In the heart of Minneapolis’ Southside Green Zone, in an area nicknamed the “Arsenic Triangle,” East Phillips community members have vied – so far to no avail – to have a voice in a project with direct implications for their environmental health and economic opportunity.
The Hiawatha Campus Expansion Project would consolidate Public Works’ water distribution operations and employees from three different sites into one central location: the former Roof Depot site at E 28th St. and Hiawatha Ave. The original vision for the project dates back to 1991 and, thanks to a series of City Council and city agency decisions over the past five years, the site is nearing demolition in preparation for project construction.
We ask the City Council to reconsider its decision to use the Roof Depot site for city operations, and to return the land to the East Phillips community. We make this request on the following grounds:
Environmental racism: Although the proposed project is expected to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in city operations, this would come at the direct expense of local environmental quality by increasing pollutants from traffic near this site. As a neighborhood that is 83% Black, Indigenous, and people of color, the East Phillips community would be expected to bear the brunt of the impact for the “greater good,” which is an unacceptable trade-off. Racism has recently been declared a public health emergency in Minneapolis. Knowingly increasing the amount of pollution in a neighborhood primarily populated by Native American, Latinx, East African and Black communities will only exacerbate this problem and demonstrate the hypocrisy of the city’s words.
Poor community engagement: Like any neighborhood, East Phillips is no monolith, and individual residents have differing perspectives on the value of the Hiawatha Campus Expansion Project. But, by almost any account, the project does not align with the stated needs or wants of the community, especially its historically disenfranchised populations of lower-income and underemployed households, Indigenous people, and people of color. Even in notes recorded by the city from community meetings, repeated patterns of marginalization emerge: sidelining requests to use part of the site for local food production, affordable housing, and jobs training; prioritizing the needs of Public Works ahead of those of the neighborhood; and failing to respond to residents’ concerns about traffic congestion and pollution on and near the site.
[image_caption]Erin Niehoff[/image_caption]
The ability for Public Works to explore alternative project sites: The city’s choice to locate the project in the East Phillips neighborhood limits options available to residents to develop their vision for a local community center that promotes sustainable food production, job training, affordable housing, and business development. Public Works has a larger geography to choose from but has chosen to invest there at the expense of community-driven plans. This is unfortunate, as this site could be championed as a step toward realizing the City’s Green Zone initiatives, and instead is moving forward in a business-as-usual mindset.
At this pivotal moment I am writing to ask MinnPost readers to raise awareness, challenge council members, and think critically about the implications of the Hiawatha Campus Expansion Project for equity, sustainability, environmental racism, and environmental justice in our city.
Erin Niehoff is a Ward 12 resident and chair of the Community Environmental Advisory Commission.
The following people and organizations have signed on in support of this commentary: Samara Adam, Ward 6 resident, Southside Green Zone member; Roxxanne O’Brien, Ward 4 resident, Northside Environmental Justice organizer and Northern Green Zone member; Sen. Jeff Hayden, Senate District 62; Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, Senate District 63; Community Power; DJR Architecture; EPIC East Phillips Improvement Coalition; EPNI East Phillips Neighborhood Institute; Gandhi Mahal and Curry in a Hurry; Global Shapers MSP; Land Stewardship Project; Little Earth of United Tribes Housing Corporation; Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center; Midtown Greenway Coalition; Minneapolis American Indian Center; Minneapolis Climate Action; Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL); MN350; Project Sweetie Pie; Showing Up For Racial Justice Twin Cities; Sierra Club North Star Chapter; Soular Scenes; TakeAction Minnesota Climate Justice Team; Twin Cities Climate Strike; Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar (TCC4J); and Women’s Environmental Institute.
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Is there anyone willing to step up and pay for the alternative proposal? It sounds like a fantasy wish list to me.
At a time when Minneapolis residential neighborhoods are feeling under attach as a result of entrenched racism and racist practices, it makes no sense for Public Works to site a facility in East Philips that’s not supported by residents. An increase in traffic congestion and pollution, inevitable in the proximity of the planned facility, hinders the ability of the area to attract committed and stable residents. East Phillips has contributed its “share” of support for metrowide initiatives. Move this project to South Minneapolis or Edina, where a project like this will be a new and challenging experience to a different neighborhood. Listen to the citizens who oppose it, please.
Is there a viable site in South Minneapolis. (I’ll just pretend you didnt suggest Edina).
Thank you Erin Niehoff, CEAC chair, thank you MinnPost, and thank you to the organizations and individuals who have signed this letter. I live in East Phillips and am on the board of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute which has been fighting to keep alive a much different project for this site. At this time when systemic racism is being scrutinized in the City of Minneapolis, there can be no clearer example than this plan to demolish the iconic 1947 230,000 sq. ft. Sears Warehouse now known as Roof Depot for the purpose of relocating additional trucks and maintenance functions to our neighborhood. Despite organizing a diverse group from our Native, Somali and Latinx communities, and despite receiving a DEED planning grant from the Mn State Legislature, our Urban farm, community commercial kitchen, youth led World Cafe and Market, Bike Shop,massive Community Solar, and affordable housing project was cast aside despite many large community votes for the Community Plan. On display has been the legacy of how decisions are made, once again, to the detriment of POCI communities. CEAC, along with both North and South Side Green Zones, voted to sign and send this commentary but were quickly informed by the Minneapolis City Clerk that they risked being disbanded, and that they served “at the pleasure of the City Council.” Reinforcing this dome of silence was the StarTribune declining to publish, imposing its policy of exclusivity for nearly two weeks.
Any of us who pay a City water bill have a dog in this fight, as it is $millions extracted from the Water Fund being used to bring more pollution to East Phillips, and hopefully now when my neighborhood’s needs have never been greater, we will all join these organizations in demanding a healthy future, and a healthy plan for the Roof Depot site in East Phillips Neighborhood.
Steve Sandberg
Is there actually funding for any of this stuff? I’m not necessarily opposed, but it seems like a pipe dream
Yes there is Pat. Before the City threatened eminent domain, we had investors willing to commit $9million. The way our project is structured, the anchor tenant is a large indoor aquaponics operation, which is becoming more and more the way to provide food security, particularly in an urban center where supply and demand are in close proximity. Public Works is doing the City a grave disservice by taking out this valuable location and building at the intersection of light rail and the Greenway for storage of manhole covers, fire hydrants and sewer pipes. Hennepin County is very eager to work with us on affordable housing, which is what the area needs most.
Thanks. Good to know.
Why does it feel like the will of the people never gets heard here? Like there’s absolutely nothing we can do to crack into decisions being made for us. This city has a long history of doing what it wants without any regard for public opinion. I feel hopeless nationaly, but have felt even more hopeless locally. Condos and Industry over sustainable, green progress. The same people shaking the same hands behind the scenes, decade after decade. Both sides of the aisles complicit. An arsenic plant in a place with a plan for green building? Doesn’t Mpls like to brag about how progressive we are? Do the right thing, scrap the arsenic plant plans…this land belongs to the people.