Lifting up Lake Street

“I’m thrilled to see Lake Street back and thriving, and there’s more to come,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley during an event at the former US Bank site at 2800 E. Lake St.
The bank was damaged during the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd by Third Precinct officers based a block down E. Lake St. The site is the next to be redeveloped by a coalition led by Redesign, Inc. and owned by community members. Last summer, the Coliseum building at 2708 E. Lake St. reopened.
Redesign believes in people and place, according to its executive director Andy Hestness. They aim to bring the various voices of neighbors into the development process. As they work to redevelop the former US Bank site at 2800 E. Lake St., they’re seeking ideas and comments during the Skate and Sauna events each weekend in March. Through March 30, attendees can enjoy free ice skating on an outdoor pop-up synthetic rink Thursdays to Sundays, along with the chance to steam it out in a mobile Art Shanty Projects and Urban Wing sauna (Saturdays and Sundays only). There are also on-site art installations and creative programming.
“That’s what the southside is,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley. “We’re full of whimsy and love.”
Conley remembers driving down East Lake Street after the civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder and feeling like everything from her childhood was gone and all hope was lost. “But what was very clear to me was we weren’t going to let that happen. The people, the neighbors, I could see everyone coming together. We were going to come back,” she said during an event on March 13, 2025 at the former US Bank site.
“We want you to come here and experience the joy. We also want you to join us in conversation about what the future of this space should be,” said Hestness. “How can we envision how we can take these spaces that experienced damage, experienced the incredible trauma that our community had in May 2020 and these can now be spaces of healing and joy not just for a couple of weeks but forever?”
Hestness praised the partnership between government, non-profits and neighbors that make Lake Street Lift possible.
In 2023, the state of Minnesota appropriated $8 million to the city of Minneapolis to support the economic health and vitality of the Lake Street Corridor. The Graves Foundation is administering the funds. Lake Street Lift officially began on Nov. 1, 2024, focusing on East Lake Street from Nicollet Avenue to 30th Avenue South, and the project ends on June 30, 2025.
“This is about this incredible cultural hub, this soul of the southside that has risen,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
“Lake Street is a dynamic, well-loved place that offers a diversity of products and experiences to visitors and customers,” stated Charise Canales, manager of placemaking and activation at the Lake Street Council. “Through creative partnerships, events and unique experiences, the Lake Street Lift initiative helps us tell Lake Street’s story and boost the many minority and immigrant-owned businesses along Lake Street by encouraging visitors to spend their dollars locally – a meaningful way to support our small business community.”
Northeast Minneapolis resident Bill Graves of the Graves Foundation remarked, “We love Minneapolis. We love the people of Minneapolis.” The Graves Foundation is glad to be a part of Lake Street Lift, he said, “especially now being able to highlight what culture can do in bringing people together in an area. That is so important.”
More community art and events are planned as a part of Lake Street Lift. These include public murals and other art installations, cultural festivals and food tours, and the beautification of underutilized spaces.
Up next will be a Mural Bonanza from April to June.

PIECES OF THE LIFT
According to www.lakestreetlift.org: 
• Lake Street Lift is looking for big ideas to energize Lake Street and make this corridor the arts and events epicenter of Minneapolis in 2025. To get there, they aim to partner with local creatives and the wider arts community to create unforgettable experiences and events. These experiences can be everything from cultural festivals or art installations to food tours or digital projections. Funding will be between $10-$50,000, with an average support of $15,000.
• This program provides funding for community activation and events along the Lake Street corridor to continue to support healing, beautification efforts, and economic rehabilitation that are needed to address the dynamic needs of the community. Sponsorships range from $2,500 -$10,000.
• The festivals cohort is a partnership with The Great Northern to create a six-month comprehensive initiative aimed at strengthening festival creators with skills, resources, and support to successfully manage and execute a high-quality festival. It will address the key components of festival production, including staff, programming, production, marketing, and outreach. Funding ranges from $75,000-$100,000 and requires participation in the cohort, which has already been selected.
• This program will provide general business advice to small businesses and nonprofits located on Lake Street between Nicollet Avenue S. and 30th Avenue S. Advising can include: legal (non-representational), insurance, accounting/bookkeeping and POS systems. Businesses can also get marketing and branding advice.
• Lake Street Lift will leverage a network of experts in real estate and related fields to provide assistance and consulting services to local developers, entrepreneurs, and business and property owners that need support moving their real estate and development projects forward.