Minneapolis, MN
Displaced Bell Lofts families on verge of homelessness
![Displaced Bell Lofts families on verge of homelessness](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox9.com/www.fox9.com/content/uploads/2022/12/1280/720/bell-lofts-pipe-break.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Displaced Bell Lofts households on verge of homelessness
The flooded flooring at Historic Bell Lofts despatched households scrambling for brand new houses in late December. In mid-February, 9 households are left dwelling in a resort, nonetheless in search of one thing extra everlasting and reasonably priced.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Virtually two months after a flood associated to the sprinkler system at a north Minneapolis condominium constructing displaced roughly 21 tenants, solely about half have discovered everlasting housing, and now the remaining group of 9 households is dealing with the potential of homelessness.
Steve Yang, his spouse and their 5 kids, who vary in age from new child via 12 years previous, are among the many group of former Bell Lofts tenants at present staying on the TownePlace Suites resort in Minneapolis whereas they search for new housing.
“It’s horrible,” mentioned Vang. “It’s disturbing, and it’s inflicting us to go loopy. , if I had lengthy hair, longer than this, I might be pulling it out proper now.”
The flooded flooring at Historic Bell Lofts despatched households scrambling for brand new houses in late December, and the town condemned the constructing days later.
Like different residents, Vang was underneath the impression that the price of their resort keep has been taken care of by a gaggle of nonprofits which have been concerned in serving to residents, together with The Minneapolis Basis, Pillsbury United Communities, and It Takes a Village, a small native nonprofit.
However this week, he discovered from resort employees that there’s a giant unpaid invoice, and the residents, together with 5 different households with kids, must go away by Saturday.
Associated tales: Bell Lofts: Ex-residents of condemned Minneapolis constructing plead for landlord accountability
Vang says he’s utilized for leases and for governmental assist however has gotten nowhere. He’s heard the shelters are full and doesn’t know the place to show.
“It tells me I higher simply pack up and get my household into my automobile,” he mentioned. “Wherever it takes us, we go there.”
The Pillsbury Basis Interim President and CEO Brenna Brelie despatched an pressing letter Wednesday asking metropolis and county officers to intervene and canopy the price of the resident’s resort keep.
“Stop them from turning into homeless and remove the stress that comes from the fixed risk of being kicked out to allow them to give attention to discovering everlasting housing, attending to work and caring for their households,” she wrote.
The residents have obtained assist for relocation prices, together with three months’ hire for the town, in addition to reward playing cards distributed by Pillsbury United, however there has not been constant devoted funding for the resort keep.
Residents say their former landlord coated the primary few days, from Dec. 28 via Jan.3 Then, the Minneapolis Basis stepped in, however just for two weeks, protecting Jan 4-18, in line with an announcement from the inspiration.
At that time, the inspiration made a grant of $50,000 to Pillsbury United Communities to “present additional assist to households as they make the transition to secure housing.” PUC obtained one other $10,000 got here from a Gofundme organized by the previous landlord.
Nevertheless, this meant there was no devoted supply of funding for the resort prices. The north Minneapolis based mostly nonprofit It Takes a Village paid at the least a few of that expense — founder Dyonyca Conley-Rush instructed FOX 9 that her group paid the resort $10,000 on Wednesday, however emails shared with FOX 9 present that there’s nonetheless an impressive steadiness of at the least $10,000.
The letter from Pillsbury United additionally requested the town to assist the tenants who misplaced their houses and to develop protocols for when emergencies like this pop up, as in addition they did after the Drake Resort fireplace in 2019.
Nevertheless it won’t be quickly sufficient for the Vangs.
“My youngsters, they begin crying as a result of they see different youngsters speak about how they’re going to go residence with their household and spend time with their household, and so they don’t have a house to go to,” Steven Vang mentioned.
Mayor Jacob Frey’s workplace tells us the town is open to conversations about bettering protocols after emergencies.
The landlords say they’re working with everybody who’s making an attempt to assist the previous residents. Additionally they hope to get Bell Lofts again open for tenants, however they don’t have a timeline.
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Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis offers $2 million a year to host the Sundance Film Festival
![Minneapolis offers $2 million a year to host the Sundance Film Festival](https://www.twincities.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sundance_Film_Festival_68594_183c5d.jpg?w=1024&h=681)
The city of Minneapolis is vying for the chance to host the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 and beyond, and has pledged $2 million in annual support to back it up.
