MINNEAPOLIS— The City of Minneapolis is looking for businesses, organizations, or teams to manage about 8,000 square feet in a City-owned building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. S. This was previously the Minneapolis 3rd Precinct police station, which was burned down in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin.
What’s proposed for Minneapolis’s Democracy Center
Following community engagement, the City plans to develop the city-owned facility at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue into a mixed-use democracy center. This center will include Elections and Voter Services and a large space for community use.
Over the summer, the City held open houses, discussions, and online surveys. Results showed that support for the democracy center proposal was more than three times higher than opposition, with 63% in favor and 17% against.
Additionally, residents reportedly expressed interest in different uses for the community space, such as social services, cultural programs, and commercial activities.
What’s next in the process?
The City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Dec. 18, 2024, for a tenant to program the community space. A pre-proposal conference will be held at the Minneapolis Public Service Building at 505 4th Ave. S., Room 100, on Feb. 24, 2025, at 9:00 AM CT.
All potential Tenants are encouraged to attend this conference. The RFP’s goal is to develop a partnership with a selected tenant that results in community-oriented activities, including social, cultural, and/or business services, that benefit neighbors and surrounding communities. An additional RFP has been issued for a firm to create design and build-out plans.
The City will proceed with design and renovation plans and intends to include the selected tenant in the planning, design, and build-out of the available community space.
