All of this! All the memories and future possibilities. It’s so sad to walk, if you dare, past the empty store fronts to get to Magers & Quinn. There has to be a path out of the current bleakness. Electing a city council that actually wants a thriving uptown would be a start. They hold the money to make Uptown old-cool again. Come to the caucus in April to make sure we elect the folks who want restaurants and businesses to thrive!
We make a conscious effort to support the businesses still in Uptown. I try to shop at M&G at least once a month, but it is not convenient. Last weekend, we had my daughter's birthday at Twin Cities Skaters (the roller rink in the old CB2 space) and it was so fun. There is so much potential, and I agree that our current representation does not seem to be concerned with the health of Uptown. Count me in for the caucus!
I had no idea there was a skating rink so close! My daughter & her friends love to roller skate/blade but I thought the only option was way south. Thanks!
Thank you for writing this- I feel it all! Life really started the first summer I had a few friends who were 16 and we could pile into their Ford Taurus to drive from the western suburbs to Uptown and hang at Pandora’s Cup for hours drinking mochas and learning how to be emo. Also all of my best “going out shirts” were from Heartbreaker.
My dream is that in addition to the indoor playground there could be something like a gym daycare where parents could pay for a couple hours of childcare and use on site vendors- take a yoga class, mail some packages at the ups store and maybe get my nails done while my kids play with neighbor friends…
I loved this article - thank you! It breaks my heart to see Uptown & to hear the negativity. As someone who grew up in Edina, it was always our cooler, more-hip neighbor where we wanted to hangout as soon as we got our license (although it didn't stop us taking the bus). We went to Figlios for dances. We later moved there for the post-college years (Williams and the bar scene) & had countless apartments either alone, with a friend or my fiancé turned husband. We eventually returned to Edina but returned for dinner, drinks, brunch, and felt cool introducing all of our old haunts to our teenagers. Sadly, now we frequent NE and the N. Loop a lot more now and most of our friends who live further west are shocked we'll even do that (I blame the GOP leaders) but I'll always support Uptown and wish I could do more. In Dec., we tried to go to the Jingle Bar at Red Cow & ended up at the Lowry. No safety concerns and loved the nostalgia of a scoop for Pavarotti @ Sebby Joe;s. If someone builds it, we will come. It's a lot closer on our e-bikes, has the lakes, and gorgeous homes. City Council should prioritize it. Developers should do their part.
Thank you for this! We go to Red Cow all the time-- it's the perfect thing to have in the neighborhood. Something for everyone, and they really did it up for the holidays. Come on a weeknight! I agree that Minneapolis has an image problem. I'm not going to saw there isn't crime, because that is a lie. But I generally do feel safe here. I walk as many of my errands as possible-- it's why I live here! My kids play outside, our neighbors check on each other. It is a great place to live.
Since writing this, I've heard from politicians, small business owners, developers, and neighbors who are ready to work on Uptown. I'm hoping this essay is just the start of something a lot bigger.
Right now many of the financial stakeholders in Uptown are actively betting against the neighborhood. Corporate property owners are holding storefronts vacant without any real financial repercussion. The Uptown Association has permanently moved the art festival out of the neighborhood. It needs to be waaaaay more expensive and difficult for these big stakeholders to work against neighbors who are trying to open and support local businesses!
See, this is what I keep hearing-- and based on what I see with my eyeballs, it feels true. Are they waiting for everything to bottom out and then cash in, or what is the plan? Makes me so angry that the answer seems to be "give up because it's hard."
This is exactly what is going on. Small businesses can't afford the rents, and large chains are not going to move in. Take the Apple Store, it is just plywood and steel blight. Do they care about the neighborhood? No small business can afford to fix it up when there are opportunities elsewhere in the city. Meanwhile if you move off the three blocks of Hennepin people think of when they think of Uptown, the businesses are doing just fine.
