PLANS UNDERWAY FOR REVITALIZATION OF HISTORIC ROCKLER FUR BUILDING

Plans are underway for a revitalization of the L.A. Rockler Fur Co. building in Downtown Minneapolis.

Beacon Interfaith and the Red Lake Nation recently announced plans to renovate and repurpose the building located at 16 N 4th Street into 50 apartment homes for members of the Native community who have experienced homelessness.

Bimosedaa is what the project will be called; the name comes from the Ojibwe language and in English means “let’s walk together.”

The decision to redevelop a building downtown was due to its easy access to light rail and bus routes, the Central Public Library, and numerous shopping, recreational and entertainment options.

This is not the first time that there have been plans to renovate the historic structure that was built in 1915. Back in 2016, a developer announced plans to bring market-rate apartments to the building. Unfortunately, those plans never came to fruition and since then the building has sat largely vacant and somewhat neglected.

Beacon Interfaith is seeking capital funding and city approvals with the hopes that construction on the project can begin in summer 2020.