Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via a February 7 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.

Project Map

Latest Project News

Hennepin Ave

• Tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Avenue continues. You will see crews continue excavating soils from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Hennepin Ave intersection. This is to begin tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Avenue.
  • There may be short, periodic delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Chicago Ave

• Crews are setting up the dewatering well and pumps on the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Chicago Ave intersection. This work is anticipated to be completed by mid-to-late February.
  • There will be no lane closures needed to complete this work.
  • There may be short, periodic delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

Nicollet Mall

• Crews continue setting up the dewatering well and pumps near the southeast corner of the Nicollet Mall and Washington Ave intersection. This work is anticipated to be completed by February 7th.
  • The eastern sidewalk along Nicollet Mall between Washington Ave and 3rd St N is closed. Access is open to the Marquette Plaza building.
  • Pedestrians are still able to use the sidewalk on the west side of Nicollet Mall.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave intersection remains open.

2nd Ave

• Crews continue installing the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection. Crews continue drilling, excavating, and installing the shaft walls. Drilling work is anticipated to be completed by February 7th and the drilling equipment will be hauled out the week of February 14. Equipment for the excavation of the tunnel will be brought in the week of February 21.
  • The sidewalks remain open on both sides of the road.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 2nd Ave S intersection remains open.
  • 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S until the project is completed in 2023.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

4th Ave

• The dewatering well is anticipated to be completely set up and running the week of February 7. The east lane of 4th Ave S between 3rd St S and Washington Ave will open to traffic by Friday, February 11, or after the dewatering well is running.
  • The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains closed.
  • Pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remains open.

Portland Ave

• The dewatering well is anticipated to be completely setup and running by the first week of February. The west parking lane of Portland Ave between 3rd St S and Washington Ave will open to traffic by Friday, February 11.
  • The west sidewalk will be restricted to pedestrians around the dewatering well and pumps.

Mississippi River Portal

• Crews continue excavating soils above the storm sewer tunnel and grouting near the existing retaining wall at the Mississippi River portal site. Crews will continue stabilizing the slope through February.
  • The parking lot off Portland Ave east of the Stone Arch Bridge, near Mill Ruins Park, is temporarily closed for the winter and will reopen spring 2022. This closure is necessary to complete the work in this area safely and efficiently.
  • The parking lot near Portland Ave and W River Pkwy remains open.

What to Expect

• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north westbound lane, bike lane, and parking lane will be closed on Washington Avenue between Portland Ave and Park Ave. These closures will remain in place through spring 2022. This is necessary for the contractor to utilize the existing shaft to connect the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians can still use the sidewalks along Washington.
  • Crosswalks across Washington Ave and Portland Ave will remain open.
  • Bicyclists will share the traffic lane.
  • The existing left turn lane on Washington Ave at the Portland Ave intersection will temporarily become a left turn and through lane.
• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains closed between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall through spring 2022. The contractor is utilizing an existing shaft in this area to connect the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

Stay Connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418

Kolman & Pryor Gallery Presents "The Color Series: Part 5, Blue" Artist Reception February 12

The Color Series: Part 5, Blue

Work by Kolman & Pryor Gallery Artists Inspired by The Color Blue

Artist Reception: Saturday, February 12, 7:00p–9:00p

The color blue, many painters’ favorite for its cool and dramatic yet serene and calming tones, has always been more expensive than other colors. During the Renaissance, true blue (ultramarine) was five times more expensive than gold as its color derived from lapis lazuli. Today, according to the study, The Colors, Emotions, and the Auction Value of Paintings, abstract paintings in which blue dominates are top sellers. Due to recent supply chain disruptions, blue paint is becoming costly as manufacturers struggle to locate the ingredients necessary to make blue paint.

All of which adds to the mystique of Kolman & Pryor Gallery‘s upcoming exhibition, The Color Series: Part 5, Blue, the fifth show in the gallery’s ongoing Color Series. The exhibition, which features work by gallery artists, Betsy Ruth Byers, Jil Evans, Abby Mouw, Kelly Jean Ohl, Jodi Reeb, Julie Snidle, and Cameron Zebrun, opened January 8, and runs through March 5. An artist reception is happening on Saturday, February 12, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., during Northrup King Nights - Valentine’s Day Edition.

