World Premiere of Beck Lee's Dark Comedy “Subprime” Debuts at Mixed Blood in May

Via a March 8 News Release:

 

Minneapolis will host the world premiere of Beck Lee’s Subprime, a new dark comedy with Minneapolis roots that was developed in New York. Lee’s play, about two couples from Minneapolis who travel to New York on a bargain vacation none of them can afford, debuts at the Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S 4th Street, beginning Friday May 4 at 7:30pm, with an opening on Sunday May 6 at 3pm. Produced by Media Blitz Entertainment, the show’s four-week engagement plays through Sunday May 27 at 3pm. Tickets are now on sale at www.subprimetheplay.com.

 

A prominent New York publicist, Lee conceived the play with Andrea Iten when he was living part-time in Minneapolis. “I have wanted this play to launch in Minneapolis,” says Lee. “The city means a lot to me and premiering it with a homegrown cast and creative team drawn from the city’s extraordinary talent pool, is exactly what this play calls for.”  The Carbonelle Award-nominated director and actor Peter Moore who directed the play’s first developmental readings in Minneapolis - at The Jungle and the Hennepin Theatre Trust -- directs and is the production’s fight and intimacy choreographer.

Featured in the cast of five are Bonni Allen, Jen Burleigh-Bentz, Charles Fraser and Dan Hopman.  (Allen’s notable Mixed Blood credits include “Avenue Q” and “Barbecue.”  Fraser’s many local credits include “Driving Miss Daisy” at The Jungle for which he shared an Ivey Award for ensemble acting. He was recently in Yellow Tree Theatre’s knockout hit “The Royale.”)  The production design team includes several of Minneapolis’s top, award-winning designers: Joe Stanley(scenic design), Anita Kelling (sound design), Mike Wangen (lighting design), and Sara Wilcox (costumes). Toni Solie is the production stage manager.

Set in the summer of 2008 when sharp hints of an impending financial meltdown were being studiously ignored by many Americans - “Subprime” introduces us to the Kellys and the Swensons, two couples from the well-to-do Linden Hills neighborhood in Minneapolis. The scope of their denial about the state of their finances, their marriages and even their identities comes into focus in the course of an evening of progressively debauched relaxation in their Midtown Manhattan hotel.

Lee’s contemporary farce, which he co-conceived with Iten, a Minneapolis-based marketing and brand placement specialist, had several developmental readings in New York, and was first seen publicly in a workshop in June of last year, at the Jersey City Theater Center. Thomas Burns Scully, writing in onstageblog.com described the play as “the next ‘God of Carnage,’” calling it “staggering…a show that’s going to be talked about.”  Lee is also developing a new play, “God Save the Human Cannonball,” with the celebrated actress Laila Robins in the lead. Robins, a St. Paul native, starred at The Guthrie in “Lion in Winter” in 2016.

37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is April 12-18

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul recently announced the Opening Night film and selected Women & Film and Spotlight on the World: Chasms and Bridges titles.

This is a sample preview of the 250+ cinematic works from emerging and veteran filmmakers from around the world to be included in the 37th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). The Festival returns April 12-28, 2018, bringing over 150 new feature films and 100 shorts representing 70+ countries to audiences throughout the Upper Midwest.

This year, MSPIFF maintains its hub at the St. Anthony Main Theatre, expanding to include select screenings at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, with additional screenings at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, the Uptown Theatre, Metropolitan State University's Film Space in St. Paul and the Marcus Wehrenberg 14 Theatre in Rochester.

OPENING NIGHT FILM

The 37th MSPIFF opens with RBG, the acclaimed documentary celebrating the life and lasting influence of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Director Betsy West will be in attendance, and director Julie Cohen and other special guests have been invited to attend. The film and opening night reception and party will take place at St. Anthony Main on Thursday, April 12.