“With our thriving arts and entertainment scene, diverse cultural heritage and passionate film community, Minneapolis is the ideal backdrop for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a news release. “There is no city that embraces the arts quite like we do — and Minneapolis already has a long history of supporting independent filmmakers and their art of storytelling. Sundance would be a welcome addition to our theater community, and we’re excited to throw our hat in the ring to host this world-renowned festival.”
In April, Sundance organizers announced they were looking for a new location for the festival, which has called Utah home since its founding in 1985. The festival has faced leadership and sponsorship problems as well as declining attendance in recent years. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously moved to bid for the festival and the city submitted its proposal on June 21.
The CEOs from Target, Best Buy and U.S. Bancorp have committed to provide $2 million each year to sustain and grow the festival. “Everybody wants to be a part of this,” said Film North executive director Andrew Peterson.
In its pitch, Minneapolis touted its “unparalleled private sector, philanthropic and governmental support for the festival, combined with robust existing infrastructure, a nation-leading arts and culture scene, and its welcoming and inclusive community.”
According to Deadline, Sundance will send a search committee to potential new home cities over the next few months. A decision is expected to be made public during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place in late January. San Francisco, Chicago, Boulder, Atlanta, Buffalo and Santa Fe have also expressed interest in hosting the festival.
Founded in 1978 by the head of Robert Redford’s production company, Sundance set out to showcase American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film and increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah.
Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Kevin Smith and Robert Rodriguez are among the many directors who earned vital early exposure through the festival.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis makes bid for Sundance Film Festival
Minneapolis is one of the final locations bidding to host the Sundance Film Fest in 2027.
Sundance organizers announced in April they were exploring a new home for the festival, moving it away from its 40-year home in Park City, Utah. Within days, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously moved to submit a bid. The city submitted its proposal on June 21.
“With our thriving arts and entertainment scene, diverse cultural heritage, and passionate film community, Minneapolis is the ideal backdrop for the Sundance Film Festival,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
The city has established a cross-sector host committee to support the bid and potential festival, made up of leaders like Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter — alongside others from government, philanthropy, arts and culture, economic development and media. Together, the committee has pledged to offer upward of $2 million in annual support to sustain and expand the festival.
“Everybody wants to be a part of this,” said Andrew Peterson, Film North executive director.
Government and philanthropic support are a key part of Minneapolis’ bid, alongside its winter infrastructure, theater district, and nation-leading arts and culture scene, organizers said.
Sundance established a two-part process for the search: an informational bid, then proposal. The final selection will likely come during the next festival, planned for Jan. 23-Feb. 2, according to entertainment website deadline.com.
Minneapolis, MN
“We’re back”: Summer events draw crowds to downtown Minneapolis
![“We’re back”: Summer events draw crowds to downtown Minneapolis](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/08/02a21b2b-2277-45df-a47a-d2f8068e8b45/thumbnail/1200x630/57b4a74458ad1c518b572edff207e355/video-2-downtown-reboun-wcco5q5a.jpg?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
MINNEAPOLIS — For a second weekend in a row, events are drawing major crowds to downtown Minneapolis. To meet demand, Taste of Minnesota was doubled in size this year.
“There’s 50 food vendors and 50 artist vendors, but then we also have about 20 community supporter vendors,” Taste of Minnesota Community Ambassador Teke O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly said events like this fuel the future of downtown Minneapolis, which has struggled to rebound since the pandemic.
“I feel strongly that this has really revitalized downtown Minneapolis. In a significant and total way,” he said.
Preliminary numbers from Meet Minneapolis show hotel occupancy in the last week of June, during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, was at 74.6%, the third highest week since 2020.
Hotels reported earning more than $11.6 million that week — the highest since the week of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour last summer. The numbers don’t include Sunday, June 30, which was the last day of the trials and Twin Cities Pride.
“We’re back. It’s a safe environment, it’s a very welcoming environment,” O’Reilly said.
Minneapolis hotels have recorded more than $40.9 million in total guest room revenue in June 2024. The last time Minneapolis hotels surpassed $40 million was in October 2018.
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