Okjokull oil on canvas by Betsy Ruth Byers

Diver 6 oil on canvas by Jil Evans

“Most of our gallery artists already work with blue,” says gallery co-founder, Patrick Pryor. Betsy Ruth Byers’ most recent work, for instance, contains layers of blue to conjure memories of her research on glaciers and other disappearing landscapes. Many of Jil Evans’ paintings are intercut or layered with shades of blue. Jodi Reeb’s recent encaustic paintings and wall sculptures are dressed in vibrant shades of blue. Julie Snidle’s encaustic abstractions often include wide, evocative swaths of blue. Blue pops as an accent from many of Cameron Zebrun’s wood sculptures. Abby Mouw uses many colored glazes, including blue, when she creates her functional clay artworks. She loves knowing that her pottery will be used and held in someone’s hands.

The shades of blue filling the gallery’s walls highlight and complement Kelly Jean Ohl’s earth-toned, hand carved clay sculptures so beautifully.

“Because our gallery artists are so enthusiastic about the color blue,” says Anita Sue Kolman, gallery co-founder, “we’re happy and pleased to present, The Color Series: Part 5, Blue, to our gallery visitors.”

Kolman & Pryor Gallery is located in Studio 395, Northrup King Building at 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. For more information, please call: 612-385-4239 or 612-280-7812 or email: anita@kolmanpryorgallery.com or patrick@kolmanpryorgallery.com or visit: kolmanpryorgallery.com. 

Mill City Farmers Market Announces Virtual Event - Bridging Dreams: Transitioning Singing Hills Farm Fundraiser

Via a recent e-announcement from the Mill City Farmers Market (MCFM):

For over two decades, recently retired MCFM vendor Singing Hills Goat Dairy has operated on 25 acres of rolling hills and prairie grasslands in the Northfield area. The farm is now transitioning to the next generation of stewards, multi-generational market vegetable farmers, the Lor Family Farm.

To make this land more affordable for future farmers, ensure it continues to be farmed sustainably, and protect the land from development, organizations throughout Minnesota are partnering to raise funds for an agricultural conservation easement.

Building on the momentum started by the Blackland campaign in 2020 and additional donations already raised, Bridging Dreams is a night to virtually gather folks from across Minnesota for an informative and engaging evening in support of this farmland’s transition and sustainable farmland protection. Attendees will get to hear from the farmers involved, learn more about efforts to bridge farmland sellers with emerging and BIPOC farmers looking for farmland, and enjoy music, art and stories.

Register (Zoom link sent upon registration)

Donate online, or to donate by mail, please send a check with your phone number and email to: Renewing the Countryside-SHF, c/o Eli Goodwell, 118 Teresa Dr., West St. Paul, MN 55118

Lynne Reeck (third from left) with Lor family members.

Meet the Lor Family

Kue Lor, Bao Xiong and their daughter Mai Lor are successful, experienced vegetable farmers who have dreamed of farming their own land. For the past 30 years, the family has been farming throughout the Twin Cities, consistently facing the stressful uncertainty of land leases and affordable access to land.

Currently, they are farming 20 acres, selling their vegetables at the Minneapolis Farmers Market, Midtown Farmers Market, Gandhi Mahal, and The Good Acre’s LEAFF Program. After decades of renting farmland, they are looking forward to the peace of mind of owning their own space to farm and live and passing down their farming skills and infrastructure to future generations.

About Singing Hills Goat Dairy

Singing Hills Goat Dairy is a small farm on 25 acres of rolling pastures near the Big Woods State Park in Nerstrand, Minnesota. Lynne Reeck has owned and stewarded the land, grazing her Saanen, Nubian and Alpine breed dairy goats for the past two decades. In addition to caring for the land with expansive conservation efforts and raising animals with regenerative farming practices, Lynne created an on-farm cheese plant, where she made fresh goat cheeses that she sold at farmers markets and to restaurants and co-ops.

Per Lynne, “I have been looking for a buyer for quite awhile – it’s been a long process for me and I feel like we need more farmers and not less farmers! It was really important to me that whoever moves here appreciates what is here naturally and what can be benefited from as well as fostered.

I really like this option of putting an easement on the land for two big reasons – first, it makes it more affordable for an emerging farmer to come in and get started. That was a huge barrier for me and it’s an even bigger barrier for small farmers now. Beyond that, the easement lives on after I’m gone, after everyone who’s here is gone. That is the beauty of it – we really are trying to protect resources for the future, and we have to do that in every way that we possibly can right now.”

After stewarding the land for decades and retiring the cheese plant earlier this winter, Lynne is enthusiastically ready to pass her legacy to the next generation of sustainable farmers.

What is an Agricultural Conservation Easement?

An Agricultural Conservation Easement is a legal instrument recorded along with a property’s deed that keeps land permanently available for agricultural use. The easement removes the development rights from the land, limiting future nonagricultural development and other uses that may be incompatible with (and ultimately threaten) farming. The removal of development rights means that the property has limitations on how it can be used in the future, which decreases the overall value of the land. This means the farm becomes more affordable for future generations of farmers.

