Map of Developments

Converting the Sheraton into a Care Facility 

The old Sheraton building at 2901 Chicago Ave—originally constructed as a 136-unit luxury hotel and later used as a shelter during the height of the pandemic—is now being converted into a 182-person, state-credentialed care facility. The stated applicant for this project is the Midtown Health and Recovery Center. The residential services would be managed by “Sobriety Inc.com LLC”, managed by Jeremy Hover, the founder of Change Place.

 

The first floor will feature a mix of offices, a kitchen, a coffee shop, and group meeting rooms. Floors 2 through 4 will be transformed into residential spaces, with each room accommodating two individuals. Rooms on floors 3 and 4 will also include small kitchenettes and living rooms.

 

According to the Minneapolis zoning code, a state-credentialed care facility (SCCF) is defined as a congregate living use where individuals reside under the care and supervision of a program licensed by the State of Minnesota or Hennepin County. Guests arrive with a reservation, check in, have access to private or semi-private sleeping rooms, and depart once their program ends.

 

Pursuant to state licensing requirements and anticipated conditions of approval for the conditional use permit, 24-hour staffing will be provided for the SCCF component of the property. In addition, supplemental 24-hour on-site security services will be deployed once the property is operational serving all three proposed uses: (1) the SCCF, (2) the clinical operation, and (3) the coffee shop. Within the building, enhanced security measures will be implemented for floors two through four. Access to these floors will be strictly limited to authorized individuals to ensure a care-focused, secure environment.

 

Under the SCCF model proposed for this site, clients typically stay between 30 and 90 days while receiving supportive services. Two components of the facility will be open to the general public: a coffee shop/café and a medical office offering outpatient services such as counseling, therapy, and behavioral health care.

 

The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development evaluated the application based on a range of factors, including public health, access to goods and services, infrastructure, transportation systems, visual quality, and landscaping.

 

On Monday, July 7, the Planning Commission reviewed and unanimously approved the proposal in a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Angela Conley raised thoughtful and important questions, encouraging the applicant to consider the neighborhood's history, the building’s past uses, future site management, and increased community engagement. The proposal now moves to the City Council for a vote.

 

The Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association and the Phillips West Neighborhood Association will host a community meeting about the project later this summer. Follow us for updates.

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14th Ave Townhomes Development

(see presentation) 

14th Ave Townhomes is constructing 10 units of affordable, owner-occupied housing in Midtown Phillips.  The project consists of (3) one bedroom, (4) two-bedroom, and (3) four-bedroom townhomes, all for sale to qualified buyers at or below 60% Area Medium Income. This project is expected to achieve near-net-zero energy consumption providing additional affordability for owners/occupants.

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Lake / Chicago Project 

The Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) is building an innovation center on Lake & Chicago. Please see the slideshow below to learn more about the presentation. 

(see presentation)

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1200 Lake St E parcel

According to the RCA that was submitted by CPED, LUL Bros proposes an eight-story, new construction project that includes 54 affordable multifamily units and 4,444 square feet of commercial space in the Midtown Phillips neighborhood. The City-owned lot at 1200 Lake St E is an unbuildable parcel. The developer intends to combine the lot at 1200 Lake St E with the adjacent property at 1204 Lake St E that LUL Bros currently owns. The residential component anticipates a mix of six studios, six one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units. Affordability levels are to be determined and agreed upon in the Redevelopment Agreement. The project also contemplates 21 underground parking spaces.

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16th Ave Expansion of Care Facility

On January 9, 2025, the East Phillips Improvement Coalition (EPIC) hosted a community meeting about a proposed room and board facility at 2720 and 2724 16th Ave S. The facility would provide supportive housing for people in recovery who are receiving outpatient treatment elsewhere.

 

The organization behind the proposal, Pathway 2 Recovery, describes itself as “dedicated to transforming lives through comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals battling substance abuse disorders.” Founded in late 2024, Pathway to Recovery offers services such as supervised safe-use shelters, social work and case management, legal assistance with expungement, and STI awareness and testing. The founder, Sadik Ali, works as a hospital internal medicine consultant and medical director at Mayo Clinic’s progressive care unit.