I see what you are saying! A vacant Apple store can't really be anything other than an Apple store. It's just too big and empty for almost any other business. I'd argue that the road construction and lack of packing is negatively impacting the business all around the area, but they are doing better than the stuff at Lake/Hennepin. Right now, we've created a situation where people won't really cross the Lake/Henn threshold from the direction they're coming from. For example, I've heard from people in St Louis Park that they still go to the businesses just west of Hennepin, but aren't often crossing hennepin because the roads are so weird. I absolutely see where they are coming from. It is a cluster. Even though there's not a lot going on from a business perspective right there, the area is like a city version of a clogged artery-- it's impeding traffic flow from all angles.
Hey there, one more restaurant in Uptown you should mention/we should frequent. Uptown Diner. It's a diner, as in, no booze, but open 24 hours on weekends (for the youngs) and my husband (an old) had breakfast there recently and said it's terrific. I've also heard that the guy running it is a super nice guy. In one of stores that was North Face or Columbia or . . .
People need to attend the April caucus and support new leadership for our area. Our current council member doesn’t care about this part of town. We need leadership! Molly, your ideas are great…let’s push to make it happen. See you all in April!
From a borderline Gen-z/Millennial (1997, you tell me lol) I have definitely seen cool places come and go in my life as well. Being from near Toronto, I remember seeing Malls and city centres transform.
That all to say, as a self-proclaimed young person, I really wish places were walkable. The questions that really make me want to visit a place are:
- Is it easily walkable? Rationale: I don't want to have to drive everywhere, park, and do the whole tango of trying to find a good spot. Making something NON-car centric is so attractive. Heck, look at any popular place in downtown or Northeast. Walkable!
- Is it safe? Rationale: I mean this one is sort of a given, but I want to have a peace of mind that there is safety where I'm going. With parents of Gen-X age, they would highly agree with me.
- Third-spaces, restaurants, shops? Rationale: I think the LAST thing we need is high end boutique shops to be honest. Allowing a place for community, local vendors, restaurants, and most importantly (imo) third spaces. Currently during winter, there is no real drive to want to come to the area. I absolutely love walking the lakes in the summer, but that's because there is a public path to walk, sights to see, and spaces to sit freely. People need the public space, forums, walkable streets that aren't overrun by traffic stops.
Ever heard the "build it and they will come" idea? If there is nothing attractive or magnetic about a space or location, why bother, right?
Love reading your article. You sure hit the nail on the head! I am a boomer and enjoyed shopping Uptown, Calhoun Square often. Even though I live in a nearby suburb. As a retired Minneapolis Public Schools teacher I appreciate you living in Mpls and your child attending a Mpls school! Unfortunately with all the crime and unsafeness in the Uptown area I think it keeps folks away. That’s so sad. I love your idea of a kids play area filling up Calhoun Square. Big old parking ramp right there- lots of shops, restaurants could be filling up the great empty spaces around Uptown. Fun yet to be had! Let’s hope we all will be back Uptown some day!
We are having a really great experience with our community school-- it's not perfect, but what school is?? I could write a book on all the reasons I'm glad my kids are there.
Yes, its a complicated situation! I don't want to minimize the crime, because it is real. I have seen an uptick in certain crimes, and the open use of drugs/unhoused situation doesn't help the vibe around here. That said, I do feel pretty safe here, and rely on common sense practices when I'm out and about. I worry more about distracted drivers than anything! I attended a public safety meeting last week, and do feel like things are moving in the right direction. It's challenging when people who rarely come to the city and have never had much of a relationship with it tell me "how bad it is." (This is not you, btw!). It's still a great place to live, and I am hopeful it will come back.
I hope it will come back too! I still walk the lakes in the Summer. Yup, you just have to be aware and cautious when you are out and about. We certainly don’t want the bad people to win and ruin our happiness in our wonderful city! I’m so happy you like your kids school- I’m curious where they go? BTW- I love how you write- very creative and so true, and a bit of humor. Good job!!!! Take Care- Barb
Yes, paying attention to your surroundings is important, no matter where you are! My kids are at Whittier elementary. The staff there is amazing, and I cannot believe the things my kids are learning. My second grader explained the concept of “opportunity costs” to me yesterday and I was like…. Pretty sure I didn’t learn that till college.😂
I am much older than you, but Uptown was cool even when I was young. In fact, for most of my young adult life Uptown was always the place to go. As someone who now lives in the suburbs, I feel it’s in the best interest of everyone who loves and lives in the greater Twin Cities area to have a thriving Mpls and St Paul. I am rooting for you and Uptown!
