🦺 Who could redevelop George Floyd Square?

Minneapolis Recommends Violence Interrupter Organization for George Floyd Square Development

The City of Minneapolis has recommended awarding exclusive redevelopment rights of the People's Way at George Floyd Square to the violence interrupter organization Minnesota Agape Movement. Officially transferring ownership of the property from the city to Agape will require approval from city council. [Bring Me The News]

• Background: In 2021, Mayor Jacob Frey used pandemic emergency powers to award a $359,000 contract to Agape to have them clear the concrete barriers around the autonomous zone at George Floyd Square against activists' wishes. The group has also faced scrutiny for allegedly employing active gang members, but Agape has maintained that no members of the movement are active gang members. Agape works with ex-gang members to help pry young men out of gang life in Minneapolis. [Minnesota Reformer / Star Tribune]
• Controversy: The city invited four groups to present proposals for the site, and chose Agape over Rise and Remember, an organization that is connected to the activists who have maintained the street memorial since George Floyd's death and is run by Floyd’s family members Angela Harris and Paris Stevens. City Council Member Jason Chavez expressed his disapproval for Agape's selection on Bluesky and shared the results of a city-conducted survey wherein respondents overwhelmingly preferred Rise and Remember's proposal. [Star Tribune]
• Agape's plan: Agape has proposed a six-story building to be built where the People's Way currently exists, with a cafe and gift shop on the first floor, a museum on the second floor and arts, business, and community spaces on the upper floors. The cost for the building is estimated to be between $20 and $35 million, and Agape said they would pay for it via grants and donations. Rise and Remember's proposed memorial garden and greenhouse would have been the most financially modest plan by a wide margin, costing an estimated $2.5 million. [City of Minneapolis / Star Tribune]

Update: In last Friday’s newsletter, we featured our interview with ‘kindness’ influencer Josh Liljenquist. In the interview, Liljenquist said that he was supporting a project building small homes on the church campus of a Twin Cities suburb. Liljenquist misspoke when referencing the development location; the homes are located in Maple Grove at Church of the Open Door.

New look for old gem: Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold and several other local developers are the new owners of the historic Saint Paul Hotel. The group of developers plan on renovating all hotel rooms and the lobby. If you’ve got photos from your stay at this local icon, reply to this email! [Pioneer Press]

MPD in hot water, again: A trans security guard at the Minneapolis Convention Center is suing the Minneapolis Police Department, alleging that an off-duty police officer went on “a vicious, anti-transgender tirade” against her. Cathrine Doe says she was doing a routine check on the dressing rooms when Officer Ryan Calhoun began screaming at her and threatened to arrest Doe if she approached the rooms again. [Star Tribune]

Rent relief: Lawmakers have approved $40 million in emergency rental assistance, and the “lion’s share” will likely go to the Twin Cities after Operation Metro Surge. MinnPost’s Trevor Mitchell reports evictions are up 8% compared to the same time period last year. To qualify for this assistance, residents must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. For a family of three, that’s $54,640. [MinnPost]

Hottest of takes: Friend of the show Bill Lindeke has something controversial: praise for Trader Joe’s parking lots. Lindeke writes, “Trader Joe’s parking represents an ideal U.S. urban form, the platonic balance of access and automobile accommodation.” He admires the proportionately small lots and walkable entrances. Are you yay or nay on TJ’s lots? Reply to this email and let us know. [MinnPost]

What cost-cutting looks like: As the Minneapolis school district faces $40 million budget cuts, Sahan Journal reports teen moms may lose resources that help them succeed. Becky Dernbach talked to students at Longfellow Alternative High School, which serves teen moms and their kids. “I’ve never liked any school the way I like Longfellow,” one student said at a school board meeting. [Sahan Journal]

Monday, May 18

• 🎹 Travis Anderson Trio: The Music of Studio Ghibli | The Dakota
• 🎷 MN Hard Bop Collective Jazz Performance Workshops | MetroNOME Brewery
• 🎬 No One Cares About Crazy People — Film Screening & Q&A | Parkway Theater
• 🆓 Uproar Comedy Open Mic | Bryant Lake Bowl Theater
• 🎸 L.A.'s Monday Nights | Icehouse
• 🎳 Punk Rock Monday | Memory Lanes
• 🎛️ Accessory (Jason Balla of Dehd) with Facing and Sandpaper | 7th St Entry

Tuesday, May 19

• 🆓 Coffee with City Cast + Meet the Artists! | Café Marguerite
• 🌿 Bachman's Great Garden Gathering | All Bachman's Garden Centers
• 🆓 "You Belong Here" Cash Mob | Mercado Central
• ✍️ Reading at The Troubadour: Courtney Kocak & Friends | The Troubadour Wine Bar
• 🆓 MN Rovers: BWCA Trip Planning Presentation | Como Park
• 💃 Back to the Barre Live with Christi & Kelly | Parkway Theater
• 🎷 Explosion Big Band | Jazz Central Studios

• Development Operations Manager at Project Success | $60k – $70k per year
• National Institutional Giving Development Officer at American Public Media | $75k – $85k per year
• Creative Manager at People Serving People | $60k – $75k per year
• Basic Education Manager at COPAL | $52k – $55k per year
• Affordable Grocery Program Supervisor at The Food Group | $47k – $59k per year