Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership

Danger downstream

Star Tribune; October 2, 2016

The Mississippi is North America’s greatest river. But in Minnesota, home to its headwaters, sweeping changes in the landscape are putting water quality at risk.

MnDOT issues RFP for Third Ave. bridge in Minneapolis

Finance & Commerce; October 1, 2016

Cracks and deterioration are showing up on the Third Avenue Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old historic concrete arch structure over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. (Subscription required.)

East Bank Trail offers river views in Northeast

Star Tribune; September 30, 2016

If you’re looking for a new trail to refresh your bike path options before winter sets in, check out the new East Bank Trail in northeast Minneapolis.

Report finds a new pollutant building up in the Mississippi

Star Tribune; September 21, 2016

Microscopic fibers and pieces of plastic are accumulating at the bottom of the Mississippi River in the metro area, posing a rising threat to fish and other wildlife and reflecting changes in urban life along its banks.

North Minneapolis recycler agrees to dust suppression

Star Tribune; September 14, 2016

A state pollution regulator has praised a riverside scrap yard in Minneapolis for voluntarily taking steps to reduce the amount of dust it produces after state monitors in the area showed air particles in the area that exceeded allowable limits. The voluntary agreement contrasts with the state’s fight with Northern Metal over particulates.

North Minneapolis residents push for permanent closure

MinnPost; September 9, 2016

Last week, Northern Metal Recycling had to shut down part of their north Minneapolis metal recycling plant after a Ramsey County District Judge ordered the company to idle part of their operations. Now residents are pushing to make the closure permanent.

Judge orders metal shredder to cease major part of operations

Star Tribune; August 31, 2016

A Ramsey County judge has ordered a key portion of a north Minneapolis metal recycling company to cease operations because of pollution concerns from the plant along the Mississippi River.

NASA’s eye in the sky monitors algae blooms

Star Tribune; August 26, 2016

A pilot from Rochester helps scientists track potentially toxic scum along the Mississippi River. In Minnesota, the idea is to track and document harmful algal blooms in the Mississippi River — the source of drinking water in Minneapolis, St. Paul and several other communities in the Twin Cities.

Minneapolis wants to redevelop northern waterfront

KARE 11; August 21, 2016

“It is an eyesore when you look out your front window or back window, for some people, and you don’t see just the beautiful river with all of the lights and the bridge,” said Heather Kuikka, board chair of the mostly industrial McKinley neighborhood.

Wilco sails into overtime on the Mississippi

Star Tribune; August 21, 2016

Wilco fans savored an extended outdoor concert just a short raft ride up the Mississippi River that spotlighted both the band and the stellar Historic Hall’s Island venue.

Photos: A national park in the heart of the Cities

Minnesota Public Radion; August 5, 2016

On the centennial of the National Park Service, MPR sets out to explore Minnesota’s six National Parks, beginning with Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

New paddle share stations bring kayak rental to the Minneapolis Riverfront!

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board; August 4, 2016

New agreements between the National Park Service’s (NPS) non-profit charitable partner Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) created a pilot program that will bring “paddle share” stations to Minneapolis’ Upper Riverfront this summer. This exciting initiative will be the first paddle share program on the Mississippi River and the first paddle share program in a national park. The pilot program is planned to launch later this month.

Mississippi Minute Film Festival Contest

Kare 11; August 3, 2016

Kare11 interviews Kathleen Boe and gets the scoop on the Mississippi Minute Film Festival, from this year’s special focus to exciting prizes for the top films in each category.

Kayak sharing along Mississippi in the works

Star Tribune; August 2, 2016

A first-of-its-kind paddle share may be coming to Minneapolis this month! Pending Park Board approval, there will be 32 kayaks with paddles and life jackets available for rent at two stations: North Mississippi Regional Park and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization headquarters.

Interview: The 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival

WCCOTV; July 28, 2016

Our very own Kathleen Boe drops by WCCO to talk about the 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival.

Mississippi River is ready for its close-up and for you to film it

Pioneer Press; July 26, 2016

The 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival is underway! Help us celebrate the 100th year of the National Park Service by submitting your 60-second video of the Mississippi by September 15.

Could the Mississippi River actually begin in South Dakota?

Star Tribune; July 25, 2016

Kim Ode ponders the headwaters of the Mississippi River in this lighthearted look at the potential conflict between local lore and geological history. Blasphemy or good geology? You’ll have to read to find out.