American Farmland Trust plans to purchase Singing Hills Farm from Lynne at market value, protect the land with an easement, and then sell the protected land to the Lors at a significantly reduced price. This allows Lynne to recoup her investment in the farm and enables the Lors to purchase the farm at a more affordable price. This innovative model can help farmers like Lynne retire, bridging her legacy with the Lor family’s future.

Why are easements important?

Affordable Farmland Access

Our state struggles to provide equitable agricultural opportunities to all Minnesotans. Most productive farmland in Minnesota, especially land within an hour of metropolitan centers, is too expensive to make farming that land viable. If we want local food, and we want a new generation of farmers, we need innovative solutions. An agricultural conservation easement will provide a reduced and more workable price and keep the land affordable for future generations of farmers.

Additionally, our country’s well-documented and troublesome history of land ownership and racial bias have created unfair, systemic barriers for emerging farmers. According to census data in the 2020 Emerging Farmers in Minnesota Legislative Report, 99 percent of farmers in Minnesota are white, despite making up 84 percent of the state’s general population. Options like Agricultural Conservation Easements combined with supplemental public and private funding opportunities in addition to other resources can help make farmland more accessible to emerging farmers.

Conservation

Every day 2,000 acres of agricultural land are paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize farming. An agricultural conservation easement permanently removes the development rights from the land, limiting nonagricultural development and other uses that threaten the future of farming. It can also help conserve farm soil and water resources by encouraging the adoption of regenerative farming practices and requiring farmers to follow a management plan. With this easement we can honor Singing Hills’ commitment and legacy of sustainable land stewardship.

Rural Livelihood

According to American Farmland Trust, the ownership of 40 percent of America’s agricultural land will be in transition within the next 15 years. In Minnesota, with the average farmer at 56 years old, farm transition and succession planning are critically important for the future of the agriculture sector. Supporting decades of knowledge built by farmers, agricultural conservation easements ensure the land is transitioned to the next generation of stewards who will honor the legacy of farmers before them and keep rural communities vibrant.

Farm transitions are challenging to navigate, often leading to new and unanticipated outcomes. Singing Hills has experienced multiple transition attempts over the past few years. One such effort supported by many in communities around MN, the Blackland project, created by Lynne’s niece Lizy Bryant, has changed course. Funds raised in that campaign went to its mission supporting Black farmers in Minnesota and a $15,000 donation will go to the agricultural conservation easement and transition of Singing Hills to Lor Family Farm. You can read more Blackland project updates on her campaign’s GoFundMe page. 

Support this land transition and the innovative model of farmland conservation easements by registering for Bridging Stewards Community Fundraiser, sharing this page with your network or making a tax-deductible donation with the link below.

Donate Today

To donate by mail, please send a check with your phone number and email to: Renewing the Countryside-SHF, c/o Eli Goodwell, 118 Teresa Dr., West St. Paul, MN 55118

City of Mpls Offers Inside Look at How Water is Delivered to Our Taps

Excerpt from a recent e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Take an inside look at the City’s award-winning water treatment and delivery process by watching this new video on how the City delivers drinking water from the river to your tap.

The City pumps approximately 19 billion gallons of water from the Mississippi River each year and delivers an average of 54 million gallons of drinking water each day – enough to fill the Lake of the Isles in about four days.

In addition to Minneapolis, the water the City treats is distributed to Crystal, Golden Valley, Bloomington, New Hope, Columbia Heights, Hilltop, the Edina Morningside neighborhood, Fort Snelling, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.

The City’s Water Treatment & Distribution Services Division recently earned the Directors Award in the Partnership for Safe Water’s Distribution Optimization Program - a significant achievement toward ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality water to the community. The Partnership for Safe Water is a voluntary self-assessment and optimization program for water treatment plant and distribution system operation.

Learn more about Water Treatment & Distribution Services.

Nonprofit Leader Spotlight: Whitney Clark, Executive Director, Friends of the Mississippi River

Article by Becky Fillinger

Whitney Clark

Whitney Clark recently celebrated his 25th anniversary at the helm of Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR). He has taken the organization from a start-up in 1997 to a thriving nonprofit that now engages the community in stewardship and sustainability initiatives - and that also helps shape legislation that impacts the many states touched by the river. In 2017, he won the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' 2017 Transformational Leader Award, an award that recognizes impact and dedication. We talked to Whitney about the early days of FMR, his proudest accomplishments and how he stays recharged to keep making positive change for us all. 

Q:  Congratulations on 25 years as the Executive Director of Friends of the Mississippi River! What changes have occurred in the organization in this quarter-century? 