WOMEN & FILM

MSPIFF’s showcase of female directors from around the globe continues to grow every year, and 2018 is no different, featuring a wide variety of outstanding narratives and documentaries from around the world. MSPIFF programmers have brought in women-directed films that are in the vanguard of global contemporary cinema. A short list of the many titles includes: Sofia Djama’s The Blessed (from Algeria; Ms. Djama will be in attendance), Vivian Qu’s Angels Wear White (China) and Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch (Zambia).

“The #MeToo movement has underscored the inequalities in the film industry like never before,” says Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the Film Society. “Our Women & Film and Chasms and Bridges programs examine the chaotic and divisive world we live in today, as well as the resistance movements that seek to affect change, and we have sought out films that invite discourse and understanding.”

CHASMS AND BRIDGES: CINEMA AND THE SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND

With this in mind, the 2018 MSPIFF Spotlight on the World is Chasms and Bridges: Cinema and the Search for Common Ground. Tackling the lines that divide us and the dramatic potential for reconciliation and compassion, this special series of titles and related panel discussions and workshops, are designed to open up conversations on the social and ideological divides and shifting social order shaping our world today.

Such stories can be found in fiction: A Syrian outsider finds both love and bigotry in Finland (A Moment in the Reeds); a powerful business woman comes face-to-face with the glass ceiling (Number One); upper and middle classes collide in Iran as a minor accident turns into major tragedy (No Date, No Signature). And non-fiction: Delve into the day-to-day life of radical Islamist family (Of Father and Sons); see the 2016 US election from the Russian perspective (Our New President); take a frustrating look at the corruption inside the NYPD (Crime + Punishment).

Highlighting the distinct identities of and commonalities among diverse cultures, these films will take us on a journey across geography, history, age, gender, social and political issues and the complexities of human relationships, bridging differences to find common ground.

Screeners will be provided upon request (if available), as well as more in-depth summaries, director bios, images, etc. The full lineup will be announced in early March. Please contact Publicity Manager Peter Schilling (peter@mspfilm.org) or Festival Publicist Connie Shaver (connieshaver@outlook.com).

RBG                                  

Charting Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life through growing up in Brooklyn, RBG shows Ginsburg pursuing her education, falling in love, her friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia and eventual appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court. A fighting force, Ginsburg’s determination throughout her life and career has earned her the title of “notorious” both in politics and the wider public discourse. As a history-making public figure, Ginsburg has become “notorious” through her championing of women, her ever-persistent work ethic, and her commitment to democracy. Program: Special Presentation, Women & Film. Directed by Julie Cohen, Betsy West. USA. 2018. English. 97 min. Documentary Feature.

ANGELS WEAR WHITE (JIA NIAN HUA)                

Xiaomi, a motel cleaner, watches as a district-commissioner checks in alongside two girls, Xiaowen and Xin Xin. On the surveillance monitor, Xiaomi sees the commissioner push his way into the girls’ room, and she decides to record the event with her smartphone. In the wake of the assault, Xiaomi’s story does little good for the girls as they face their unconcerned families and a society that would rather put the blame on them than offend their attacker. Program: Asian Frontiers, Women & Film. Directed by Vivian Qu. China, France. 2018. Chinese (Mandarin) w/English subtitles. 107 min. Narrative Feature.

THE BLESSED (LES BIENHEUREUX)                        

In postwar Algiers, Amal and Samir are a middle-aged couple hoping to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. Drifting through their day, they eventually find themselves at a restaurant. Here, they confront their differences and disillusionment, threaded with the unsettled atmosphere of postwar society. Outside, their teenaged son Fahim and his friends, Feriel and Reda, spend their day on the streets of Algiers. They too reveal ideological differences among them, their banter soon leading to the reveal of hidden wounds left by the Algerian Civil War that shaped their current world. Program: Images of Africa, Women & Film. Directed by Sofia Djama. Algeria, Belgium, France. 2018. Arabic, French w/English subtitles. 102 min. Narrative Feature.

