eight years, has taken me away from them in simple ways to add up… I stand behind the work I did representing us and getting things accomplished as your District 1 Commissioner. I will continue to push for system-wide investment in field spaces, indigenous relationship building towards trust, Grand Rounds Missing Link connections, and internal youth programming.
“I believe in bridge building but the strategies I utilize in elected office are not resonating with our local DFL. People are looking for more direct challenge of the status quo. I support that move but cannot exist in that political realm because I lose who I am and where my strengths lie. There are times to build the bridge and times to burn it down. The moment is telling us our democracy is broken so that burn it down mentality is fierce and, honestly, understandable.
“I make this announcement ahead of the two week filing period, offering space for others to step up and lead/run in our community. I pledge to stay involved and engaged in this work and hope to offer some forums on the issues impacting Minneapolis Parks with some remaining campaign funds. We must remember that this is about our Parks and our community.”
Free and low-cost trees available to Minneapolis residents
The City of Minneapolis has announced their Fall City Trees Sale. Over 20 types of trees, including evergreens and shade trees, are available for purchase. City residents can order “up to three trees per planting address” until September 10 or while supplies last. Residents who purchased trees must pick them up on September 26 or 27; anyone who purchases a tree will be emailed the pickup location. To order a tree, visit https://mpls-tree-sale.myshopify.com/.
Residents in “green zones” — areas where the City is working to plant more trees — may quality for one free tree. To quality, residents must live in a green zone, have enough space for the tree and commit to watering it every week for the first three years of its new life. Green zones are predominantly in North Minneapolis and Elliot Park, but some areas of Northeast are covered as well. To check if you live in a green zone, visit https://bit.ly/MinneapolisGreenZone.
Left to right, State Sen. Doron Clark, Executive Director of MPHA Abdi Warsame, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Mayor Jacob Frey, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley and Councilmember Michael Rainville break ground at the Spring Manor development site. (Minneapolis Public Housing Authority)
Northeast Minneapolis to see largest public housing development in city history
On August 19, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) leadership joined up with Minneapolis politicians — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, State Senator Doron Clark and Councilmember Michael Rainville, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley — to break ground on a major housing redevelopment.
According to the MPHA, Spring Manor, located at 828 Spring St. NE, is slated to be the “largest public housing redevelopment in city history.” The project is likely to cost approximately $78 million. It will “preserve 221 units across two neighboring buildings” and invest “more than $30 million in direct capital improvements to the existing buildings, while also constructing a new four-story building that will create 15 new deeply affordable units designed for residents needing mobility access features.”
The project will also include a new one-story structure connecting the new and old buildings.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said “Spring Manor is the largest public housing redevelopment in Minneapolis history — and it’s happening right here in Northeast. We’re maintaining and upgrading homes for 200 seniors, while adding new, deeply affordable housing and modern community spaces that keep people rooted in the neighborhood they love. This project proves that when we work together, big things happen and lives change.”
The slated renovations for the two buildings include replacing and/or improving the building’s aging systems (such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC); complete unit renovations (including kitchens, bathrooms, appliances and finishes); installing in-unit cooling and fresh-air ventilation systems; accessibility upgrades; and repairing existing windows and roofing. The MPHA is also planning to update and expand community spaces on-site.
Currently, the MPHA is projecting a 14-month construction timeline; assuming all goes according to plan, the Spring Manor development will be completed by the end of 2026.