Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis looks to transform third police precinct that burned into
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis city leaders are ready to move forward with a plan for the Third Precinct police station that burned during the civil unrest in 2020, which has stood vacant since. But the proposal — which would move city election services there — still faces some pushback from the city council and will take years to implement.
The plan would renovate the building and make it a “democracy center,” moving elections services from a building the city leases in Northeast Minneapolis to that site and also create 8,000 square feet of community space.
City staff presented to the City Council during a committee meeting Tuesday findings from two surveys of residents that show broad support for the changes, which has been the subject of debate for the last few years. Community engagement was a request of the council and the results show support outweighs opposition by more than three to one.
“It’s time for our city to move forward. It’s time for a vision at the old Third Precinct building to take shape,” said Mayor Jacob Frey in a news conference before the meeting.
Council members did not take a formal vote on the concept but discussed the proposal, which still needs formal design planning. Frey and his staff said they intend to move forward with it, though ultimately will need Council buy-in to fund parts of the project.
The meeting came just one day after Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance held a news conference outside the precinct, accusing his opponent Gov. Tim Walz of a failure of leadership at that time.
“Let’s not hand JD Vance a prop to use in a political way,” Frey said of the four years the police station has stood without any transformation.
Margaret Kelliher, the city operations officer, said the goal would be for the project to be complete by 2029, when the city’s current lease for the building that houses elections services expires. Work fixing the inside of Third Precinct building is underway, like replacing windows and elevator shafts, though its exterior is still guarded by fences and in some cases topped with razor wire.
But some on the council would prefer the site to transform fully into community space and raised concern with some of the needed renovations to move election services to that location, including a warehouse space that officials say is necessary for security of election equipment and would also allow for training of poll workers.
“The community I represent particularly is tired of fighting for crumbs when they should be earning and getting the entire loaf of bread. That’s what I told my residents I would fight for,” said Council Member Jason Chavez.
The meeting grew tense at times as council members sparred over the vision for the site, which is referred to simply as its address of 3000 Minnehaha [Avenue] in discussion. The council separately approved last year a new site for the police station, a building the city bought and will renovate.
“It feels as though some of my colleagues are desperate for any object to 3000 Minnehaha and this has been going on for too long,” said Council Member Linea Palmisano. “Enough is enough.”
Minneapolis, MN
Broken A/C leaves 75-year-old cancer patient sweltering at north Minneapolis apartments
Apartment complex A/C problem
Scorching heat is making life miserable for some at heritage park apartments in north Minneapolis. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni explains the situation.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Tenants at Heritage Park in north Minneapolis have had to settle for fans to cool off as broken air conditioning units remain unrepaired during a stretch of scorching heat.
Tenants say broken A/C units are just the latest problem
What we know:
Multiple tenants are dealing with broken air conditioning units, leaving their homes uncomfortably hot during the day and even hotter at night.
“I don’t like it very much at all. And especially with somebody running back and forth to the hospital, I don’t need all this stress,” said Eddie Robinson, a tenant at the complex. “It’s an oven.”
Temperatures inside Robinson’s apartment routinely climb into the 80s, and he said it gets even hotter at night because he must lock up his windows for safety.
“People will come in your house if they see a window open,” he said.
But Robinson said it is actually one of the better apartments he has lived in during his dozen years at Heritage Park.
“The first unit – the rats took it over,” he said.
None of the three air conditioning units outside his building were working on Monday, and he said he could not find anyone to fix them.
Other problems at the complex
The backstory:
Heritage Park has faced ongoing complaints from tenants about rats, mold, leaks and poor water pressure, among other concerns.
City Council Member Pearll Warren recently posted a video on social media showing moldy walls and dirty floors.
Outside the buildings, there are broken stairs, busted lights and boarded-up windows.
These issues have prompted the Minneapolis NAACP to call for the city’s public housing chief to step down.
The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, which owns the land but does not maintain the property, said it is working with the court-appointed receiver to address hundreds of open maintenance orders. The agency said the previous owner ran into financial trouble and stopped making repairs. The property entered receivership in late 2025.
Robinson, who is 75 and battling cancer, said he is just trying to make it through the summer with his support dog, Lele.
“I got to keep water out for her all the time, you know. Otherwise, she’ll get dehydrated,” he said.
The management company, Property Solutions & Services Inc., said it is offering portable air conditioners to tenants with broken central units, but Robinson said he does not want one because they do not help.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai taking mental health leave for a month
Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai said Monday she will be taking a monthlong leave to seek outpatient care for her mental health.
Chughtai said her “office will remain open to continue serving the people of Ward 10,” but she will miss the council meeting on July 16. She plans to return before the July 30 meeting.
“I love representing the people of this Ward. It’s the greatest honor of my life. And that’s why I feel obligated to do so to the best of my abilities,” Chughtai said in a statement. “Because of the current state of my mental health, I fear falling short of that obligation. That’s why I’m briefly stepping back. I fully expect to return energized and ready to give more than ever for the people of Ward 10 and everyone in the city.”
In her statement, Chughtai cited “a high-stakes election … several mass shootings, and a federal occupation” as recent stressors on her mental health.
Chughtai said she has notified the council and Mayor Jacob Frey, and encouraged Ward 10 residents to contact her office via email with any questions or concerns.
“I know that when I return, I’ll be back stronger, ready to form deeper partnerships, and ready to fight even harder for our neighbors,” she said.
Chughtai was first elected in 2021 to represent Ward 10, which includes the south Minneapolis neighborhoods of East Bde Maka Ska, East Isles, Lowry Hill East, South Uptown and Whittier.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, get help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day to talk about anything.
In addition, help is available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640. There are more than 600 local NAMI organizations and affiliates across the country, many of which offer free support and education programs.
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