The Twin Cities lakes and neighborhoods have so much to offer but when there’s no where to park, all the local business that make a neighborhood cool and unique leave, and you worry about your safety it’s hard to go. Plus, unlike when I was younger, the suburbs and other surrounding towns have a lot to offer these days. You mentioned Edina as an example. Mpls and St Paul both have to compete with the rest of the Twin Cities for the local tourist dollar. Businesses will go where they think they can get the best return on their investment.
I am planning on spending a little time and money in both cities this weekend, but I hope Mpls and StP can turn it around soon.
Thank you for sharing-- I agree, there is a lot to contend with in the suburbs now. The one thing that you really can't replicate is the access to the lakes, and knowing that will alway be a draw gives me hope that Uptown will come back. :)
Uptown was the coolest. ComedySportz was like a second home for me. I really hope the neighborhood bounces back! How can it not?? Especially with such a rich film history: https://youtu.be/6k7RCsl3V7o?si=nWPA7YLkC3HOgHx-
Matt that was a really moving video. You really captured the essence of uptown. I’m surprised no one from the city reached out to use it for a major ad campaign. 😂
One more thought - have you read the book Strong Towns (https://www.strongtowns.org/strong-towns-book)? The author focuses on rebuilding towns by creating a sense of place, prioritizing long-term financial solvency, and building a community where people want to live. I think some of it could apply to a particular neighborhood, too.
Not everything in the book will apply to your situation. However, he argues that rebuilding dense areas that once were thriving but are currently crumbling provides a far better return on investment for municipal dollars than new development. It takes a fraction of the funds to create profitable and thriving neighborhoods from existing ones rather than doing the same from the ground up. Some of his work might provide a fiscal basis for advocating for more investment in Uptown, which seems like a prime opportunity for the revitalization he discusses.
When the world feels like it's crappy, I love that you're going hyper-local to make life better. I don't live in that area, but I visit periodically and understand the decline you're describing. We used to visit this place - Snapology - https://www.snapology.com/regions/minneapolis-st-paul/ -- I think it's close to Uptown (ish)? Like you mentioned, parking was a challenge since we were coming from the suburbs. I wonder if they might have some ideas about what is working or challenging for them in attracting families and other businesses to rally together.
I can't speak to the local politics, but I LOVE your idea about rebuilding a place that caters to "cool" for a group not in their twenties. It's good to have spaces catering to different age groups. Although I'm not in Uptown, your post highlights how someone might think about a similar situation regardless of geography. Thanks for sharing!
Snapology is right down the street from us, and they actually do after school programs at my kids' school! Parking is tough if you're not familiar with the neighborhood. But guess what... if they were in Uptown proper and by that free and empty parking garage...
I think most people assume when you "grow up and have kids" you automatically leave for the suburbs. Which is a great place to raise a family! But so is a city. I've talked to a lot of people with kids in our neighborhood who had an "ah-ha!" moment when I brought this idea up-- like most of us hadn't even considered this as a vision for the city despite the fact that it would make our lives so much better.
Will check out that book, too. Thanks for all your thoughtful insight, per usual. ;)
Hi Molly! This happens with nightclubs also--the "cool place to be" moves around. So now it is NE MPLS. One place to start, IMO, is to get a new city council who doesn't vote to defund the police. MPLS really hurt its "brand" by allowing the riots and burning right down the road on Lake Street. Crime has increased. Need to address law and order first. People don't feel safe.
I agree that we all deserve to feel safe where we live. I don't feel terribly unsafe in my neighborhood, but have witnessed a spike in disordered behavior-- not crime exactly, but open drug use, encampments, people in the midst of mental health crisis. It's unsettling, and a huge problem. I agree that the city should be doing a lot more.