A:  When I was hired, FMR was just a startup organization with a passionate group of founding board members and some big ideas. I was the only full-time employee and our office was a glorified broom closet. But we had a compelling mission to protect, restore and celebrate the Mississippi River. It was easy to see the need. Our communities had turned their backs on the river. It was polluted and under appreciated. I was excited for the opportunity to build something. 

We now have a staff of 22, 2,500 members and thousands of volunteers and advocates, so our capacity to protect and restore parks and natural areas, engage with our communities, protect water quality and inspire change has grown quite a bit.

FMR staff pose on the Stone Arch Bridge during a field trip.

As a larger organization with professional staff, the scale of our impact has expanded as well. We’ve always had a focus on our Twin Cities stretch of the river, but we’re doing a lot of work now at the policy level that improves the entire length of the river and beyond. An example of this is our work on legislation authored by Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative or "MRRRI." MRRRI aims to coordinate and direct $300+ million per year to the 10 states along the Mississippi River to address water quality, habitat, invasive species and climate resilience. I’m serving as co-chair of the national coalition that’s spearheading advocacy for that bill. When it passes it will be a game-changer for the entire river and riverfront communities.

Another significant shift is that in recent years our organizational leadership has become increasingly aware that racism, which is embedded in our institutions and social structures, continues to plague our community. This affects the work we do in many ways.

At FMR we believe the river’s gifts should be shared by everyone, so we have committed to act on that belief and make sure our work is equitable and inclusive. That has caused us to reappraise the scope of our work and go beyond the normal palette of environmental issues to consider. For instance, are communities of color being included in decisions about riverfront land use?

ESI Advisory Council canoeing on the Mississippi with Wilderness Inquiry, Fall 2021 

We’re also making it a priority to diversify our staff and board, and we’ve launched a youth environmental leadership program called the Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI) that specifically emphasizes creating career pathway opportunities for youth of color in our community so that, over time, our organization and our sector better reflect the community we serve.   

Q:  What is your proudest accomplishment at the helm of FMR?

A:  We've had some extraordinary successes in the last 25 years. We helped protect 1,300 acres of critical and connected habitat along the river at Pine Bend Bluffs, and have since grown to protect and restore more than three dozen other habitat sites. We led the charge to develop strong, protective science-based rules for land use and development along the metro Mississippi River. These rules are now being codified as zoning ordinances in all 25 Twin Cities riverfront communities to assure all future development in the river corridor will meet higher standards for water quality and protection of natural features and scenic views.

I'm also proud of the struggles we stayed in, even though things got controversial or difficult. I'm thinking of our stance on the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment project in North Minneapolis — we didn't see the outcome we wanted there. But we remained true to our values around community process, equity and environmental justice. Not everybody agreed with our position there, but we did make some new allies in that work and we learned a lot. 

But really, I'm proudest of the passionate team of professionals that we've created at FMR. The impact we’ve had over the last quarter-century really belongs to all of them and to the committed and supportive board of directors who have guided us. Organizations are made of people, and we’ve been lucky to have a dedicated and talented crew that keeps impressing the heck out of me.

Q:  Is it easier today, or more difficult, to convince the public and legislators of the value of protecting our water resources?

A:  I am asked this question from time to time. Our public discourse has certainly become more polarized than when I was starting out, and environmental issues have taken on more of a partisan valence. But I think we’ve also witnessed a pretty stunning shift in the way our community feels it ought to treat the river. When I was growing up in Minneapolis, the river was so polluted it literally stunk. Our riverfront lands were thought to be excellent places to dump waste or site heavy industrial uses like scrap yards and warehouses. Now many of those sites have been or will soon be reclaimed as riverfront parks and trails, and a place like the St. Anthony Falls district is one of the most desirable places to live in the city.

So the baseline expectation among policymakers, whether at city hall or the state capitol, is that we need to treat the river with respect. That’s a big change for the better!

Q:  What are the organization's priorities for 2022?

A:  Well, I already mentioned MRRRI. That legislation is gaining momentum and could have a profound and lasting impact on the river. With the help of our advocates, we’re hopeful we can get MRRRI passed during this congress.

We’re also going to be very active at the Minnesota Legislature this year, advocating for policies that protect water quality by changing the way we grow our crops. We’re partnering with the University of Minnesota and many other players in the agricultural sector to advance the next generation of clean-water crops that have the potential to dramatically reduce the largest source of pollutants to the river — agriculture — while improving farmers’ prosperity.

Water Action Day 2019 - Whitney pictured with Thom Petersen, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (left) and Rep. Todd Lippert (right), supporters of clean-water crop initiatives.

