October 2024 Advocacy Updates

Photo by munshots

Affordable Housing and Community Empowerment: What’s Next for Minneapolis?

Across the country, affordable housing policies are being proposed that could significantly impact community stability, tenant power, and quality of life. One of these policies, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), gives tenants—or their representatives—the first chance to buy their building when the owner decides to sell, along with the right to match third-party offers.

Here in Minneapolis, the Housing Justice League—a coalition of community organizations advocating for housing justice—is pushing for a strong TOPA policy. Their goal is to empower all renters with the first right to purchase their buildings or transfer that right to a buyer of their choosing when the property is put up for sale.

The City of Minneapolis, however, has expressed interest in passing a Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) first, viewing it as a potential stepping stone toward implementing TOPA.

If you are interested in learning more please reach out to HJL at fadumo@ayadahleads.org 

Learn about TOPA

The Struggles of Community Engagement and the Future of the Speedway Site

Over the past four years, the city has conducted vision workshops focused on the Speedway site near George Floyd Square. These workshops have been critiqued, particularly regarding genuine community engagement. Although the city purchased the Speedway in 2022, they are now looking to sell it to a developer, with promises of listening to community input. However, some feel the city is merely posturing, avoiding real accountability for what has transpired.

The community alongside PPNA and other organizers, created the "Thrive Chicago and 39th Plan," a comprehensive vision for the area that directly reflects community input. Unfortunately, the city refused to fund or support this plan, even though it was approved by the mayor. Five years after the murder of George Floyd, the city continues to collect feedback without implementing solutions proposed by residents. Meanwhile, the city's reluctance to provide fiscal support for these ideas only deepens the frustration.

If you're interested in taking back agency over the future of 38th and Chicago, we invite you to join our coalition meeting, open to the public, on November 15th. Let’s build a collective vision for the intersection.

Reach out to venus@ppna.org for more information.

THIRTY-EIGHTH STREET THRIVE

Wedge Point Park: A New Space for Community

A new project is underway to create Wedge Point Park at 1920 Aldrich Avenue South in the Lowry Hill East neighborhood. This new park will cover about 0.22 acres and will include both the north and west parcels of land at the top of the Wedge.

They’d love to hear your feedback! Please fill out their survey and share your thoughts on what you’d like to see in the final park design.

Take the survey

Editor: Ren Koo