On the flip side, I get a lot of comments from people who don't live in Minneapolis/only come downtown for games or concerts and tell me how awful this city is. I've been asked if my kids are "allowed to play outside". And the answer is yes, absolutely, they are allowed to play outside. We have an amazing neighborhood, and a great park across the street from our house. I am proud to live here. There's a lot of stuff on the news that doesn't reflect our day-to-day lives.
I'm actually heading to a community safety meeting tonight, and hoping to see plans for making this city safer for everyone. Fingers crossed that it's being taken seriously.
Open drug use and encampments are crimes actually. The two of course go together and the city needs to make it uncomfortable for it to happen. If there are not enough shelter beds, we need to create more, but encampments should not be allowed. It's either shelter bed, jail or drug treatment/and or mental health treatment. It is inhumane to allow people to live on the streets and it destroys neighborhoods.
Sorry-- I meant violent versus non-violent crimes. The encampments are a big problem for so many reasons, and no one seems to want to touch them with a 10-foot pole. Figuring out a solution is hard, and will make people uncomfortable one way or the either, but something must be done.
Uptown was the peak of cool in the early 2000s. I was so jealous of my friends who lived there. It has been so sad to watch it slowly fall apart. I love your idea of making it fit the needs of the Millenials now that we are in our 30s and 40s. While reading your ideas, a 50th & France type area was what I was picturing. But with the larger area and proximity to the lakes, they could do so much more!
Beautifully written, Molly. All I can say is that I love the Uptown from before and resonate with so many of the comments below. I truly grew up on those streets as a teenager and found myself again there in my 20’s.
All of this! All the memories and future possibilities. It’s so sad to walk, if you dare, past the empty store fronts to get to Magers & Quinn. There has to be a path out of the current bleakness. Electing a city council that actually wants a thriving uptown would be a start. They hold the money to make Uptown old-cool again. Come to the caucus in April to make sure we elect the folks who want restaurants and businesses to thrive!
We make a conscious effort to support the businesses still in Uptown. I try to shop at M&G at least once a month, but it is not convenient. Last weekend, we had my daughter's birthday at Twin Cities Skaters (the roller rink in the old CB2 space) and it was so fun. There is so much potential, and I agree that our current representation does not seem to be concerned with the health of Uptown. Count me in for the caucus!
I had no idea there was a skating rink so close! My daughter & her friends love to roller skate/blade but I thought the only option was way south. Thanks!
https://www.twincitiesskaters.com/ they have so many fun events, classes, you name it!
Thank you for writing this- I feel it all! Life really started the first summer I had a few friends who were 16 and we could pile into their Ford Taurus to drive from the western suburbs to Uptown and hang at Pandora’s Cup for hours drinking mochas and learning how to be emo. Also all of my best “going out shirts” were from Heartbreaker.
My dream is that in addition to the indoor playground there could be something like a gym daycare where parents could pay for a couple hours of childcare and use on site vendors- take a yoga class, mail some packages at the ups store and maybe get my nails done while my kids play with neighbor friends…
I loved this article - thank you! It breaks my heart to see Uptown & to hear the negativity. As someone who grew up in Edina, it was always our cooler, more-hip neighbor where we wanted to hangout as soon as we got our license (although it didn't stop us taking the bus). We went to Figlios for dances. We later moved there for the post-college years (Williams and the bar scene) & had countless apartments either alone, with a friend or my fiancé turned husband. We eventually returned to Edina but returned for dinner, drinks, brunch, and felt cool introducing all of our old haunts to our teenagers. Sadly, now we frequent NE and the N. Loop a lot more now and most of our friends who live further west are shocked we'll even do that (I blame the GOP leaders) but I'll always support Uptown and wish I could do more. In Dec., we tried to go to the Jingle Bar at Red Cow & ended up at the Lowry. No safety concerns and loved the nostalgia of a scoop for Pavarotti @ Sebby Joe;s. If someone builds it, we will come. It's a lot closer on our e-bikes, has the lakes, and gorgeous homes. City Council should prioritize it. Developers should do their part.