CRIME + PUNISHMENT                

Shocking and true, Crime + Punishment explores the internal corruption of the New York City Police Department and the undeniably racist system that has persisted well past early revelations. Back in 2013, a group of 12 police officers had dared to take the NYPD to court for the corruption, but the case’s federal hearing did not lead to reform. Cut to 2017, and director Stephen Maing reconnects with the police officers who first took a stand, to find them more determined than ever to speak out against the continued injustice. Program: New American Visions, Spotlight. Directed by Stephen Maing. USA. 2018. English. 112 min. Documentary Feature.

I AM NOT A WITCH                     

Shula is young woman accused by an older woman of being a witch. Adorned with a spindle to “tether” her to the ground and carted off to a camp for witches that bares little difference to your standard zoo, Shula is then forced to perform her “magic” for a corrupt official. Rungano Nyoni’s debut feature-film renders Shula’s journey by exploring themes of femininity, superstition and acceptance, while also keeping Shula herself a mystery to all the spectators that attempt to control her world. Program: Images of Africa, Women & Film. Directed by Rungano Nyoni. Zambia, UK, France. 2017. English. 90 min. Narrative Feature.

A MOMENT IN THE REEDS (TÄMÄ HETKI KAISLIKOSSA)               

After moving to Paris for university, handsome literature student Leevi returns to his native Finland for the summer to help his estranged father renovate the family lake house so it can be sold. Tareq, a recent asylum seeker from Syria, has been hired to help with the work, and when Leevi’s father has to return to town on business, the two young men establish a connection and spend a few days discovering one another during the Finnish midsummer. Program: Midnight Sun, LGBTQ Currents, Spotlight. Directed byMikko Makela. Finland, UK. 2017. English, Finnish w/English subtitles. 108 min. Narrative Feature.

NO DATE NO SIGNATURE (BEDOONE TARIKH, BEDOONE EMZA)                             

While on his way home from work, forensics doctor Dr. Kaveh Nariman is nearly hit by a reckless driver and in the chaos hits a motorcycle carrying Moosa, Leila, and their children. Moosa and Leila are uninjured, along with their daughter, but their young son, Amir Ali, appears to have a concussion. Brushing off a hospital visit, Kaveh and the family go their separate ways, only for the latter to discover the next day that one of the incoming bodies at the morgue where he works is Amir. Fellow colleague Dr. Sayeh Behbahnani deduces that the boy’s death was due to botulism caused by eating cheap chicken, but Nariman remains convinced that it was the motorcycle accident that ultimately caused it. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Vahid Jalilvand. Iran. 2017. Farsi w/English subtitles. 100 min. Narrative Feature.

NUMBER ONE (NUMÉRO UNE)               

When Emmanuelle, an executive in a French energy firm, reaches the glass ceiling, but refuses to recognize her limited options. For years she has refused to acknowledge the sexism inherent in her workplace, but when chauvinistic male colleagues work to undermine her rise in the ranks, Emmanuelle pulls out all the stops in an attempt to capture what is rightly hers.  Program: World Cinema, Women & Film, Spotlight. Directed by Tonie Marshall. France. 2017. French w/English subtitles. 110 min. Narrative Feature.

OF FATHERS AND SONS                            

The roots of home run deep in Talal Derki’s latest eye-opening feature. Returning to his homeland of Syria, documentary filmmaker Derki encounters Abu Osama and his family. Masqurading as a jihadist sympathizer, Derki integrates himself into the household of Osama, an Al-Nusra Front member. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Talal Derki. Germany, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar. 2018. Arabic w/English subtitles. 99 min. Documentary Feature.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT                 

In this era of fake news v. real news, acclaimed documentarian Maxim Pozdorovkin has crafted a startling cine-essay, pulling together footage from the 2016 election from YouTube, Russian-government run RT, and other sources to dig deep into the propaganda machine that may ultimately have altered the U.S. Presidential election. Program: World Cinema, Spotlight. Directed by Maxim Pozdorovkin. Russia, USA. 2017. English, Russian w/English subtitles. 77 min. Documentary Feature.