Another exciting area of our work that I know your readers will be interested in is that this year we expect the Army Corps of Engineers to begin studying the future of two locks and dams here in the Twin Cities — the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and Lock and Dam #1, also known as the Ford Lock and Dam. These structures were built for commercial shipping but no longer serve that purpose. There's a possibility that these locks and dams could be removed and the river restored to its pre-dam condition sometime in the foreseeable future. 

In the 20th century, we dramatically changed the river to serve commerce and industry. This will be an opportunity for our community to come together to decide what our 21st-century vision for the great river might be. We hope to engage our members and advocates in shaping that discussion.

And, as always, we’re continuing our work at more than 35 habitat restoration sites throughout the Twin Cities, including six in Minneapolis. Our focus here, with the help of volunteers, is improving the biodiversity of these ecosystems, which is crucial for clean water, pollinators and endangered species, especially in the face of climate change.

Q:  How do you like to spend your time away from the office?

A:  25 years ago, I was newly married with no kids. Since then, my wife and I have raised two daughters, the youngest of whom will graduate from college this spring. So, time with family, when we can get it, is important to me. 

I also love the natural world. All my life I’ve found inspiration in wilderness. I grew up canoeing, kayaking, fishing and backpacking. It’s what drew me to this work, and I’m still an avid outdoors person. I love to explore wild places along the river close to home and those further afield. This summer I’m planning a month-long adventure, backpacking in Alaska’s Brooks Range and paddling the Noatak River to the Bering Sea. These experiences keep me fresh and charged up about the work of protecting the river that shapes the Twin Cities.

Q:  Your accomplishments make an impact for all of us – thank you. How can we be involved?

A:  We'd love for you to partner with us in this work. Here are a few ways to get involved:

• Sign up for our e-newsletter to stay current on river issues.
• Become a River Guardian and advocate for the river this legislative session and beyond.
• In snowless months, get your hands dirty at one of our many habitat restoration volunteer events throughout the metro area.
• Join us as a member at fmr.org/give-today.
• Follow us at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

January 2022 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Residents Invited to Join Next Minneapolis Charter Commission Redistricting Meetings on February 9 and 24

Via a recent e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Two upcoming special meetings have been scheduled for the Charter Commission for the purpose of receiving public comment on proposed park district and ward boundary map changes for 2021-2022 redistricting.

February 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

February 24, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.

The agenda for the meeting on February 9, 2022, has been published and is linked below. We'll publish the agenda for the meeting on February 24, 2022, on LIMS and send additional notice when it is published. These meetings will be online (virtual) meetings.

View the Agenda for Feb 9

Notice: Members of the committee may participate remotely by telephone or other electronic means due to the local public health emergency (novel coronavirus pandemic) declared on March 16, 2020, pursuant to the provisions of MN Statutes Section 13D.021.

Watch the meeting on Comcast Channel 14 or 799, City Council TV or City's YouTube channel.

Learn how to participate in the meeting.

See the upcoming Charter Commission calendar and latest Charter Commission agenda items.

Visit the Charter Commission website to learn more about it.

The Origins and Growth of Skiing in the North Star State

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Children taking ski lessons in 1945.

Skiing has been around for quite a while. It can be traced back to prehistoric times, in fact, as evidence of early skis has been uncovered in peat bogs in the northern countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The word "ski" itself comes from the Old Norse word skíð, which translates to "split piece of wood or firewood." After developing over the course of thousands of years, early Norwegian and Swedish immigrants to Minnesota brought skis with them, and one of the earliest documented cases of skiing in the area happened in 1853 when a Norwegian man skied from Saint Paul to Lake Superior.

During the first few decades of people skiing in Minnesota, they were mainly being used for transportation, from delivering mail to grocery shopping. It wasn’t until 1886 when skiing for sport began to grow. It was that year when the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival took place where they had many events such as toboggining, sleigh rides, ice skating, and of course, skiing. By the time the next Winter Carnival took place, the first ski club in the state was established. Named the Scandinavian Ski Club of St. Paul, they hosted the first official tournament to be held in the United States during the winter Carnival of 1887. The winner of the event finished the one-mile course in about four and a half minutes.

The next year in 1888, Martin Strand arrived in Minneapolis from Rendalen, Norway and enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s civil engineering program. After the economy collapsed in 1893, Strand began experimenting with making his own skis as the activity was, and still is, a point of Norwegian pride. Starting out of his basement, warping wood planks with a kettle, Strand quickly mastered the craft. The abundance of trees and Scandinavians in Minnesota meant that Strand was able to make a living off his new skillset, so he began selling his skis in 1896. Three years later, he had his own shop on Cedar Avenue.