Thank you for this! We go to Red Cow all the time-- it's the perfect thing to have in the neighborhood. Something for everyone, and they really did it up for the holidays. Come on a weeknight! I agree that Minneapolis has an image problem. I'm not going to saw there isn't crime, because that is a lie. But I generally do feel safe here. I walk as many of my errands as possible-- it's why I live here! My kids play outside, our neighbors check on each other. It is a great place to live.
Since writing this, I've heard from politicians, small business owners, developers, and neighbors who are ready to work on Uptown. I'm hoping this essay is just the start of something a lot bigger.
Right now many of the financial stakeholders in Uptown are actively betting against the neighborhood. Corporate property owners are holding storefronts vacant without any real financial repercussion. The Uptown Association has permanently moved the art festival out of the neighborhood. It needs to be waaaaay more expensive and difficult for these big stakeholders to work against neighbors who are trying to open and support local businesses!
See, this is what I keep hearing-- and based on what I see with my eyeballs, it feels true. Are they waiting for everything to bottom out and then cash in, or what is the plan? Makes me so angry that the answer seems to be "give up because it's hard."
This is exactly what is going on. Small businesses can't afford the rents, and large chains are not going to move in. Take the Apple Store, it is just plywood and steel blight. Do they care about the neighborhood? No small business can afford to fix it up when there are opportunities elsewhere in the city. Meanwhile if you move off the three blocks of Hennepin people think of when they think of Uptown, the businesses are doing just fine.
I see what you are saying! A vacant Apple store can't really be anything other than an Apple store. It's just too big and empty for almost any other business. I'd argue that the road construction and lack of packing is negatively impacting the business all around the area, but they are doing better than the stuff at Lake/Hennepin. Right now, we've created a situation where people won't really cross the Lake/Henn threshold from the direction they're coming from. For example, I've heard from people in St Louis Park that they still go to the businesses just west of Hennepin, but aren't often crossing hennepin because the roads are so weird. I absolutely see where they are coming from. It is a cluster. Even though there's not a lot going on from a business perspective right there, the area is like a city version of a clogged artery-- it's impeding traffic flow from all angles.
Hey there, one more restaurant in Uptown you should mention/we should frequent. Uptown Diner. It's a diner, as in, no booze, but open 24 hours on weekends (for the youngs) and my husband (an old) had breakfast there recently and said it's terrific. I've also heard that the guy running it is a super nice guy. In one of stores that was North Face or Columbia or . . .
People need to attend the April caucus and support new leadership for our area. Our current council member doesn’t care about this part of town. We need leadership! Molly, your ideas are great…let’s push to make it happen. See you all in April!
I'm hearing this message from SO MANY PEOPLE. WE ARE ON IT!!! LET'S Gooooooo!
Thank you for this great post, I go even further back in the 70 and 80’s and I miss the McPunk era of Uptown.
I have loved hearing about the McPunk era, which was before my time and just goes to show how long this place was THE place.
From a borderline Gen-z/Millennial (1997, you tell me lol) I have definitely seen cool places come and go in my life as well. Being from near Toronto, I remember seeing Malls and city centres transform.
That all to say, as a self-proclaimed young person, I really wish places were walkable. The questions that really make me want to visit a place are:
- Is it easily walkable? Rationale: I don't want to have to drive everywhere, park, and do the whole tango of trying to find a good spot. Making something NON-car centric is so attractive. Heck, look at any popular place in downtown or Northeast. Walkable!
- Is it safe? Rationale: I mean this one is sort of a given, but I want to have a peace of mind that there is safety where I'm going. With parents of Gen-X age, they would highly agree with me.
- Third-spaces, restaurants, shops? Rationale: I think the LAST thing we need is high end boutique shops to be honest. Allowing a place for community, local vendors, restaurants, and most importantly (imo) third spaces. Currently during winter, there is no real drive to want to come to the area. I absolutely love walking the lakes in the summer, but that's because there is a public path to walk, sights to see, and spaces to sit freely. People need the public space, forums, walkable streets that aren't overrun by traffic stops.
