Lake & Minnehaha Updates

Downtown Longfellow - 2 Years Later

Wondering what the latest updates are with properties surrounding the Lake and Minnehaha intersection? Thankfully, our partners at the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger have pulled all the information together for us. Read the article Breathing New Life into 27th and Lake or view the Photo Story to learn more about Pangea World Theater, Gandhi Mahal, the Oddfellows building, the Post Office and more!

Coliseum Building Gets Fresh Artwork

Last week the first floor of the Coliseum building at 27th and Lake was wrapped with panels featuring the work of local artists and poets. Purchased last year by our partners at Redesign, the property has many funding streams coming together to redevelop the building - including historic tax credits and a $1.5 million loan from the City's Commercial Property Development Fund.

The rehabilitation will maintain the beautiful historic exterior while supporting local Black business and ownership and actualizing a community-led vision for the intersection of Lake & Minnehaha.  This includes a collaboration between Redesign, Chris Montana, of Du Nord Social Spirits, the first Black Owned Distillery in the nation; Janice Downing of CommonSense Consulting@Work; and Alicia Belton of Urban Design Perspectives. In addition to Black-owned small business, the Coliseum will have an event center and training facilities.  

The Successes & Challenges of Rebuilding on Lake

MPR News host Angela Davis spoke with nonprofit leaders and business owners about the efforts to rebuild and revitalize businesses on Lake Street. Listen to the story and hear from guests Allison Sharkey (Lake Street Council) and David Nicholson (McKnight Foundation). ​