Northland Ski Manufacturing Company current logoMartin Strand’s next shop was located at 2427 University Avenue, where the Tea House Chinese Restaurant now stands. Unfortunately, his entire operation burned to the ground, as was a common occurrence for many ski manufacturing buildings, so Strand moved his business to a new location two miles away at Hampden Avenue and University Avenue in Saint Paul. Six months later, this factory also burned down, so Strand sold what was left of his business to his foreman Ole Sigurd Ellevold. Strand started a new ski business in a brick building in New Richmond, Wisconsin, and Ellevold rebuilt a factory at University and Hampden. Ellevold’s new company was called The Northland Ski Manufacturing Company.

Cover of a Northland how-to-ski pamphlet from 1923.

In 1916, Christian A. Lund, a Norwegian-born Minneapolitan, bought enough stock to gain control of the company. Under Lund’s control, Northland Skis became world-renowned. Lund took it upon himself to provide skis to Team U.S.A. during the first Winter Olympics which was held in Chamonix, France in 1924. While Team U.S.A. finished fifth in the medal count standings with four, athletes from wintery nations took note of his product. In 1927, Lund opened a factory in Hastings, Minnesota where he continued manufacturing his famous skis, toboggans, and snowshoes. Lund’s hickory skis and how-to-ski pamphlets soon spread throughout North America and Europe and are credited with helping the sport rise in popularity in the mid-20th Century.

Christian A. Lund, 1923

C.A. Lund Company factory located in Hastings, MN

After years of global success, the rise of modern skis, made of wood, fiberglass, and metal, became too much for Lund’s company and the last pair of Northland Skis were sold in 1970, five years after his passing. However, the brand has been revived as of late and picked up right where they left off, making wooden skis, now in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

With the Saint Paul Winter Carnival in full swing, the 2022 Winter Olympics starting, and hopefully no more sub-zero temperatures, now is a great time to dust off your skis and hit the slopes of the Twin Cities or glide through the cross-country trails found in our many parks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville, Jr. received his B.A. in History, Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies, and M.A. in Art History from the University of St. Thomas.

Michael is a historical interpreter at the Minnesota History Center and has been a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway, walking, and biking tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 9+ years.

 

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net

February 2nd E-newsletter from Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville

February 2 e-newsletter from Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville

Message from Council Member Rainville

Neighbor,

As many of you know, I’m a lifelong resident and active member of our community. I grew up in Ward 3 and have lived in St. Anthony West my whole life. I am excited to work for all of you as your Minneapolis City Council Member. Over the next two years, I expect to have conversations with many of you about the current direction and future of our beloved city. While we have serious challenges ranging from public safety to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I am confident our community will emerge stronger and our city will be able to rise to the occasion.

For the upcoming term I will be serving on the following council committees:

• Public Health and Safety
• Business, Inspections, Housing and Zoning
• Intergovernmental Relations

I ran on providing excellent constituent service and I remain committed to doing so during my time as your city council member. I want to introduce my two aides, Ryan SanCartier and Henry Jarvinen.

Ryan is in his fifth year at City Hall and is my Senior Policy Aide. Before joining my office, Ryan worked for Council Members Warsame, Osman and Reich. He lives in Northeast and enjoys running by the river and the diverse options for food and drink our community has to offer.

Henry comes from the campaign world. Before joining my office as my Policy Associate he worked on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s 2018 senate campaign, 2020 presidential campaign, and was campaign manager for Council Member Jamal Osman in 2021. He has lived in Minneapolis his whole life.

Friends of the Falls will negotiate the City’s acquisition of federal land near St. Anthony Falls

The City Council has approved having Friends of the Falls serve as the City’s agent in negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the acquisition of federal land surrounding the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock & Dam. The agreement also has the organization paying all costs associated with the transfer of land into municipal ownership, which is anticipated to happen later this year.

“This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the spectacular environmental birthplace of Minneapolis and to also work with our Native American community,” said Council Member Michael Rainville, whose ward includes St. Anthony Falls. “We need to recognize the importance of this land to the people who’ve been here long before the city was ever founded.”

Minneapolis response to carjackings

• There has been a sharp rise in carjacking crimes across the region. Carjacking crimes are robberies with the loss of a vehicle using a threat of violence, use of force, or use of a weapon as the victim is entering or leaving the vehicle.
• The Minneapolis Police Department is apprehending suspects, investigating cases, and collaborating with the Hennepin County Attorney’s office and the courts to hold offenders accountable. The County has dedicated two prosecutors to specialize in the prosecution of these cases: one for juvenile cases and one for adult cases. The County has also designated an advocate to assist victims of carjackings.
• Review safety tips from the MPD.