Ever heard the "build it and they will come" idea? If there is nothing attractive or magnetic about a space or location, why bother, right?
Molly,
Love reading your article. You sure hit the nail on the head! I am a boomer and enjoyed shopping Uptown, Calhoun Square often. Even though I live in a nearby suburb. As a retired Minneapolis Public Schools teacher I appreciate you living in Mpls and your child attending a Mpls school! Unfortunately with all the crime and unsafeness in the Uptown area I think it keeps folks away. That’s so sad. I love your idea of a kids play area filling up Calhoun Square. Big old parking ramp right there- lots of shops, restaurants could be filling up the great empty spaces around Uptown. Fun yet to be had! Let’s hope we all will be back Uptown some day!
We are having a really great experience with our community school-- it's not perfect, but what school is?? I could write a book on all the reasons I'm glad my kids are there.
Yes, its a complicated situation! I don't want to minimize the crime, because it is real. I have seen an uptick in certain crimes, and the open use of drugs/unhoused situation doesn't help the vibe around here. That said, I do feel pretty safe here, and rely on common sense practices when I'm out and about. I worry more about distracted drivers than anything! I attended a public safety meeting last week, and do feel like things are moving in the right direction. It's challenging when people who rarely come to the city and have never had much of a relationship with it tell me "how bad it is." (This is not you, btw!). It's still a great place to live, and I am hopeful it will come back.
I hope it will come back too! I still walk the lakes in the Summer. Yup, you just have to be aware and cautious when you are out and about. We certainly don’t want the bad people to win and ruin our happiness in our wonderful city! I’m so happy you like your kids school- I’m curious where they go? BTW- I love how you write- very creative and so true, and a bit of humor. Good job!!!! Take Care- Barb
Yes, paying attention to your surroundings is important, no matter where you are! My kids are at Whittier elementary. The staff there is amazing, and I cannot believe the things my kids are learning. My second grader explained the concept of “opportunity costs” to me yesterday and I was like…. Pretty sure I didn’t learn that till college.😂
I am much older than you, but Uptown was cool even when I was young. In fact, for most of my young adult life Uptown was always the place to go. As someone who now lives in the suburbs, I feel it’s in the best interest of everyone who loves and lives in the greater Twin Cities area to have a thriving Mpls and St Paul. I am rooting for you and Uptown!
The Twin Cities lakes and neighborhoods have so much to offer but when there’s no where to park, all the local business that make a neighborhood cool and unique leave, and you worry about your safety it’s hard to go. Plus, unlike when I was younger, the suburbs and other surrounding towns have a lot to offer these days. You mentioned Edina as an example. Mpls and St Paul both have to compete with the rest of the Twin Cities for the local tourist dollar. Businesses will go where they think they can get the best return on their investment.
I am planning on spending a little time and money in both cities this weekend, but I hope Mpls and StP can turn it around soon.
Thank you for sharing-- I agree, there is a lot to contend with in the suburbs now. The one thing that you really can't replicate is the access to the lakes, and knowing that will alway be a draw gives me hope that Uptown will come back. :)
I am hopeful as well.
Uptown was the coolest. ComedySportz was like a second home for me. I really hope the neighborhood bounces back! How can it not?? Especially with such a rich film history: https://youtu.be/6k7RCsl3V7o?si=nWPA7YLkC3HOgHx-
Matt that was a really moving video. You really captured the essence of uptown. I’m surprised no one from the city reached out to use it for a major ad campaign. 😂
Thank you Molly — I actually got lots of offers (LA Fitness, etc) but my art is NOT FOR SALE!
One more thought - have you read the book Strong Towns (https://www.strongtowns.org/strong-towns-book)? The author focuses on rebuilding towns by creating a sense of place, prioritizing long-term financial solvency, and building a community where people want to live. I think some of it could apply to a particular neighborhood, too.