Three national park units preserve Minnesota treasures

Star Tribune; July 23, 2016

Three national park units preserve Minnesota’s natural treasures: the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, North Country National Scenic Trail, and St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

PinKU Japanese Street Food

Mill City Times; June 25, 2016

PinKU Japanese Street Food doesn’t fit neatly into a category. It’s not casual, although you do order at the counter. It’s not fine dining, despite the fact the food is beautifully presented. There are no reservations and no tipping. According to Xiaoteng Huang (X) and John Sugimura, partners and the founders of the restaurant, that’s exactly how they planned it.

A new farmers market for the riverfront

The Journal; June 24, 2016

A farmers market is a place where local farmers, producers and artisans come together to sell their crafts to the community. While “farm” often gets the attention, it’s the latter part, the community that truly makes a market a success.

MPCA: Redevelopment Of Fmr. St. Paul Ford Plant Can Proceed

WCCO TV; June 24, 2016

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn’t get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

An environmental analysis released Thursday night identified five hot spots that need attention, but they say plans can proceed for mixed-use development involving residences, light industry, office space and parkland.

Redevelopment of Former St. Paul Ford Plant Site Can Proceed

KSTP TV; June 24, 2016

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn’t get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

An environmental analysis released Tuesday night identified five hot spots that need attention, but they say plans can proceed for mixed-use development involving residences, light industry, office space and parkland.

Redevelopment of former St. Paul Ford plant site can proceed

Star Tribune; June 24, 2016

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn’t get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

Ford completes environmental investigation on former St. Paul plant site

MPR News; June 24, 2016

Nearly five years after the last Ford Ranger rolled off the assembly line in St. Paul, the car company says it now knows what a century of car building left on the site. Ford told a meeting of neighbors Thursday night that it has completed an environmental investigation and the cleanup can begin.

It’s taken a long time to get here. Ford announced it would shut down its St. Paul plant 10 years ago. It closed in December 2011. Almost half the time since then has been devoted to an investigation of possible pollution on the site.

Hi-Lo Diner lights up Lake Street with classic food ‘from scratch’

Star Tribune; June 23, 2016

Taking a seat inside the Hi-Lo Diner is an instant mood-enhancer.

Heck, just driving past this gleaming, painstakingly restored structure — which started life in a New Jersey factory in the late 1950s and arrived in Minneapolis last fall, split down the middle and strapped to a pair of flatbed trucks — is enough to trigger a rush of endorphins.

Ford, MPCA say contamination shouldn’t limit development of St. Paul plant site

Star Tribune; June 23, 2016

St. Paul leaders have an idyllic vision of a bikeable, transit-oriented community on 122 acres by the Mississippi River, complete with a variety of jobs, housing types and mixed-use buildings.

And Thursday evening, Ford Motor Co. and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials said contamination from decades of assembly plant operations at the site should not get in the way of that plan.

“We’re going to be on the site for the next few years cleaning up,” said Rob Cory, Ford’s director of Global Real Estate Services. “By the time we’re done, we expect, based on what we know today, that the majority of the site will be available for the types of things the city has been talking about for a number of years.”

Findings: Ford plant pollution won’t hinder redevelopment

Pioneer Press; June 23, 2016

While an environmental analysis of the St. Paul land where Ford Motor Co.’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant contains few surprises, there are five “hot spots” in need of attention.

Ford began producing cars and trucks at the Highland Park site in 1925, long before state and federal environmental protection agencies even existed, and the level of pollution on the sprawling parcel isn’t trivial.

Park Board hires Water Works design team

The Journal; June 23, 2016

Park commissioners have hired a team to design a new riverfront park that would overhaul the downtown riverfront.

Members of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved a $2 million contract with a team led by Damon Farber Associates to lead design services for Water Works. The nearly $27 million project would revitalize a roughly four-block stretch of parkland around Mill Ruins Park with a visitor center and new river connections.

Why does downtown Minneapolis still have a lot of surface parking lots? It’s complicated.

MinnPost; June 23, 2016

It was a routine briefing of a Minneapolis City Council committee on a seemingly unrelated topic, but it offered the chance to rouse a long-simmering issue in Minneapolis:

What can the city do to rid itself of the acres of surface parking lots in and around downtown?

While development activity has seen many of those lots disappear, many remain — too many, according to Council Members Lisa Goodman and Jacob Frey, who used the May 11 briefing to press city assessor Patrick Todd to do something about it.

Red Cow owner to open new North Loop concept

The Journal; June 22, 2016

Red Cow owner and restaurateur Luke Shimp is opening a second concept in the North Loop, and he’ll be stepping away from burgers.

Red Rabbit will be an Italian restaurant focusing on pizza, pasta and oysters. The concept is slated to open later this year at the corner of Washington & 2nd in a former imported auto shop building.

