North Minneapolis

North Minneapolis

During the next two years, the Pohlad Family Foundation will invest $2.6 million in North Minneapolis.  A significant portion of the investment will be made in the Cottage Park (CP) neighborhood located at the intersection of West Broadway and James Avenue North.  Introduced to the CP Cluster by City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) and Northside Home Fund staff, Foundation staff spent time with private local developer The Ackerberg Group, the Jordan Area Community Council, and other area nonprofit organizations to identify and prioritize work.  Significant time has been and will be dedicated to learning about resident interests, housing issues, and other needs of the neighborhood.

The information and contacts helped the Pohlad Foundation formulate these goals for its work in CP:

• Support and help residents create events that help build community;
• Acquire, rehab and sell at least two homes around CP; 
• Provide home-improvement support to long-term CP residents;
• Engage others in CP  work; and
• Connect and support CP children and youth to after-school and summer activities

The first goal was realized where more than 250 people attended a neighborhood gathering that included food and musical performances by students from the Lundstrum Center for Arts.  Locally owned vendors were hired to fill all event needs.

The next project is to rebuild the children’s playground in Cottage Park.  Volunteers from the Ackerberg Group and the Foundation along with CP residents will construct the new playground. Initial funding has been provided by the Foundation and the Northside Home Fund. 

Future community events are planned and housing projects will begin this fall.

CPED and NHF