City Briefs - Nov 16, 2023

The city council approved several liquor licenses in the area. This includes the HUGE improv Theater, in a a new location at 2728 Lyndale Ave. S, that will have a “wine with strong beer, and general entertainment license.” The Kenwood, a restaurant that has been in operation at 2115 21st St. W since 2012, will be adding a liquor license with no live entertainment license.  Gia, at 5555 Xerxes Ave. S, where Cavé Vin closed in October, will receive a full liquor license with no live entertainment. 

 

 City funding for this Project for Pride in Living housing project was approved in November. It will receive tax increment financing of $534,700; $1,650,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; and $26,500,000 in tax exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds. The previous building, a Wells Fargo bank building, was damaged in 2020 and demolished in 2021. Project for Pride in Living plans to build a 110-unit apartment building with commercial space on the first floor, including space for a new Wells Fargo facility.  Construction is expected to be completed next summer. 

 

The city has also approved Affordable Housing Trust Fund funding for two other southwest projects. One is a loan of up to $2,260,000 from The LOMA project located at 3246 Nicollet Ave by One Stop African Market. The LOMA is planned as 62 affordable homes for seniors with some commercial and service providers on site. The other is a loan of up to $1,000,000 for the 1301 Lake Street 120-unit affordable housing project by CommonBond Communities. 

 

In December, the city council approved the appointments of several southwest residents to the city’s housing advisory committee.  This includes Amanda Leathers from ward 13, Sam Adams from Ward 10, and Catriona Stuart as a mayoral appointee, also from Ward 10.  Additionally, southwest Minneapolis residents Thomas Nordyke and Abdullahi Isse were appointed to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. 

 

The city has approved the 2023 Facade Improvement Matching Grants for local organizations to help businesses make building improvements. Among those receiving grants, is the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association, who will receive $30,000; the Lake Street Council, who will receive $50,000; the Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association, with $23,000; the Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association, with $23,000; and the Southwest Business Association, with $50,000. The funding is part of the Great Streets Program that was started in 2007. It provides grants to help businesses and property owners make building improvements like paint, signage, awnings, murals, and tuck-pointing as well as window and door replacement.

 

Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez has announced several budget amendments he is likely to propose including a Cultural Ambassador Pilot Program that could provide $2,100,000 to develop and implement public safety pilot programming in 2024 in the city’s seven Cultural Districts that are located along East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, 38th Street, Cedar Avenue South, West Broadway, Central Avenue, and Lowry Avenue North. He also is proposing using $150,000 to pay for a Lake Street Safety coordinator to help coordinate public safety responses along Lake Street.