Rivers and Human Systems: Grasping Water

River Life Blog; June 21, 2016

It’s not entirely clear precisely what the organizers of last week’s international workshop “Grasping Water” had in mind with the name of the project. It could be the case that they meant to allude to the nearly impossible task of actually physically grabbing a handful of water, that task then being seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of mentally “grasping’ the full dimensions of water. Or perhaps they meant to direct participants’ attention to the water itself in rivers, adding knowledge gained from scientific investigations to the conceptual infrastructure from the humanities disciplines that are their “home turf.” Maybe, and we’ve all been there, they just needed a title with the grant proposal deadline looming.

Two developers offer proposals for Mill District site

The Journal; June 21, 2016

The City of Minneapolis received two development proposals for one of the last blank sites in the Mill District.

The city recently released the names of the developers — Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates and St. Paul-based Grand Real Estate Advisors — that are proposing to build on the city-owned parcel a few blocks from U.S. Bank Stadium. The city issued a request for proposals in the spring for the site at 205 Park Ave. S.

MNfusion: Red Cow Owner Luke Shimp, Chef Macdonald Talk New Red Rabbit

WCCO TV; June 21, 2016

Luke Shimp has been a longtime institution in the Twin Cities food scene.

For years, he was the CFO and co-owner of Blue Plate Restaurant Company, the umbrella company of such places as The Lowry, Groveland Tap and Longfellow Grill. But in 2012, he announced he would be leaving to start his own venture – Red Cow restaurants.

U.S. Bank Stadium construction is substantially complete

The Journal; June 20, 2016

After more than two and a half years of construction, work on U.S. Bank Stadium is nearly complete.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority recently announced that the new home of the Minnesota Vikings is substantially complete, a milestone that wasn’t planned for another six weeks.

The team had originally planned to hit a substantial completion on July 29.

New Office Building Planned Near U.S. Bank Stadium

WCCO TV; June 20, 2016

Ryan Companies US, Inc. reportedly plans to build a 17-story office tower near the U.S. Bank Stadium on a site that has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals.

Racially equitable use of parks is the goal, with big dollars at stake

Star Tribune; June 19, 2016

A politically charged push is taking shape, with millions of dollars at stake, to break down barriers that are making Twin Cities parks and trails feel to some like white people’s preserves.

The Metropolitan Council’s initiative to move toward racial equity in metro-area parks — closing the gap in park usage between whites and people of color — has raised suspicions best captured two years ago, when a suburban member of the council publicly asked: “Will [Theodore] Wirth Park get all the money because it’s next to north Minneapolis? I mean, how does this play out?”

Rock the Garden sizzles by the river

Star Tribune; June 18, 2016

Organizers of Rock the Garden may have been onto something when they brazenly hyped this year’s one-day rock festival as “the official start of summer.”

The popular annual fundraiser for Walker Art Center and Minnesota Public Radio moved to a temporary home on the Minneapolis riverfront Saturday, due to the razing of the Walker’s Sculpture Garden for renovations. Mother Nature, in turn, raised the heat on the 14,000 attendees with a ferocity that made it feel like summer had arrived with a vengeance.

$1.1B later, new Vikings stadium is ‘complete’ – and ahead of schedule

Pioneer Press; June 18, 2016

Contractors handed the new Minnesota Vikings stadium over to the state Friday, six weeks earlier than planned.

Construction of U.S. Bank Stadium is considered “substantially complete,” so main contractor Mortenson Construction gave the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority a large key during the state board’s June meeting. The symbolic handoff means all but some detail work is completed on the $1.1 billion stadium.

Mortenson had planned to turn it over July 29.

Come for the Barbeque, Stay for the Mini Donuts, at Chef Shack Ranch

Mill City Times; June 18, 2016

When I asked our server Shevaun about her favorite menu item at Chef Shack Ranch she said she loves the brisket, and the burritos, and the pulled pork, and the mini donuts… When she finished her list she acknowledged, “I guess that’s pretty much the entire menu!”

It’s a bit more of a trek to get to Chef Shack Ranch this summer with both the Franklin Avenue Bridge construction and West River Parkway closure, but it is so worth the trip. Across the street from Kimber Fiebiger’s fun and colorful Joan of Art Gallery, Chef Shack Ranch is actually a moveable feast. Between the food truck (affectionately referred to as “Big Red” by the staff) and the trailer, Chef Shack is making appearances all over the metro in venues ranging from farmers markets to grad parties. This location is one of two brick-and-mortar locations, the other is in Bay City, Wis. They’ve been at the Franklin Avenue location for 2 1/2 years in a spot that has housed everything from an Indian restaurant to a chocolate shop.

