notes from the kick-off meeting

Below is a summary of comments from the Minnesota Renaissance Initiative's 38th and Chicago Task Force kick-off meeting. The meeting was held on January 28 2004 in the basement of Calvary Church on 39th and Chicago.

Participants worked in groups to give their ideas for improving the node, as well listing what they thought would be good additions to the mix of businesses or uses in the area.

The comments were recorded on boards and later compiled. Given the great number of comments we obtained, we condensed them into the main themes which are presented below, along with some representative comments.

To view the full list of comments obtained, please follow this link >

main themes

the area in context

• 38th and Chicago needs to be put in context of other intersections - 48th and Chicago, 38th and 4th, etc. - it doesn't exist in isolation from rest of neighborhood.
• Four neighborhoods come together at 38th and Chicago - to succeed, close coordination and cooperation is needed.
• Explore the area's connection with nearby neighborhood institutions
• The development at Sears site can have positive effects on 38th and Chicago
• There is a LRT stop at 38th and Hiawatha - how does that relate to improvement along 38th?
• There is the possibility of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on 35W, with a possible stop at 38th - how does that affect our node? 

connecting with youth and each other

• I would like to see more things for youth, we need help, we understand everything, help us make more great things to keep us out of trouble.
• Citizens walking the streets can help connect us (how about forming a taskforce to talk to young people?)
• Create more reasons for people who live in the neighborhood to walk to the intersection

using the arts as tools for connection and improvement

• Set up film, photography workshops for youth - other cities, including San Francisco have used this model successfully
• Set up an education center / workshop space for artists to work out of
• This could be a place where street musicians could perform
• Set up artists quarters (workshops, education, training, co-ops) 

peoples' empowerment zone

• This needs to be a peoples' empowerment zone!
• Offer business training for existing businesses
• Work on establishing a cooperative business in the area. Explore possibilities of a food cooperative, a woodworking co-op with onsite rental of equipment (nothing in Minneapolis now), or artists' cooperative