In this issue: Counci Member Cashman speaking from the dais with the U.S. Flag and City Seal in the background Council approved the technical details and delegated authority to CPED staff who are working hard to open up the application window for an additional round of the Business District Support Grants specifically for Uptown. This one-time funding was one of the funding and programmatic tools included in the 2025 City Budget designed to boost Uptown activation and revitalization following a few years of challenging economic realities and construction on Hennepin Avenue South. I am excited about the potential for how additional Business District Support grants could help the grassroots efforts underway to bring more foot traffic and energy to Uptown and encourage organizations serving the Uptown area to prepare for the Request for Proposals (RFP) to be released soon. Council approved a total of $976,757 in Minneapolis Affordable Rental Stabilization grants to four projects, one of which was to PERIS Foundation, which oversees and champions PERIS Hill in the Lowry Hill neighborhood. PERIS Hill is an intentional housing community that supports and empowers young people who have experienced foster care to develop and thrive. According to PERIS Foundation, research shows that foster care disproportionately impacts BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, and that over a third of fosters experience at least one episode of homelessness before they are 26. This housing community is a critical bridge in Hennepin County to interrupt the foster care to homelessness pipeline by supporting young people during a critical time for growing connections and independence within the community. Supportive housing providers are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of maintenance and other expenses, and this program is designed specifically to put the affordable housing we already have on stronger footing. A graphic with the Violence Interrupters Area 5 boundaries over a heat map of reported violent incidents Mad Dads assigned to the Nicollet Avenue corridor in Ward 7 This week, Council approved 5 contracts for 2025 MinneapolUS Violence Interrupter Services. Violence Interrupter services are a unique, interdisciplinary, public health approach to violence prevention and an adaptation of the Cure Violence Model (CVM). After more than a year of asking the Office of Community Safety to provide this service in the Loring Heights-Steven’s Square neighborhood near 19th and Nicollet where we have seen a lot of violence, I’m grateful that the data validated our community experience and will result in violence prevention service to the neighborhood. Mad Dads’ coverage area (Area 5) is pictured in the map above. If you want to see the other coverage areas citywide, you can read about it in . A summary is listed below: Northside: Area 1 (Covered by A Mother’s love), Area 2 (no coverage but the City Council passed a resolution supporting consideration to re-solicit a request for proposals to cover this area), Area 3 (no coverage assigned yet), Area 4 (Covered by Restoration Inc.) Southside: Area 5 (Covered by Mad Dads), Area 6 (no coverage assigned yet), Area 7 (Covered by Sabathani Community Center), Area 8 (covered by TOUCH Outreach) Service for each area of coverage will include a team of seven people deployed per shift, each shift lasting up to 8 hours, with approximately 5 shifts per week. Teams will also work to change behavioral norms that support violence through public education and active community engagement. Continual data collection efforts will be implemented to assess program effectiveness and inform strategies. I’m looking forward to working with Mad Dads and the 5th Precinct Police team to address public safety in Ward 7. Many Lowry Hill residents are familiar with the condo development proposal put forth at 1302 Douglas Ave and 1716 Fremont Ave S. As designed, this project required four approvals from the Planning Commission: two height variances (approved), a variance to increase the maximum permitted floor area ratio from 0.8 to 1.32 (denied) and site plan review for a new 2.5-story multiple-family dwelling containing eight dwelling units (denied). The Planning Commission denied 2 of the 4 requests at , and Mr. Baylor subsequently appealed their decision. for further consideration. The City Council voted unanimously 11-0 to deny the appeal, thereby upholding the Planning Commission's decision. This means the developer will have to go back to the drawing board to ensure any plans for the parcel comply with the 2040 plan. Due to city policy around expressing opinions about developments before a quasi-judicial vote was taken, I and another Council Member had to recuse ourselves from the final vote, but even without our votes it was denied. Thank you to those neighbors who have engaged with my office and the Planning Commission around this project. Public hearings are officially confirmed when meeting agendas are published in the roughly 48 business hours prior to a scheduled meeting, so I recommend checking back on the respective links to verify the timeline. Find out more about participating in scheduled hearings and submitting a public comment or watch meetings on the City’s YouTube channel. Business, Housing, & Zoning Committee: Tuesday, April 8 | 1:30 p.m. | 250 S 4th St, Room 350 - Cannabis and Hemp Retailer Registration ordinance
- Sidewalk Cart and Street Vending Program ordinance
Climate & Infrastructure Committee: Thursday, April 10 | 1:30 p.m. | 250 S 4th St, Room 350 - New Nicollet Ave Construction: Project approval, assessment, and areaway abandonment
In each Ward 7 Newsletter, we include a question for constituents to weigh in on. Questions may be related to upcoming policy decisions, future planning, issue prioritization, community project ideas, and more. Today's question: The City included a number of Uptown-specific investments in the 2025 City Budget, including an additional $100k for Business District Support (BDS) Grants, $50k for one-on-one technical assistance for businesses, $250k in rent subsidies for the Vibrant Storefronts Program Expansion, and $50k to fund to hire experts to lead a process to develop a community-driven, comprehensive revitalization plan. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Uptown BDS grants will be live soon. Eligible projects include a wide range of activities that help build vibrant business districts, such as events and activations, promotional campaigns, vacancy mitigation initiatives, and more. Here are the projects awarded in 2024 to provide some specific examples. What types of projects, initiatives, or activities do you think would be most beneficial to help shift the trajectory of the Uptown business district in a positive direction?  |