Building Blocks: Xcel Energy Corporate Headquarters

Finance and Commerce; June 17, 2016

Xcel Energy’s new 222,000-square-foot corporate headquarters on Nicollet Mall could not be more different from the utility’s longtime location across the street. The new building has floor-to-ceiling windows on many floors, open collaborative work areas, and bright, branded finishes.

The older 250,000-square-foot building at 414 Nicollet Mall has a two- story recessed entry below six stories of a heavy brick façade with narrow slit-like windows. It’s very 1960s.

Seasonal street cafes set to debut in Minneapolis this summer

Star Tribune; June 17, 2016

Several Minneapolis restaurants may soon be serving their fare on the street.

This summer, the city hopes to launch a two-year pilot program to help businesses transform parking spots into seasonal pop-up “street cafes” that provide extra outdoor seating. The on-street dining could begin as soon as August.

The pilot program got the approval of two City Council committees June 7 and will be forwarded to the full council for final approval on Friday.

Stone Arch Bridge Festival to include fireworks

MinnPost; June 17, 2016

For the first time in the 22-year history of the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, there will be fireworks. General Mills will mark its 150th year anniversary with a large fireworks display over the Mississippi on Friday (that’s tonight) starting around 9:30 p.m. Come to a free concert on Water Power Park anytime after 5 and stay for the oohs and aahs.

CPM details apartment plan near Grain Belt brewery

Finance and Commerce; June 17, 2016

A northeast Minneapolis street corner anchored by the historic Grain Belt Brewery building is becoming something of a magnet for young professionals seeking apartments.

Ryan Cos. plans office building in Minneapolis near U.S. Bank Stadium

Star Tribune; June 17, 2016

Ryan Cos. plans to build a 17-story office tower near the U.S. Bank Stadium on a site that has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals.

The building would be erected at 728 S. 4th St. in downtown Minneapolis, in front of as well as on top of the Block 1 parking ramp located kitty-corner from the new Vikings Stadium, said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA).

Counterpoint: Not all bad news in the so-called ‘battle zone’ of north Minneapolis

Star Tribune; June 17, 2016

A June 8 headline in the Star Tribune called an area in north Minneapolis “the battle zone.” I call it my home, as do more than 1,000 families and 2,300 children who are enrolled in the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). Many families in the NAZ, especially children, face a complex web of challenges. North Minneapolis is ground zero for the racial disparities that have made Minnesota dead last in the nation for gaps in academic achievement, homeownership and household income.

Yet, despite the obstacles, thousands of north Minneapolis parents and children are building the foundations for successful lives. Today I see evidence that my neighborhood is becoming a zone in which achievement — especially academic achievement among our kids — is increasingly valued. And college is now an expectation.

Omnitheater Film Celebrates 100 Years Of National Park Service

WCCO TV; June 17, 2016

This year marks the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, and the Science Museum of Minnesota is celebrating the occasion all summer with an Omnitheater film that takes viewers mountain biking in Utah, hiking in Yellowstone and ice climbing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Titled National Parks Adventure, the film immerses viewers in the beauty and power of America’s most beloved and iconic landscapes. The work, from prominent IMAX filmmaking studio MacGillivray Freeman Films, follows climbing legend Conrad Anker as he, his son and a family friend road trip from park to park, taking in the scenery on ropes, in kayaks and on foot. Their adventure is narrated by Robert Redford.

Coloplast pays $600,000 to settle price data allegations

Star Tribune; June 16, 2016

Coloplast, the Danish medical device maker with U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis, has agreed to pay the federal government $600,000 to settle allegations that it missed multiple deadlines for submitting price data to the Medicaid program.

It’s a condition of participation in state-run Medicaid programs that companies selling drugs prescribed to Medicaid outpatients also provide the government with accurate and timely pricing data, which is used to calculate rebates that the drugmakers are required to pay to the program.

Federal tax credits are misused on costly artist lofts in Twin Cities

http://www.startribune.com/federal-tax-credits-are-misused-on-costly-artist-lofts-in-twin-cities/383350961/; June 16, 2016

The affordable housing shortage is at a crisis stage in the Twin Cities metro area and has been for some time. Waiting lists are long, and some have been closed for lack of available dwellings. Those waiting for housing are disproportionately people of color — in part because of one of the nation’s worst income equality gaps.

