How about a partnership to restore and/or repurpose?

BY JANA METGE

So, I have to vent. I was baptized and confirmed Lutheran. The leadership at Messiah Lutheran Church here in Phillips plans to demolish this gorgeous church located at 25th and Columbus. It is a Harry Wild Jones design. Few left in this city. Look at the fabulous pipe organ. This is such waste and  disrespect. Demolish something with this kind of craftsmanship? It makes me sick. Shame on those who made this decision; who didn”'t reach out to develop a better plan, one that did not include demolition of such a work of art. Such disrespect for the Elders who struggled to build this sanctuary– their painstaking efforts, deliberate design, and skill.

I am really frustrated with the leadership of this congregation. I am very frustrated with the Hospital”'s lack of vision. I am posting this and I hope everyone will post far and wide. This is a disgrace. A terrible, terrible disgrace. Are there no solutions? None? Really?

And worse, the Hospital. The corporation which had a Good Neighbor Agreement. Then, offering the church leadership big money to demolish this antiquity. Neither party respecting the history. The $800,000 offered would go a long way towards the reuse of this incredible structure designed by Harry Wild Jones; craftsmanship to never be seen again.… Read the rest “How about a partnership to restore and/or repurpose?”

Messiah: Raised or Razed?

Messiah Church”'s compelling interior Architectural Art by Architect
Harry Wild Jones

UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE MESSIAH PROPERTY, Nov. 30, 2017: When a property owner applies for a demolition permit, it is checked for inclusion on a list of buildings “of historic interest” and if on that list the Mpls. Heritage Preservation Commission is requested to decide pursuit any further. By unanimous vote, Messiah Church building was considered to merit preservation requirements by the Minneapolis Preservation Commission. Their opinion was forwarded to the Minneapolis City Council Zoning and Planning Committee. It was denied on a unanimous vote after 6^th Ward Council Member Abdi Warsame”'s motion. This was most likely due to the idea of “Councilmember privilege” which means the other Councilmembers honor the position of the Councilmember in whose ward the property is located.

The decision is now up to the Messiah Congregation. Phillips Community worked tirelessly to negotiate with Children”'s MN over the years to establish covenants of understanding about land use issues and working to have Children”'s MN stay within a certain boundary of blocks so that residential and commercial could continue to respectfully coexist? Will Messiah do its part to respect and uphold those covenants of their neighbors and the history of the community that has helped to sustain them or will they succumb to only examining this issue from the perspective or what is good for them and their own gain?… Read the rest “Messiah: Raised or Razed?”

Nov. 30th Meal, Meeting, & Vote: The Roof Depot Site: East Phillips Institute 3 Acre Plan Decision

Aerial concept rendering by DJR Architects of the 7 Acre former Roof Depot site with the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute”'s 3 Acre Plan shown in color.

BY BRAD PASS

An estimated two hundred community members came together on the last day of November to hear two plans, the City Plan and the Community Plan, for the Roof Depot Site at the intersection of the Midtown Greenway and E 28^th St in South Minneapolis. They came together to exercise their right as defined by the first principal of community engagement, passed by the Minneapolis City Council in 2007; “Public participation is based on belief that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process.”

City representatives Lisa Cerney and Mark Ruff gave a presentation explaining the critical importance of providing safe and reliable water and sewer for the city and the need for a new facility from which to operate.

Community members including State Rep. Karen Clark, EPIC Board President Carol Pass, C.M. Alondra Cano, all members of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) with help from Hennepin County Commissioner Debby Goetell and Dean Dovolis ”“ founder of DJR Architecture, Inc, presented the Community Plan.… Read the rest “Nov. 30th Meal, Meeting, & Vote: The Roof Depot Site: East Phillips Institute 3 Acre Plan Decision”