$200 Visa gift card registration now open for 5- 11-year-olds getting vaccinated

• The State’s registration form is now open for parents to claim their $200 Visa gift card for vaccinating their 5- to 11-year-old children. Minnesota families whose 5- to 11-year-olds receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in January and February are eligible to receive a $200 gift card.
• Registration for the $200 Visa gift card closes at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28. Parents and guardians can register their 5- to 11-year-old after completing their two-dose series.
• Children’s vaccine incentive information is available in English, Español (Spanish), Hmoob (Hmong), Soomaali (Somali).
• $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings
  • Later this spring, there will be drawings for five $100,000 Minnesota college scholarship drawings for all kids in Minnesota 5-11 years old who are fully vaccinated. All kids in Minnesota ages 5-11 years old who completed their first and second doses at any point up to the registration deadline will be eligible to enter for a chance to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Details on the drawings will be announced in the coming months.
• How to find a COVID-19 vaccine for children
  • Visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to find clinic locations near you.
  • Check with your pediatrician, family medicine clinic or local pharmacy about appointments.

• Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at schools or other community locations around Minnesota.

Order your free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the federal government

• You can now request free at-home COVID-19 test kits from the federal government at COVIDtests.gov.
  • Each home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are free. Orders will usually ship in seven to 12 days.
  • The tests are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR tests. They can be taken anywhere. They will give results within 30 minutes; no lab drop-off is required.

• Testing is one of the critical tools to protect residents and workers, reduce pressure on hospitals, and help keep schools and businesses open.

• Read the frequently asked questions (FAQs).

City to invest in 797 affordable housing units throughout Minneapolis

• The City Council has approved $15.7 million in direct investment and $1.1 million in 10-year federal tax credits to create or preserve 797 units of decent, safe, affordable rental housing in 10 projects throughout the city. Almost 300 units will be for people with incomes at or less than 30% of area median income with 152 of those units to help people get out of homelessness.
• These City investments are part of the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs and will make use of more than $278.8 million in additional private and public resources.
• The Affordable Housing Trust Fund creates new and preserves existing affordable housing for low income renters (with incomes at or below 50% area median income, or $52,450 per year for a family of four). Almost 75% of such renters pay more than 30% of their income for housing because of the affordable housing shortage in the city. Black people, Indigenous people and people of color are disproportionately affected by housing instability.
• You can watch the news conference on the City’s YouTube channel.

This week, City Council members and the Mayor launched the #EatLocalMPLS campaign to support our local small businesses restaurants as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. So go out and grab a meal from your favorite place!

Valentine’s Day Gift Boxes from Experience the Twin Cities

Experience the Twin Cities has introduced its 2022 locally curated Valentine’s Day gift boxes full of Minnesota-made goodies. The three gift box options include items from Northern Print Co., Abdallah Candies, North Made Co., Legacy Chocolates, and more. Experience the Twin Cities includes free local delivery via their brightly colored tour bus. The Valentine’s Day gift boxes can be purchased from the Experience the Twin Cities website with prices ranging from $40-$65.

The line-up features three gift box options:

All You Need is Chocolate

‘Sota Cozy

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Experience the Twin Cities will hand deliver gift boxes to recipients within a 20-mile radius of Minneapolis for free on February 10 and 11. Nationwide shipping is also available.

“Our long Minnesota winters make Valentine’s Day the perfect time to do something extra fun, and we love creating and delivering these sweet gift boxes to bring local businesses directly to our customers. It’s a memorable moment when our brightly colored tour bus pulls up, plus our gift recipients get a great gift with some amazing Minnesota treats and products,” said Rebecca Pfeiffer, owner and CEO of Experience the Twin Cities. “We delivered gift boxes over the holidays for people who wanted to surprise friends, family, kids, clients, and coworkers and we can’t wait to do it again for Valentine’s Day.”

Experience the Twin Cities primarily offers a variety of tours to Twin Cities restaurants, breweries, sightseeing spots, and other locations. It’s currently offering a public St. Paul Skyway Food Tour and is hosting private tours for groups of families, friends, and business associates. The company introduced its locally curated gift box concept last year during holidays to help offset the effect of the COVID-19 on its business and to continue to support other local businesses. The Valentine’s Day gift boxes are available to purchase now. Gift boxes can be customized for bulk and corporate orders for a nominal fee.

Milwaukee Avenue: A Stroll Back in Time

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The Minneapolis riverfront is home to many remnants of the Flour Milling Capitol of the World. Many mills, factories, and train bridges have stuck around and are constant reminders of the city’s past, but what about the workers? Houses from the flour milling era are scattered throughout the city, and one of the most cultural and historical areas where many of these houses can be found is the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District.