That’s why a report from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity is so troubling, with its findings that precious federal tax credits originally intended for low-income housing instead have gone to costly rehabs of historic buildings housing mostly white artists. Lobbyists in 2008 got artists’ lofts exempted from the requirement to use affordable housing tax credits for the general public, kicking off a boom in such housing.

St. Paul Riverfront Corporation names new executive director

Pioneer Press; June 16, 2016

The St. Paul Riverfront Corporation has appointed Darlene Walser as executive director.

Walser previously served as program manager for Hennepin County’s Bottineau Light Rail Transit Community Works Program. In that role, she worked to ensure cities along the proposed LRT corridor were included in discussions and ready to benefit from the $1.5 billion transit investment.

Report reveals disparities in city’s creative sector

The Journal; June 15, 2016

While Minneapolis’ creative economy continues to grow, a new report shows that workers of color are underrepresented in creative professions.

Incomes for creative workers also lag below the median hourly wage for metro-area workers, according to the latest Minneapolis Creative Index report.

Danger downstream

The Mississippi is North America’s greatest river. But in Minnesota, home to its headwaters, sweeping changes in the landscape are putting water quality at risk.

MnDOT issues RFP for Third Ave. bridge in Minneapolis

Cracks and deterioration are showing up on the Third Avenue Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old historic concrete arch structure over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. (Subscription required.)

East Bank Trail offers river views in Northeast

If you’re looking for a new trail to refresh your bike path options before winter sets in, check out the new East Bank Trail in northeast Minneapolis.

Report finds a new pollutant building up in the Mississippi

Microscopic fibers and pieces of plastic are accumulating at the bottom of the Mississippi River in the metro area, posing a rising threat to fish and other wildlife and reflecting changes in urban life along its banks.

North Minneapolis recycler agrees to dust suppression

A state pollution regulator has praised a riverside scrap yard in Minneapolis for voluntarily taking steps to reduce the amount of dust it produces after state monitors in the area showed air particles in the area that exceeded allowable limits. The voluntary agreement contrasts with the state's fight with Northern Metal over particulates.

North Minneapolis residents push for permanent closure

Last week, Northern Metal Recycling had to shut down part of their north Minneapolis metal recycling plant after a Ramsey County District Judge ordered the company to idle part of their operations. Now residents are pushing to make the closure permanent.

Judge orders metal shredder to cease major part of operations

A Ramsey County judge has ordered a key portion of a north Minneapolis metal recycling company to cease operations because of pollution concerns from the plant along the Mississippi River.

NASA's eye in the sky monitors algae blooms

A pilot from Rochester helps scientists track potentially toxic scum along the Mississippi River. In Minnesota, the idea is to track and document harmful algal blooms in the Mississippi River — the source of drinking water in Minneapolis, St. Paul and several other communities in the Twin Cities.

Minneapolis wants to redevelop northern waterfront

"It is an eyesore when you look out your front window or back window, for some people, and you don't see just the beautiful river with all of the lights and the bridge," said Heather Kuikka, board chair of the mostly industrial McKinley neighborhood.

Wilco sails into overtime on the Mississippi

Wilco fans savored an extended outdoor concert just a short raft ride up the Mississippi River that spotlighted both the band and the stellar Historic Hall's Island venue.

Photos: A national park in the heart of the Cities

On the centennial of the National Park Service, MPR sets out to explore Minnesota's six National Parks, beginning with Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

New paddle share stations bring kayak rental to the Minneapolis Riverfront!

New agreements between the National Park Service’s (NPS) non-profit charitable partner Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) created a pilot program that will bring “paddle share” stations to Minneapolis’ Upper Riverfront this summer. This exciting initiative will be the first paddle share program on the Mississippi River and the first paddle share program in a national park. The pilot program is planned to launch later this month.

Mississippi Minute Film Festival Contest

Kare11 interviews Kathleen Boe and gets the scoop on the Mississippi Minute Film Festival, from this year’s special focus to exciting prizes for the top films in each category.

Kayak sharing along Mississippi in the works

A first-of-its-kind paddle share may be coming to Minneapolis this month! Pending Park Board approval, there will be 32 kayaks with paddles and life jackets available for rent at two stations: North Mississippi Regional Park and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization headquarters.

Interview: The 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival

Our very own Kathleen Boe drops by WCCO to talk about the 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival.

Mississippi River is ready for its close-up and for you to film it

The 3rd Annual Mississippi Minute Film Festival is underway! Help us celebrate the 100th year of the National Park Service by submitting your 60-second video of the Mississippi by September 15.

Could the Mississippi River actually begin in South Dakota?

