38th Street Thrive! plan set for full council vote on March 12

The 38th Street Thrive! Strategic Development Plan, with the stated goals of continuing the legacy and heritage of a deeply rooted African American community, was approved on March 2 at the Business, Inspections, Housing, and Zoning (BIHZ) committee (see video below).

The plan has been created by community stakeholders of the 38th Street Cultural District, in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis. It aims to implement the community’s vision for the area and what residents want to see develop over a 10-year period to 2030. The plan will also implement the policies of Minneapolis 2040 to achieve comprehensive plan goals such as creating more affordable and accessible housing opportunities and increase access to living-wage jobs.

In 2015, former Ward 8 Council Member Elizabeth Glidden hosted a planning series titled “The Future of East 38th Street.” Those meetings formulated several ideas, priorities, and recommendations for our communities, including the preservation of African American history and community ownership to name a few. That work carried forward through additional engagement meetings and with the reconstruction of the 38th Street Bridge under Ward 8 Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins.

In February 2019, Council VP Jenkins decided to continue the planning work to create THRIVE, a strategic development plan by the community, in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis. 

Next week, on March 10, 1:30 pm, the plan will come before the Policy & Government Oversight committee (POGO) to be approved as part of the BIHZ committee standing report, and then for final approval at the full council committee meeting on Friday, March 12, 9:30 am. These meetings can be accessed via the City’s website or Youtube channel. Meeting agendas are published 24 hours in advance and can be accessed here.

—Information, video and graphic provided by the City of Minneapolis