MSPIFF is presented by the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, a dynamic 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fostering a knowledgeable and vibrant appreciation of the art of film and its power to inform and transform individuals and communities.

The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is generously supported by The Star Tribune, Cedarwoods Foundation, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Minnesota State Arts Board Legacy Amendment Funding, National Endowment for the Arts, McKnight Foundation, US Bank, The Minneapolis Foundation, Mora Global, Knock, Inc., KBEM Jazz88, Indeed Brewing Company, Best Buy, Alamo Drafthouse, Depot Renaissance Hotel, Fox Rothschild, Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, numerous local businesses, consulates from around the world, our Masters and Auteurs Member Circle and the 2,300+ Members and Donors of the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.

Mix of housing types and retail proposed for 205 Park Ave

UPDATE - MARCH 5, 2018

Groundbreaking set for May 22, 2018.

UPDATE - AUGUST 11, 2016:

The City of Minneapolis just released the decision to grant Sherman Associates exclusive negotiating rights to develop the city owned parking lot at 205 Park Ave S. in the Mill District of Downtown Minneapolis.

Download the Staff Report recommending the Sherman proposal...

Download the Sherman proposal (13MB)...

View the photos on Flickr...

Quick summary from the CPED Staff Report:

SHERMAN ASSOCIATES PROPOSAL

Housing

• 6-story mixed-use building

• 115 mixed-income apartment rental units (levels 2-6), with stated commitments for 20%

(23 units) affordable to households earning 60% of Area Median Income (“AMI”). The

average rents for the affordable units would be $950/month. The remainder of the units

(92) would be market rate rentals. 

• 4 two-level, for-sale townhomes fronting Park Ave.

• 130 underground parking stalls (two levels) for residents.

• Sustainable, energy efficient design, integrating components of LEED.

 Retail

• Approximately 4,800 sq. ft. ground floor restaurant at the corner of Park Ave. and

Washington Ave. with outdoor patio.

•  Approximately 1,500 sq. ft. bakery/coffee shop at the corner of Park Ave. and 2 St. S.,

with loading dock patio space.

• Letters of Intent from Kim Bartmann for both the restaurant and bakery spaces.

• Bank of America ATM (Letter of Intent) on Washington Ave.

• Police substation (500 sq. ft.) on 2 St. (MPD commitment unconfirmed)

Public Amenities

• Pet relief area (open to the public) lining the adjacent municipal parking ramp

(discussions with nonprofit Dog Grounds about co-managing the dog park. 

• Landscaping, bike parking, outdoor restaurant seating, proposed exterior screening of

adjacent parking ramp in collaboration with the City.

Purchase Price:  $3,246,840 ($90 per sq. ft.)

Total Development Cost:  $35,932,762

GRAND REAL ESTATE ADVISORS PROPOSAL

Housing

•  5- or 6-story mixed-use building (stated preference for 6-story building)

• 42-52 for-sale units

• Preliminary discussions with City of Lakes Community Land Trust about partnering on 4 land trust units (no stated commitments or letter of intent from CLCLT).

• 85 below-grade parking stalls.

Retail

• Approximately 2,900 sq. ft. ground floor retail along Washington Ave. (in preliminary discussions with owner of Yum restaurant - no letter of intent or commitment).

Public Amenities

• Dog relief area (open to the public) lining the adjacent municipal parking ramp.

• Landscaping, bicycle parking, outdoor seating area for retail space, GREA is looking to the City to provide exterior screening for neighboring parking ramp.

Purchase Price

• 5-story building:  $1,554,000 (~$43 per sq. ft.)

• 6-story building:  $1,924,000 (~$53 per sq. ft.)

Total Development Cost

• 5-story building:  $26,645,150

• 6-story building:  $31,989,898

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

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

At least 1 proposal was submitted prior to last Friday's deadline for redeveloping the city owned surface parking lot at 205 Park Ave S. Below is a high level description from the document, along with a link to download the entire report, with graphics:

Download the proposal (13MB)...

View the photos on Flickr...