Kim Ode ponders the headwaters of the Mississippi River in this lighthearted look at the potential conflict between local lore and geological history. Blasphemy or good geology? You'll have to read to find out.

Three national park units preserve Minnesota treasures

Three national park units preserve Minnesota’s natural treasures: the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, North Country National Scenic Trail, and St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

PinKU Japanese Street Food

PinKU Japanese Street Food doesn't fit neatly into a category. It's not casual, although you do order at the counter. It's not fine dining, despite the fact the food is beautifully presented. There are no reservations and no tipping. According to Xiaoteng Huang (X) and John Sugimura, partners and the founders of the restaurant, that's exactly how they planned it.

A new farmers market for the riverfront

A farmers market is a place where local farmers, producers and artisans come together to sell their crafts to the community. While “farm” often gets the attention, it’s the latter part, the community that truly makes a market a success.

MPCA: Redevelopment Of Fmr. St. Paul Ford Plant Can Proceed

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn’t get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

An environmental analysis released Thursday night identified five hot spots that need attention, but they say plans can proceed for mixed-use development involving residences, light industry, office space and parkland.

Redevelopment of Former St. Paul Ford Plant Site Can Proceed

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn't get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company's Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

An environmental analysis released Tuesday night identified five hot spots that need attention, but they say plans can proceed for mixed-use development involving residences, light industry, office space and parkland.

Redevelopment of former St. Paul Ford plant site can proceed

Ford Motor Co. and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency say contamination shouldn't get in the way of redeveloping the land in St. Paul where the company's Twin Cities Assembly Plant once stood.

Ford completes environmental investigation on former St. Paul plant site

Nearly five years after the last Ford Ranger rolled off the assembly line in St. Paul, the car company says it now knows what a century of car building left on the site. Ford told a meeting of neighbors Thursday night that it has completed an environmental investigation and the cleanup can begin.

It's taken a long time to get here. Ford announced it would shut down its St. Paul plant 10 years ago. It closed in December 2011. Almost half the time since then has been devoted to an investigation of possible pollution on the site.

Hi-Lo Diner lights up Lake Street with classic food 'from scratch'

Taking a seat inside the Hi-Lo Diner is an instant mood-enhancer.

Heck, just driving past this gleaming, painstakingly restored structure — which started life in a New Jersey factory in the late 1950s and arrived in Minneapolis last fall, split down the middle and strapped to a pair of flatbed trucks — is enough to trigger a rush of endorphins.

Ford, MPCA say contamination shouldn't limit development of St. Paul plant site

St. Paul leaders have an idyllic vision of a bikeable, transit-oriented community on 122 acres by the Mississippi River, complete with a variety of jobs, housing types and mixed-use buildings.

And Thursday evening, Ford Motor Co. and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officials said contamination from decades of assembly plant operations at the site should not get in the way of that plan.

“We’re going to be on the site for the next few years cleaning up,” said Rob Cory, Ford’s director of Global Real Estate Services. “By the time we’re done, we expect, based on what we know today, that the majority of the site will be available for the types of things the city has been talking about for a number of years.”

Findings: Ford plant pollution won’t hinder redevelopment

While an environmental analysis of the St. Paul land where Ford Motor Co.’s Twin Cities Assembly Plant contains few surprises, there are five “hot spots” in need of attention.

Ford began producing cars and trucks at the Highland Park site in 1925, long before state and federal environmental protection agencies even existed, and the level of pollution on the sprawling parcel isn’t trivial.

Park Board hires Water Works design team

Park commissioners have hired a team to design a new riverfront park that would overhaul the downtown riverfront.

Members of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved a $2 million contract with a team led by Damon Farber Associates to lead design services for Water Works. The nearly $27 million project would revitalize a roughly four-block stretch of parkland around Mill Ruins Park with a visitor center and new river connections.

Why does downtown Minneapolis still have a lot of surface parking lots? It's complicated.

It was a routine briefing of a Minneapolis City Council committee on a seemingly unrelated topic, but it offered the chance to rouse a long-simmering issue in Minneapolis:

What can the city do to rid itself of the acres of surface parking lots in and around downtown?

While development activity has seen many of those lots disappear, many remain — too many, according to Council Members Lisa Goodman and Jacob Frey, who used the May 11 briefing to press city assessor Patrick Todd to do something about it.

Red Cow owner to open new North Loop concept

Red Cow owner and restaurateur Luke Shimp is opening a second concept in the North Loop, and he’ll be stepping away from burgers.

Red Rabbit will be an Italian restaurant focusing on pizza, pasta and oysters. The concept is slated to open later this year at the corner of Washington & 2nd in a former imported auto shop building.

