Midtown Exchange opening overflows with people, good will
Council contributed $7.8 million to help revitalize center
Colorful puppets were larger than life. Several thousand people listened to speeches and visited the new Global Market. Public officials spoke enthusiastically about neighborhood revitalization and the cooperation of many players – public, private and nonprofit. Food vendors in the market shared free samples of their wares.
The grand opening of the Midtown Exchange on Lake St. and Chicago Ave. in Minneapolis on June 3 was one big celebration.
Not every redevelopment project that the Metropolitan Council invests in through its Livable Communities program opens with such fanfare. Then again, not every project faced as many obstacles and transformed a historic structure like the former Sears Tower.
People wait outside the Global Market for the doors to open after the ceremony. MORE PHOTOS OF THE OPENING DAY CELEBRATIONS
Speakers praised the vision and persistence of mayors past and present, city and county officials, Ryan Companies (the developer), Allina Hospitals and Clinics (their headquarters is the project’s major tenant) and members of the community for bringing the $190 million revitalization project to fruition. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) coordinated the ceremony and staged a brief history play about the area of the project site.
“It’s important that we always remember that where we are now is because of something else that happened before,” said HOBT’s artistic director, Sandy Spieler, in an interview.
The Metropolitan Council provided funding for asbestos removal and other clean-up activities; construction of a parking ramp; window replacement to restore the Sears building to historic standards; and gap financing to provide affordable loft units. In total, the Council gave grants of more than $7.8 million over a period of eight years.
The Council also built a new transit center on the site. Passengers on Routes 5, 21, and 53 can wait in air conditioning in summer and in heat in winter for their buses to arrive. The center is much safer for passengers, who no longer have to cross the busy intersection of Chicago and Lake in order to transfer buses.
"The Council, including Metro Transit, is a proud neighbor and investor in this development," said Council Chair Peter Bell. "Participation in this project reflects the Council's commitment to quality transportation and support for redevelopment."