Developer: Sherman Associates

Mixed Income Apartment Homes: 97,606 square feet, 115 apartment homes on levels 2 through 6. Twenty percent (20%) of the apartment homes will be dedicated as affordable housing for household incomes of 60% AMI or below (details of affordable housing below). The units themselves will included fully furnished kitchens (range/oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher and microwave), ample natural light, in-unit washer and dryers, stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. There will be two levels of underground, heated parking, providing approximately 130 parking spots for the residents. The apartment homes will also include amenities to allow the building to be competitive in the vast marketplace. These amenities include: 6th floor club room and amenity deck with spectacular downtown views, first floor fitness center, club room, and patio.

For Sale Townhomes: 7,904 square feet, 4 two-level townhomes of approximately 1,900 square feet on two levels. These walk up townhomes on Park Avenue South will include two dedicated heated parking spaces, and will have access to the amenities of the mixed-income apartment building.

Kim Bartmann Restaurant 1: 4,782 square feet, first level restaurant on Washington and Park Avenue South operated by highly regarded restaurateur, Kim Bartmann. This restaurant will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual eating environment. To foster street level activation, a large patio on the corner of Washington Avenue and Park Avenue South will be incorporated into the dining experience. The kitchen will also serve as the bakery for the restaurant on 2nd Street South.

Kim Bartmann Restaurant Bakery 2: 1,521 square feet, first level bakery/coffee shop on the corner of Park Ave South and 2nd Street South. To echo the loading dock streetscape of Mills City Museum, a loading dock patio space will be integrated into the design on 2nd street and will serve as an outdoor patio for the bakery/coffee shop.

Bank of America ATM: 597 square feet, first level ATM on Washington Ave South. This ATM will be open 24 hours a day and will further promote street level activity.

Police Substation: 500 square feet, first level Police Substation on 2nd Street South. After discussion with numerous residents of the Mills District and support from DMNA, Sherman Associates plans to provide a Police Substation for the Mills District.

Pet Relief Area (open to the public): Sherman Associates initiated preliminary discussions with the Minneapolis urban off-leash management entity, Dog Grounds, to partner on a public pet relief area at 205 Park. Sherman Associates envisions a dog park lining the municipal ramp, funded and co-managed by Sherman Associates in partnership with Dog Grounds. This tremendously needed asset will help manage the escalating pet waste concern within the Mills District.

Mill City Singers to Perform at Orchestra Hall March 9 and 10

Article by Claudia Kittock

The Mill City Singers are having an amazing year. Fresh off a performance at the Super Bowl event, Bold Hope in the North, they have been asked to become a community partner of the Minnesota Orchestra. On March 9th and 10th, the Singers will be performing in the atrium of Orchestra Hall at 7:00pm.

If you haven’t heard of the Singers before, here is a brief history of this dynamic group:

This choir is unique. Its beginnings were unique, our mission is unique, our singers are unique, and our community is unlike others. Almost three years ago, a group of Mill City neighbors formed a running group and invited residents from Emanuel Housing to be part of that group. Emanuel is a 101-unit sober, supportive, permanent housing program that serves economically disadvantaged single men and women.  We quickly discovered that the commonality of running was a means to become friends. On these runs we talked about running, the neighborhood, and our diverse backgrounds. During one of these runs, a friend brought up music and asked the question, “Why isn’t there more music in the neighborhood...you know, like a choir?” The simple answer to that question was, “I don’t know, but I will find out.”

When I asked a MacPhail Center for Music employee the same question, she promised to do some research.  Within a week, she suggested MacPhail might be willing to help us set up a pilot project to see if we could make a choir a reality, offering us JD Steele as the director, and his brother, Fred Steele, as our accompanist.

JD became our director, and is as talented as he is unique in the world of music. Rehearsals begin with a ‘call’ from JD. He loudly sings, “Day-Oh!” and the singers echo back. JD continues to go up the scale by half steps until we are warmed up and ready to sing. We do not use printed music. JD never learned to read music, and teaches us using a music technique known as ‘lining out’. Lining has a long and storied tradition in American music. JD sings every vocal part by lining, teaching the singers the words, the music, and each part of harmony.