Rivers and Human Systems: Grasping Water

It’s not entirely clear precisely what the organizers of last week’s international workshop “Grasping Water” had in mind with the name of the project. It could be the case that they meant to allude to the nearly impossible task of actually physically grabbing a handful of water, that task then being seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of mentally “grasping’ the full dimensions of water. Or perhaps they meant to direct participants’ attention to the water itself in rivers, adding knowledge gained from scientific investigations to the conceptual infrastructure from the humanities disciplines that are their “home turf.” Maybe, and we’ve all been there, they just needed a title with the grant proposal deadline looming.

Two developers offer proposals for Mill District site

The City of Minneapolis received two development proposals for one of the last blank sites in the Mill District.

The city recently released the names of the developers — Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates and St. Paul-based Grand Real Estate Advisors — that are proposing to build on the city-owned parcel a few blocks from U.S. Bank Stadium. The city issued a request for proposals in the spring for the site at 205 Park Ave. S.

MNfusion: Red Cow Owner Luke Shimp, Chef Macdonald Talk New Red Rabbit

Luke Shimp has been a longtime institution in the Twin Cities food scene.

For years, he was the CFO and co-owner of Blue Plate Restaurant Company, the umbrella company of such places as The Lowry, Groveland Tap and Longfellow Grill. But in 2012, he announced he would be leaving to start his own venture – Red Cow restaurants.

U.S. Bank Stadium construction is substantially complete

After more than two and a half years of construction, work on U.S. Bank Stadium is nearly complete.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority recently announced that the new home of the Minnesota Vikings is substantially complete, a milestone that wasn’t planned for another six weeks.

The team had originally planned to hit a substantial completion on July 29.

New Office Building Planned Near U.S. Bank Stadium

Ryan Companies US, Inc. reportedly plans to build a 17-story office tower near the U.S. Bank Stadium on a site that has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals.

Racially equitable use of parks is the goal, with big dollars at stake

A politically charged push is taking shape, with millions of dollars at stake, to break down barriers that are making Twin Cities parks and trails feel to some like white people’s preserves.

The Metropolitan Council’s initiative to move toward racial equity in metro-area parks — closing the gap in park usage between whites and people of color — has raised suspicions best captured two years ago, when a suburban member of the council publicly asked: “Will [Theodore] Wirth Park get all the money because it’s next to north Minneapolis? I mean, how does this play out?”

Rock the Garden sizzles by the river

Organizers of Rock the Garden may have been onto something when they brazenly hyped this year’s one-day rock festival as “the official start of summer.”

The popular annual fundraiser for Walker Art Center and Minnesota Public Radio moved to a temporary home on the Minneapolis riverfront Saturday, due to the razing of the Walker’s Sculpture Garden for renovations. Mother Nature, in turn, raised the heat on the 14,000 attendees with a ferocity that made it feel like summer had arrived with a vengeance.

$1.1B later, new Vikings stadium is ‘complete’ – and ahead of schedule

Contractors handed the new Minnesota Vikings stadium over to the state Friday, six weeks earlier than planned.

Construction of U.S. Bank Stadium is considered “substantially complete,” so main contractor Mortenson Construction gave the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority a large key during the state board’s June meeting. The symbolic handoff means all but some detail work is completed on the $1.1 billion stadium.

Mortenson had planned to turn it over July 29.

Come for the Barbeque, Stay for the Mini Donuts, at Chef Shack Ranch

When I asked our server Shevaun about her favorite menu item at Chef Shack Ranch she said she loves the brisket, and the burritos, and the pulled pork, and the mini donuts... When she finished her list she acknowledged, “I guess that's pretty much the entire menu!”

It's a bit more of a trek to get to Chef Shack Ranch this summer with both the Franklin Avenue Bridge construction and West River Parkway closure, but it is so worth the trip. Across the street from Kimber Fiebiger’s fun and colorful Joan of Art Gallery, Chef Shack Ranch is actually a moveable feast. Between the food truck (affectionately referred to as “Big Red” by the staff) and the trailer, Chef Shack is making appearances all over the metro in venues ranging from farmers markets to grad parties. This location is one of two brick-and-mortar locations, the other is in Bay City, Wis. They’ve been at the Franklin Avenue location for 2 1/2 years in a spot that has housed everything from an Indian restaurant to a chocolate shop.

Building Blocks: Xcel Energy Corporate Headquarters

Xcel Energy’s new 222,000-square-foot corporate headquarters on Nicollet Mall could not be more different from the utility’s longtime location across the street. The new building has floor-to-ceiling windows on many floors, open collaborative work areas, and bright, branded finishes.