Not everything in the book will apply to your situation. However, he argues that rebuilding dense areas that once were thriving but are currently crumbling provides a far better return on investment for municipal dollars than new development. It takes a fraction of the funds to create profitable and thriving neighborhoods from existing ones rather than doing the same from the ground up. Some of his work might provide a fiscal basis for advocating for more investment in Uptown, which seems like a prime opportunity for the revitalization he discusses.
When the world feels like it's crappy, I love that you're going hyper-local to make life better. I don't live in that area, but I visit periodically and understand the decline you're describing. We used to visit this place - Snapology - https://www.snapology.com/regions/minneapolis-st-paul/ -- I think it's close to Uptown (ish)? Like you mentioned, parking was a challenge since we were coming from the suburbs. I wonder if they might have some ideas about what is working or challenging for them in attracting families and other businesses to rally together.
I can't speak to the local politics, but I LOVE your idea about rebuilding a place that caters to "cool" for a group not in their twenties. It's good to have spaces catering to different age groups. Although I'm not in Uptown, your post highlights how someone might think about a similar situation regardless of geography. Thanks for sharing!
Snapology is right down the street from us, and they actually do after school programs at my kids' school! Parking is tough if you're not familiar with the neighborhood. But guess what... if they were in Uptown proper and by that free and empty parking garage...
I think most people assume when you "grow up and have kids" you automatically leave for the suburbs. Which is a great place to raise a family! But so is a city. I've talked to a lot of people with kids in our neighborhood who had an "ah-ha!" moment when I brought this idea up-- like most of us hadn't even considered this as a vision for the city despite the fact that it would make our lives so much better.
Will check out that book, too. Thanks for all your thoughtful insight, per usual. ;)
Hi Molly! This happens with nightclubs also--the "cool place to be" moves around. So now it is NE MPLS. One place to start, IMO, is to get a new city council who doesn't vote to defund the police. MPLS really hurt its "brand" by allowing the riots and burning right down the road on Lake Street. Crime has increased. Need to address law and order first. People don't feel safe.
I agree that we all deserve to feel safe where we live. I don't feel terribly unsafe in my neighborhood, but have witnessed a spike in disordered behavior-- not crime exactly, but open drug use, encampments, people in the midst of mental health crisis. It's unsettling, and a huge problem. I agree that the city should be doing a lot more.
On the flip side, I get a lot of comments from people who don't live in Minneapolis/only come downtown for games or concerts and tell me how awful this city is. I've been asked if my kids are "allowed to play outside". And the answer is yes, absolutely, they are allowed to play outside. We have an amazing neighborhood, and a great park across the street from our house. I am proud to live here. There's a lot of stuff on the news that doesn't reflect our day-to-day lives.
I'm actually heading to a community safety meeting tonight, and hoping to see plans for making this city safer for everyone. Fingers crossed that it's being taken seriously.
Open drug use and encampments are crimes actually. The two of course go together and the city needs to make it uncomfortable for it to happen. If there are not enough shelter beds, we need to create more, but encampments should not be allowed. It's either shelter bed, jail or drug treatment/and or mental health treatment. It is inhumane to allow people to live on the streets and it destroys neighborhoods.
Sorry-- I meant violent versus non-violent crimes. The encampments are a big problem for so many reasons, and no one seems to want to touch them with a 10-foot pole. Figuring out a solution is hard, and will make people uncomfortable one way or the either, but something must be done.
Uptown was the peak of cool in the early 2000s. I was so jealous of my friends who lived there. It has been so sad to watch it slowly fall apart. I love your idea of making it fit the needs of the Millenials now that we are in our 30s and 40s. While reading your ideas, a 50th & France type area was what I was picturing. But with the larger area and proximity to the lakes, they could do so much more!
Yes, 50th & France, but so much cooler!
Beautifully written, Molly. All I can say is that I love the Uptown from before and resonate with so many of the comments below. I truly grew up on those streets as a teenager and found myself again there in my 20’s.