Lining is another part of the uniqueness of this group. We are a group of varied ages and education, and lining calls on every part of our brains to participate. No one is excluded because they don’t read music or can’t read printed words. Everyone can sing by lining and it truly serves as ‘choral binding’ to each of us.

With each session of rehearsals our numbers have grown as has the diversity of our group. During the first group of 6 rehearsals in 2016, we averaged 29 singers, the second group saw an increase to 33 singers, and as of the last group of rehearsals for 2017, we are now averaging 50 singers, with 220 singers on the roster.

Our mission is to include everyone in our community of singers. We are aware of the socio-economic divide in our neighborhood. While the mean income is $78,000, we know that 25% of our neighbors live below the poverty line. An integral part of the very existence of the Singers is to include all of our neighbors, which involves an almost constant outreach to our neighbors in poverty. Since our inception, we have added members from Alliance Housing and the Harbor Lights shelter. We are hoping to extend our invitation even further. The Cedar Riverside neighborhood has no representation within our group, and we very much want to include our neighbors.

Come here us sing! All that is required to be a member is to:

• Consider yourself a ‘friend’ of the Mill District
• Love singing
• Be willing to open your heart and your soul to becoming part of this vibrant community

Sounds easy? It is! If you're interested, please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. We hope to see you in the audience on March 9 or 10. 

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

March Programs & Kids Day Camps at the North Mississippi Regional Park

Hike: Birds of Prey - Eagles - Saturday, Mar. 10th 1:30-2:30pm

Raptors, the predatory birds of the sky. Though usually solitary, in winter eagles congregate by the hundreds around areas of open water on the Mississippi River. Learn more about our national bird and look for these majestic predators along the river. Activity #81541

Outdoors: Leprechaun Secrets - Saturday, Mar. 17th 1:30-3pm

Learn the ways of the woods by following leprechaun clues. Discover tricks that plants and animals use to thrive in the wild, decipher messages left by animals, and identify helpful and harmful plants. Follow the leprechaun's path to uncover the secret. Activity #81511

Family Funday: Spring Arts & Animals - Sunday, Mar. 25th 1-3pm

Come meet our new baby false map turtle and learn about our neighborhood native species. Meet MN animals up-close, then let nature inspire your creation of spring themed artwork to take home. Activity #81595

Nature Art: Earthen Art - Saturday, Mar. 31st 2-3pm

Get down in the dirt to make sensational soil-based art. Wet, dry or somewhere in between, the earth beneath your feet is a fun medium to create a piece of art. Activity #81551

Public programs are FREE for all ages - Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult

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Spring Break Day Camps for Kids

Neighborhood Nature - March 26th - 30th   8am-4pm

You don't have to go out into the wilderness to find nature, it's right here in your neighborhood! Discover more about the animals that live alongside us as we explore the park, play games, make art and meet some local animals. Ages 6-12. Registration Fee $150.  Activity #81727

Animal Scientists - April 2nd - 6th   8am-4pm

Many animals utilize incredible science in their bodies and behaviors. Come find out more about these animal scientists and conduct some amazing science experiments for yourself. Make concoctions that ooze or explode, use extraordinary methods to create art and play games. Ages 6-12. Registration Fee $150. Activity #81728

Day camp is based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. Every day please bring a lunch, snack and water bottle. Dress for the weather and a mess.

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Nature Nuts Play Group Fridays

Come with your little one to play and have fun in nature with other children and parents/guardians. Each day is different, but will have nature themes about animals, plants, and seasons. Enjoy the outdoors together all winter! Ages: For kids 5 and under with an adult.

This is an Adult/Child interactive program. Registration Fee $15

Spring weather is always changing! Wear clothes and shoes for playing outside.

