Minneapolis, MN
City of Minneapolis extends funding deadline for proposed urban farm at Roof Depot site
Extension for group looking to buy Roof Depot site
The community group hoping to buy and redevelop the Roof Depot site in Minneapolis is getting an extension to find funding.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – After a key deadline passed in July, a proposed urban farm project at the Roof Depot site in Minneapolis has new life.
What’s new?
The decade-long push to redevelop the former Roof Depot warehouse into an urban farm and housing co-op will continue for at least another year. The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday gave developers a one-year extension to purchase the property.
How will they pay for it?
But gathering the capital to finance the $11.4 million purchase has proven difficult. In May, the state legislature failed to pass a measure that would have forked over the remaining $5.7 million needed to close the deal. The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, a community organization spearheading the effort to purchase the vacant lot, raised $3.7 million itself, with another $2 million coming from the state.
What are they saying?
“Please see us. We deserve better. And we demand better,” said Kelly Morgan, who lives near the site of the proposed co-op.
He fears what will happen if the project ultimately fails to move forward.
“It will be another injustice committed against Little Earth of United tribes, specifically, and all of East Phillips residents.”
Background
The city initially planned to convert the property into a public works facility, but abandoned that idea after community pushback. The city then agreed to sell the property to developers, who have struggled to secure the necessary funding.
“I don’t think we can ever be 100 percent confident in politics, right?” said State Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, DFL-Minneapolis. “And, as we saw, really heartbreakingly, in May, $5.7 million was on the line and didn’t pass.”
But even if developers secure the required capital, they will need millions more to start construction.
“It isn’t all roses,” said Council Member Jason Chavez, who represents Ward 9. “Once the state gets this done, which I feel very confident that we can do, the county and the city will need to team up and work together on the development of the project and making sure that this gets off the ground.”
Chavez noted that funding for construction could also come from private sources, such as investors or philanthropists. He said federal grants for that phase of the project are complicated now because developers do not own the property.
The new deadline for developers to close on the property is Sept. 15, 2025.
Timeline
Minneapolis police say they are investigating three separate, unrelated shootings that happened within the span of about 20 minutes Thursday night.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis police say they are investigating three separate, unrelated shootings that happened within the span of about 20 minutes Thursday night.
Minneapolis shootings
What we know:
Authorities responded to a shooting at about 6:29 p.m. on the 400 block of Taylor Street NE.
Less than 10 minutes later, police responded to a shooting on the 2000 block of West River Road.
At about 6:46 p.m., police responded to a shooting on the 800 block of Franklin Ave. E.
Police say their preliminary information indicates each shooting had one victim. All injuries appear to be non-life threatening.
Shootings not connected
What we don’t know:
Police say in their investigation, it doesn’t appear that the three shootings are related. Authorities have not made any arrests.
The incidents remain under investigation.
The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday voted to temporarily extend the eviction notice period for renters in an effort to help support residents impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
Under the ordinance, which was approved 7-5, landlords would need to wait 60 days — not the typical 30 — before bringing an eviction notice to a renter. If approved by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the 60-day requirement would stay in effect until Aug. 31.
Supporters of the ordinance said Operation Metro Surge left residents out of work and relying on mutual aid networks to pay rent.
“Preventing eviction is always more cost-effective than trying to re-house someone who has been evicted,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley, who represents Ward 2.
Wonsley, alongside members Elliott Payne, Jamal Osman, Aisha Chughtai, Soren Stevenson, Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury voted in favor of the resolution. Council member Jamison Whiting abstained from voting.
The city estimates Operation Metro Surge led to an additional $15.7 million in monthly need for rental support. Last month, council members approved $1 million in rental assistance for Hennepin County to help families impacted by the surge.
MANCHESTER, Iowa — A Minnesota man has been arrested in Manchester after police say he attempted to meet someone he believed was a minor for sexual activity.
The Manchester Police Department said Robert Fenn Eselby III, 23, of Minneapolis was arrested Feb. 27 following an undercover investigation.
According to police, Eselby contacted an undercover officer posing as a juvenile through several social media platforms. Authorities said he was informed multiple times that the person he was communicating with was underage.
Investigators say Eselby sent explicit photos and videos and later arranged to travel to Manchester to meet the supposed minor for sexual activity.
Police said Eselby was taken into custody immediately after arriving in Manchester and was transported to the Delaware County Jail.
Authorities also said Eselby allegedly attempted to ask an arresting officer out on a date during the booking process.
Eselby faces one count of grooming, a Class D felony, and one count of disseminating obscene material to a minor, a serious misdemeanor.
Court records show he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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