 

Pathway to Recovery has requested an increase in the capacity of the two homes: from 6 to 10 people at 2724 16th Ave S, and from 6 to 14 people at 2720 16th Ave S. The planning commission approved this request, and now it’s up to Pathway 2 Recovery to be a good neighbor. 

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In response to concerns raised by local residents, EPIC and MPNAI organized a meeting and invited Sadik Ali and Jason Lennox (who submitted the land use application) to present on their organization and plans for the properties. Unfortunately, neither of them attended the meeting.
 

Despite this, ten community members showed up to voice their concerns, ask questions, and discuss next steps. Some of the main concerns raised were about the safety and well-being of vulnerable residents living near the opioid epidemic, potential risks of drug dealers targeting the area, and whether Pathway 2 Recovery is committed to being a responsible and engaged neighbor. Other concerns included wanting to know about the organization's track record in organizing sober housing, the rules in place to ensure safety and sobriety, and questions about whether Pathway 2 Recovery is more focused on profit than recovery.

 

Community members have a list of questions they want Pathway 2 Recovery to answer, including:

• Are there tenants currently living at the houses? If so, how many?

• What house rules are in place to promote sobriety and safety?

• Is there a house manager?

• Do you have culturally relevant practices in place?

• Do you operate other locations?

• Can you provide statistics and records from other houses you’ve managed?

• Is there an outpatient clinic involved in this project?

• Would increasing the number of residents increase risks or strengthen the community?

 

EPIC is asking Pathway 2 Recovery to meet with the community to address these concerns and work together on a more thoughtful, collaborative plan moving forward.

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Proposed Redevelopment of 2601–2605 14th Avenue South

Overview
The site located at 2601–2605 14th Avenue South was previously approved by the city of Minneapolis for a redevelopment proposal by Nimco Ltd to construct four townhouse units (each 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom), supported by $210,000 in public subsidy to promote affordable housing.

 

The developer has since revised the project plan significantly. The new proposal would increase the number of rental units to 15, and would be completed without public subsidy. See a  rendering of the proposed design below. 

 

Housing Details

• Total Units Proposed: 15 rental units

• Unit Breakdown:

  • 8 one-bedroom units

  • 5 two-bedroom units

  • 2 three-bedroom units
     

• Affordability Requirements:

  • 50% of residents will be low-income

  • 20% of the property will be restricted to households earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), in accordance with city requirements
     

Parking & Zoning Considerations

• Midtown Phillips is a designated high-transit area; therefore, no parking is required by city ordinance.

• The complex only offers two off street parking spots. The community has concern on parking already being limited. With an additional 15-units community members feel like it will bog down the streets. The developer could choose to reduce the number of units slightly to incorporate up to two additional parking spaces. 

• The lot is already zoned for multifamily use, and the developer is designing the project to avoid the need for any variances.

• Minneapolis does not require basements in new residential construction.
   

Design & Neighborhood Compatibility

• The design has sparked some community concern, with comments indicating that it may not be visually consistent with the existing neighborhood fabric.

  • The architect and developer are actively working to design a project that incrementally increases residential capacity in a way that minimizes disruption to the neighborhood’s character.
     

Security & Management

• The building will feature secure entry via a coded access system.

• On-site property management will be provided as part of the development plan.
   

Community Impact & Equity

• Questions have been raised regarding how this project might contribute to generational wealth creation within the community. At this time, the developer has not communicated any strategy to complete this.

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Approval Process & Timeline

• The developer will engage with the community prior to submitting the updated proposal to the Minneapolis Planning Commission.

• A public hearing will follow at the City Council, where council members will vote on whether to approve the revised project.

• Public notice signs will be posted on the property at least ten days prior to the scheduled hearing.
   

Construction Timeline

• Estimated construction duration: approximately 12 months

• Estimated total project timeline: minimum of 2 years from current stage to final completion