April 13th - May 4th  10:45-11:45am   Activity #81731

May 18th - June 8th  10:45-11:45am   Activity #81732

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Summer Day Camp Registration Now Open

Monday through Friday 8am-4pm all Summer! Summer Day Camp Registration Now Open Monday through Friday 8am-4pm all Summer!

Register kids ages 6-12 for week long, naturalist-led summer camps. Explore outdoors, get messy and learn by doing. Spend a summer of fun playing in the park at North Mississippi. Registration Fees: Full Day $150. Half Day (am or pm) $80. Find programs to start planning your summer today!

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Like North Mississippi on Facebook to stay in the loop
about what’s happening in our park.
Learn more about North Mississippi Regional Park at our website.

Reminder: Upcoming Closures on I-35W

Via a March 1 e-newsletter from the MN Department of Transportation: 

Metro - 35W@94Downtown to Crosstown in Minneapolis: 2017-2021 construction

We want to remind you of upcoming closures along I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62, including a full weekend closure of I-35W, the five-month closure of the 38th St. bridge and the long-term closure of the 36th St. ramp to southbound I-35W.

Upcoming nighttime work will result in road and lane closures on I-35W the week of March 5. These closures are required to set the beams on the Franklin Ave. bridge.

 * * * * * * * I-35W full weekend closure * * * * * * *

Reconstruction of the 38th St. bridge starts Fri, March 2 and crews will begin demolition of the bridge, which requires a full weekend closure of I-35W in both directions. The weekend closure is from 10 p.m. Fri, March 2 and will reopen by 5 a.m. Mon, March 5.

Northbound I-35W will close from Hwy 62 to I-94 and southbound will close from I-94 to 46th St. Crews will work 24-hours-a-day during the weekend closure. Motorists will detour to I-394, Hwy 100 and Hwy 62. 

* * * * * * * 38th St. bridge closes Fri, March 2 * * * * * * *

The 38th St. bridge is scheduled to close 6 a.m. Fri, March 2, The bridge will remain closed to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists through early August. There will be a detour in place.

* * * * 36th St. ramp to southbound I-35W closes Fri, March 2 * * * *

To allow for the reconstruction activities near the 38th St. bridge, the ramp from 36th St. to southbound I-35W will close 2 a.m. Fri, March 2. Motorists will be detoured to Portland Ave. to 46th St. back to southbound I-35W. The ramp will remain closed through fall 2021.

This ramp needs to remain closed through fall 2021 for a number of reasons:

• During the 38th St. bridge reconstruction, there is not enough room for vehicles to safely merge from the ramp onto southbound I-35W
• Once I-35W freeway reconstruction work begins this summer, the number of southbound lanes will be reduced and shifted at various times while crews work for the three years after the 38th St. bridge reopens. This will make it difficult for vehicles entering from 36th St. to safely merge onto southbound I-35W.

* * * * Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S access closes early March * * * *

The intersections of Stevens Ave/38th St. and 2nd Ave. S/38th St. will also close from early March to early August during the 38th St. bridge closure. Reference the access map to navigate around the closure.

Note: Residents will be able to access Stevens Ave. and 2nd Ave. S from 37th St. or 39th St.

During the closure, two-way traffic on Stevens Ave. between 37th St. and 38th St. will be allowed.

* * * * * Additional closures begin week of March 5 * * * * *

As crews continue to make progress on the Franklin Ave. bridge, some nighttime road and lane closures are going to be necessary to set beams. The following closures are scheduled to begin the week of March 5 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily:

• On Mon, March 5 and Tue, March 6, an overnight closure of the access out of downtown (from 12th St/4th Ave) to southbound I-35W, and of the ramp from eastbound I-94 to southbound I-35W
• On Wed, March 7 and Thu, March 8, an overnight closure of southbound I-35W between I-94 and Hwy 62
• And on Fri, March 9, an overnight closure of northbound I-35W between Hwy 62 and I-94

To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94. 

Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit www.metrotransit.org/35W.

• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125 

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit http://www.511mn.org/ or dial 5-1-1.