Photo of a member of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee and quote about their experience serving in the role A final reminder that the recruitment period for eight boards and commissions is open through the end of March. The deadline for the Community Commission on Police Oversight was extended. The City is looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate. Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community. Apply by March 31. Join me, Public Works leadership, and representatives from the Green Line Extension project for a walking/rolling meeting on neighborhood traffic safety and the many parking changes that will soon be in place along the loop of Chowen Ave S, Abbott Ave S, and W 32nd St during this year’s construction season in West Maka Ska. The conversation will kickoff at Caribou Coffee (3044 Excelsior Blvd #103), and the group will leave together, discussing key areas along the route. All residents are welcome to join. Details are available on the West Maka Ska Neighborhood Council’s website. When: Wednesday, April 9 | 5:00-6:30 p.m. Where: Start at Caribou Coffee (3044 Excelsior Blvd, #103) Since the Loring Greenway playground was dismantled in November and the community meeting in January, I have continued my work with the Loring Greenway Association and Public Works staff to create a way forward for a long-term replacement. This is such an important intergenerational gathering place for Loring Park families, and I am committed to getting this done. You can read the recent feature in the StarTribune detailing the conversation at the most recent community meeting last week and the progress we’ve made so far. Two people stand outside beside a green organics recycling cart Community grants of $5,000 - $25,000 are available to support your community-led projects that reduce or divert materials from the waste stream. This program is part of the City’s Climate Legacy Initiative. Any organization that serves Minneapolis residents is encouraged to submit a proposal for an Innovative Waste Reduction project to be completed in calendar year 2025. Learn more about the City’s Innovative Waste Reduction grants, including eligible projects and grant details through the City’s eSupplier portal. Proposals are due at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Proposals must be submitted through the City’s eSupplier portal. A map of the 2025 work areas for the Metropolitan Council's Green Line Light Rail Extension project SWLRT Green Line Extension:The 2025 construction season is about to begin. As shown in the map above, construction will be active starting in a few key areas. Border Avenue and Holden Street between Olson Memorial Highway and Royalston Avenue: Partial roadway and sidewalk closures for pavement removals on Border Avenue and Holden Street are anticipated to start March 31 and construction activities are anticipated in this area to last through the fall, weather permitting. Access to local businesses will be maintained throughout construction. Detour maps will soon be posted on the website. No parking will be allowed on Border Avenue or Holden Street once construction begins. The overall purpose of the 2025 work in this area is to reconstruct Border Avenue and Holden Street for new roadways, boulevards, sidewalks, and accessible pedestrian ramps and to enhance connections to the Royalston/Farmers Market Station area. The design plan for this area can be viewed here. Excelsior Boulevard near West 32nd Street, Abbott Avenue South, and Chowen Avenue South: Parking restrictions are anticipated the week of March 24 for utility pole relocation on Abbott Avenue South just north of Excelsior Boulevard. No parking will be allowed on the north side of West 32nd Street beginning March 26 for up to four days for potholing work to relocate existing utilities. Construction of new sidewalk and accessible pedestrian ramps on Excelsior Boulevard are anticipated to begin March 26. Construction activities are anticipated to last through early summer, weather permitting. This work will initially include a temporary lane closure and sidewalk closure on the north/west side of Excelsior Boulevard. Local access for businesses and residents will be maintained throughout construction. A map detailing access will soon be posted on the website. Partial roadway and sidewalk closures for pavement removals on Chowen Avenue South and Abbott Avenue South are anticipated to begin mid-April and construction activities are anticipated to last through the fall, weather permitting. No parking will be allowed on Abbott Avenue or Chowen Avenue once construction begins. Parking will be allowed on West 32nd Street unless otherwise noted. The overall purpose of the 2025 work in this area is to reconstruct Abbott Avenue South, Chowen Avenue South, and West 32nd Street near Excelsior Boulevard as well as sections of Excelsior Boulevard. Work includes new boulevard, sidewalks, and accessible pedestrian ramps and to enhance connections to the West Lake Street Station area. Construction impacts in the area are anticipated through fall. The design plan for this area can be viewed here. Construction will take place later this spring on Burnham Road as well as on Cedar Lake Parkway across the rail corridor. More details on that work will be shared in April as they become available.  |
A digital rendering of the project showing a bar area and seating courtesy of RSP Architects via Hempel Cos. Sometimes the news can get us down, but there is a lot to be excited about in Minneapolis! This year we will be sure to call out some good news in each of our newsletters. Do you have some good news to share? Let us know by emailing ward7@minneapolismn.gov and including “Good News Round-up" in the subject line. - Construction is set to start this summer for a new, 33,000 square foot food hall in Downtown Minneapolis’ LaSalle Plaza. The group behind the successful concept at Malcolm Yards is taking over the former Rock Bottom Brewery to include 16 restaurant stalls, two bars, a self-pour beer wall, a kids play area, plus courts for pickleball and shuffleboard.
- A local developer has purchased the former Apple Store building in Uptown with a goal to help restore the neighborhood's identity as a thriving entertainment and retail district. As of yet there are no specific plans for the space.
A photo of Council Member Cashman and a group of 5th Precinct team members The Ward 7 team continues to get out in community to talk to neighbors and stakeholders where they are. Here are a few highlights from the past couple of weeks. - Spoke to Loring Park Neighbors and learned about community project work at the CLPC Annual Meeting
- Discussed traffic safety issues with parents, teachers, and administrators at the Emerson Elementary Site Council meeting
- Joined other City leaders and many Uptown community members at a forum focused on safety strategies for Uptown
- Visited with the newly appointed MPD Inspector Novak and other 5th Precinct team members
- Provided updates and spoke with neighbors at Abbott Apartments during the Stevens Square Community Organization’s quarterly meeting
- Hosted our “Coffee with Katie” event at Bruhaven Craft Co. In Loring Park, gathering feedback with Public Works staff on updates to the neighborhood’s Critical Parking Area rules
To find out about what’s going on in your part of town, check out the nine neighborhood organizations working to keep folks connected and engaged in Ward 7: | 
