Neighborhood Updates

3rd Ward News with Council Member Michael Rainville: Week of July 18

Message from Julianna

Hello Ward 3,

This week has been a rather unconventional week for me as I’ve had to shift my schedule around so I could attend some college orientation procedures. I’m beginning college this fall as a freshman at Loyola Chicago, which is both a nerve-wracking and exciting milestone in my life. It’s nerve-wracking in the aspect that I’m leaving home, not just by a couple miles but a few hundred. It’s a whole new level of independence I’ve never reached prior. However, it’s also exciting in the way that I’m getting the opportunity to study all these subjects that I’ve held deep passions for such as pre-law, political science, and journalism and they will all help me prepare and become closer to my dream career path. Although college isn’t the only thing that has connected me to the world of law and politics, this internship has offered me a great hands-on experience that books can’t replicate.

The ongoings of this week have included countless meetings revolving around the upcoming improvements to come to both Ward 3 and the rest of Minneapolis. Commencing with a recap of last Thursday, I got to come along to a meeting with some of the lovely business owners of First Avenue, who had come together to speak on what they would like to see change along First Avenue to preserve and beautify the area to make it a more welcoming place. They offered great suggestions of adding a dog park within the area for the residents, as well as adding more local art to bring a new level of color and vividness and fixing up the sidewalks to make the area more pleasantly walkable.

This Wednesday a similar meeting was set revolving around the improvements that are in the works for University Avenue NE to Central Avenue Highway, including the intersections of Broadway and Lowry. Their plans include removing curbside parking on busier streets and replacing them with bike lanes, creating boulevards to separate roads and sidewalks, adding curbside extensions on side streets, and more, all featured on their website: University Ave. NE in Minneapolis project – MnDOT. This plan will be beneficial to creating safer travel for pedestrians and drivers. However, one thing that has been objected by Council Member Rainville is the schedule of construction. Currently construction of Marshall Ave, University Ave, and Central Ave are scheduled at the same time. This overlapping schedule will prove difficult for the daily travel of residents and is something to be aware of before construction starts. If this construction scheduling is something that could affect you, make sure to speak up about it with the Minnesota Department of Transportation as they are here to improve transportation for you both in the present and future.

Overall it is great to see what the future holds for Ward 3 and I can’t wait to see how the streets and overall area improves. All departments are hard at work and the upcoming plans have been well thought out and show great promise. Remember, as a resident you are just as much a part of these conversations as anyone else so don’t be afraid to offer your suggestions as to what you would like to see improve.


Message from Council member Rainville

Hello to all my 3rd Ward neighbors,

This week I want to update you on activities at the Business, Housing, and Zoning Committee (BHZ), the Public Health and Safety Committee (PHS), and my activities in the community.

At the BHZ Committee we voted to accept grant funding of $12,500,000 from the State for pre-design, design, construction, furnishing, and equipment for the outdoor music performance venue at the Upper Harbor Terminal site. This former industrial land off of Dowling Ave N next to the river will feature a partnership between the Minnesota Orchestra and First Avenue Productions. The partnership will jointly book and run a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. This will also include a $500,000 yearly community benefits package overseen by the African American Community Development Corporation. The purpose is job training and placement in the music industry. Keep your eye on the flurry of construction that will begin next month.

Also at the BHZ Committee, we received an update on the reopening of the Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center. This project was made possible through a generous $12 million grant from the State. The new operator will be Arts’ Nest in partnership with Zenon Dance.

The BHZ Committee also moved to the full Council $1,158,820 for the Exodus Housing project being developed by St. Olaf Church. This will provide 72 units of supportive housing. The housing will be located next to St. Olaf on 2nd Ave S. I thank Bishop Kevin Kenney for his patience as we help with this much needed housing.

At the PHS Committee we received a staff report on municipal groceries stores. The main takeaways were:

  • No major city in the U.S. has opened a grocery store.
  • In smaller cities, the stores have operated at a loss and would continue to do so.
  • Madison, WI provided $10.6 million in funding for a housing and social services building that featured space for a grocery store on the 1st floor. The project was completed in 2021, but an operator for the grocery store has not been found.
  • Chicago researched starting a municipal grocery store on the South and West sides of the city, but decided against it and is pursuing an indoor farmers market.

On Sunday I was invited to the Ukrainian American Hall to join Senator Klobuchar at her press conference announcing the bill she and Senator Grassley are sponsoring. The bill would have the State Department research where the 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia are located and help return them to Ukraine.

At the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board meeting we heard an update on the progress of the Army Corps of Engineers gifted land at the lock and dam to the City. They will work with the Dakota tribes to remove some of the lack and dam building and parking lot, returning it to native vegetation. The lock and dam will be retained by the Corps for flood control.

On Monday I spoke to the citizen’s advisory group of the 2nd Precinct about the success of recruiting new police officers and the very peaceful night on the 4th of July.

As a board member of Meet Minneapolis, I participated in a thoughtful meeting on the future of the organization as the new Tourism Improvement District begins its work and how it fits into the traditional convention business.

On Thursday night I was invited to speak at a North Loop condo association regarding public safety improvements by the City.

If you are reading this on Friday, it’s not too late to join the Sheridan and St. Anthony West neighborhoods for a Saturday morning litter pick up at Dickman Park starting at 10am.

As always, Henry, Patrick, and I are here to serve you. We can be reached at ward3@minneapolismn.gov. Please report all issues to 311 before contacting us so there is a paper trail and staff are already aware of the issue when we speak with them. You can contact 311 by simply dialing 311, email them at Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or by submitting a 311 Contact Form.

Your neighbor,

Michael

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