The older 250,000-square-foot building at 414 Nicollet Mall has a two- story recessed entry below six stories of a heavy brick façade with narrow slit-like windows. It’s very 1960s.

Seasonal street cafes set to debut in Minneapolis this summer

Several Minneapolis restaurants may soon be serving their fare on the street.

This summer, the city hopes to launch a two-year pilot program to help businesses transform parking spots into seasonal pop-up "street cafes" that provide extra outdoor seating. The on-street dining could begin as soon as August.

The pilot program got the approval of two City Council committees June 7 and will be forwarded to the full council for final approval on Friday.

Stone Arch Bridge Festival to include fireworks

For the first time in the 22-year history of the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, there will be fireworks. General Mills will mark its 150th year anniversary with a large fireworks display over the Mississippi on Friday (that’s tonight) starting around 9:30 p.m. Come to a free concert on Water Power Park anytime after 5 and stay for the oohs and aahs.

CPM details apartment plan near Grain Belt brewery

A northeast Minneapolis street corner anchored by the historic Grain Belt Brewery building is becoming something of a magnet for young professionals seeking apartments.

Ryan Cos. plans office building in Minneapolis near U.S. Bank Stadium

Ryan Cos. plans to build a 17-story office tower near the U.S. Bank Stadium on a site that has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals.

The building would be erected at 728 S. 4th St. in downtown Minneapolis, in front of as well as on top of the Block 1 parking ramp located kitty-corner from the new Vikings Stadium, said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA).

Counterpoint: Not all bad news in the so-called 'battle zone' of north Minneapolis

A June 8 headline in the Star Tribune called an area in north Minneapolis “the battle zone.” I call it my home, as do more than 1,000 families and 2,300 children who are enrolled in the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). Many families in the NAZ, especially children, face a complex web of challenges. North Minneapolis is ground zero for the racial disparities that have made Minnesota dead last in the nation for gaps in academic achievement, homeownership and household income.

Yet, despite the obstacles, thousands of north Minneapolis parents and children are building the foundations for successful lives. Today I see evidence that my neighborhood is becoming a zone in which achievement — especially academic achievement among our kids — is increasingly valued. And college is now an expectation.

Omnitheater Film Celebrates 100 Years Of National Park Service

This year marks the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, and the Science Museum of Minnesota is celebrating the occasion all summer with an Omnitheater film that takes viewers mountain biking in Utah, hiking in Yellowstone and ice climbing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Titled National Parks Adventure, the film immerses viewers in the beauty and power of America’s most beloved and iconic landscapes. The work, from prominent IMAX filmmaking studio MacGillivray Freeman Films, follows climbing legend Conrad Anker as he, his son and a family friend road trip from park to park, taking in the scenery on ropes, in kayaks and on foot. Their adventure is narrated by Robert Redford.

Coloplast pays $600,000 to settle price data allegations

Coloplast, the Danish medical device maker with U.S. headquarters in Minneapolis, has agreed to pay the federal government $600,000 to settle allegations that it missed multiple deadlines for submitting price data to the Medicaid program.

It's a condition of participation in state-run Medicaid programs that companies selling drugs prescribed to Medicaid outpatients also provide the government with accurate and timely pricing data, which is used to calculate rebates that the drugmakers are required to pay to the program.

Federal tax credits are misused on costly artist lofts in Twin Cities

The affordable housing shortage is at a crisis stage in the Twin Cities metro area and has been for some time. Waiting lists are long, and some have been closed for lack of available dwellings. Those waiting for housing are disproportionately people of color — in part because of one of the nation’s worst income equality gaps.

That’s why a report from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity is so troubling, with its findings that precious federal tax credits originally intended for low-income housing instead have gone to costly rehabs of historic buildings housing mostly white artists. Lobbyists in 2008 got artists’ lofts exempted from the requirement to use affordable housing tax credits for the general public, kicking off a boom in such housing.

St. Paul Riverfront Corporation names new executive director

The St. Paul Riverfront Corporation has appointed Darlene Walser as executive director.

Walser previously served as program manager for Hennepin County’s Bottineau Light Rail Transit Community Works Program. In that role, she worked to ensure cities along the proposed LRT corridor were included in discussions and ready to benefit from the $1.5 billion transit investment.

Report reveals disparities in city’s creative sector

While Minneapolis’ creative economy continues to grow, a new report shows that workers of color are underrepresented in creative professions.

Incomes for creative workers also lag below the median hourly wage for metro-area workers, according to the latest Minneapolis Creative Index report.