Current day Milwaukee Avenue

Nestled in the western half of the Seward Neighborhood, the houses along Milwaukee Avenue have provided beautiful housing for the working-class since 1883. It was that year when real estate developer William Ragan began prepping the land between Franklin Avenue and 24th Street, and 22nd Avenue and 23rd Avenue to build the first planned workers community in Minneapolis. Trying to build as many houses as he could, Ragan turned the alley into 22½ Avenue. He managed to fit in forty-six single-family houses with each lot roughly half the size of a typical residential lot. Ragan’s inspiration for the architecture of the houses came from design book plans that were popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Every house is one-and-three-quarter stories, made from brick and wood and features a porch, to list a few similarities.

Early on, many of the residents of these houses were Scandinavian, and had careers as bakers, carpenters, blacksmiths, general laborers, and railroad workers. In 1906, the residents petitioned to change 22½ Avenue to Woodland Avenue, because they felt that the “half” carried a negative connotation. There’s no clear reason as to why the name Milwaukee was chosen over Woodland, but the Milwaukee Short Line Railroad was very close by and many of the residents worked for that railroad.

As the decades went by, many of the houses were in disrepair, some to a point of no return, so the City of Minneapolis began to plan the demolition and redesign of the Milwaukee Avenue area in the 1960s and 70s as a part of Urban Renewal. There were many reasons why this outraged the neighbors, such as a majority of the houses were salvageable and the history of the area would be lost. Thankfully, the neighborhood did not back down and did everything they could to keep the city from razing the houses of Milwaukee Avenue. Seward’s Project Area Committee (PAC) representatives started the process of saving the houses by asking the city to designate the houses facing Milwaukee Avenue as a historic district. The request was denied, and things were looking grim, but Charles W. Nelson of the Minnesota Historical Society noted the importance of the houses as perfect examples of working-class housing and typed up the form to submit to the National Register of Historic Places. On May 5th, 1974, the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District was officially designated as a historic place.

Milwaukee Avenue in 1974

This designation meant that none of the houses could be demolished or significantly altered without a public hearing. Seward’s PAC members, lead by Bob Roscoe, walked through the area and inspected all the structures to see which ones were able to be restored and which ones had to be replaced. The nine houses that could not be saved were then replaced by structures that aesthetically matched the original houses of Milwaukee Avenue and fit in with the area. With help from grants for homeowner restoration and low-interest mortgages, the rest of the houses were successfully restored to their former glory, and then some.

Photo by Matt Dahlman, Red Pine Photography

Nowadays, Milwaukee Avenue is a pedestrian-only, landscaped walkway that offers one of the prettiest walks in town. In 2015, the Milwaukee Avenue Homeowners Association received grant money to install a bronze plaque on Milwaukee Avenue recounting the history and importance of the area. Like many areas throughout Minneapolis, Milwaukee Avenue’s future was once very bleak, but with passion and love for the area, the residents of Seward Neighborhood saved not only a piece of their history, but Minneapolis’ history. With autumn slowly approaching, now is a great time to take a stroll back in time and indulge yourselves in the history and beauty of Milwaukee Avenue.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

2022 – Year of the Tiger: How are You Celebrating?

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Chang WangLunar New Year celebrations are a 3,500-year-old tradition in China. An estimated 1.5 billion people celebrate the holiday all around the world. The first day of the 15-day celebration is today, February 1. We asked our attorney friend Chang Wang how he plans to celebrate this year. Chang Wang was appointed by Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan to the Board of Directors, the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans, to represent 38,000 Chinese Minnesotans - he seems like the perfect person for a recommendation or two. 

“I’ll definitely wear red today, which is traditional,” says Wang. "Red is associated with prosperity and good luck in Chinese culture.” Here’s my list of what else I’ll do during the two weeks this year:

1) Attend the Chinese New Year concert with the U of M China Center and Friends of Minnesota Orchestra on February 1.

2) Visit the Watt Munisotaram in Hampton and pray for a better world. Watt Munisotaram is the largest Buddhist temple in the United States.

3) Visit the Chinese art exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The exhibit runs through December 2022 if anyone wishes to see it even after the holiday.

4) Make dumplings and noodles with family and friends at home; or visit one of the Asian restaurants in the Twin Cities. Both foods symbolize good fortune and long life.

5) I’ll donate to homeless shelters and humane societies in our area to help the poor and defenseless.

How will you celebrate? Let us know – comment with your plans. Gong hei fat choy!