The Midtown Community Safety Center
2949 Chicago Ave. South
The Midtown Community Safety Center is the newest success in the redevelopment of the Lake Street corridor, and will serve as a critical component in the economic development strategy of surrounding neighborhoods.
Centrally located at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Lake Street, the Center will serve as a focal point for the safety and security of the entire area, encompassing the Central, East Phillips, Midtown Phillips, Phillips West, and Powderhorn neighborhoods. The location offers easy access; gives support to local businesses, as well as an opportunity to better know officers; and will serve to connect residents and police in an inviting and non-threatening environment.
Because the Midtown Community Safety Center has been constructed with an emphasis on people, a large community room is available where neighbors can come together to work on common issues and public policy. Community members can access impact statements, participate in the Lake Street Court Watch, or gather information about crime prevention and intervention services important to them. Indeed, the Safety Center, with its full time staff, is a valuable resource for anyone living, working, or otherwise enjoying the advantages of our communities.
Eagerly anticipated by the five core communities it will serve, the Midtown Community Safety Center promises to be a hub for connecting police and community in meaningful and energizing ways. We have been honored to be a part of this effort, and are proud to present the results to you today as a shining example of what any committed group of people can do when they work together. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
The Design Team of the Midtown Community Safety Center
- 6th Ward City Council Office
- 8th Ward City Council Office
- 9th Ward City Council Office
- African Development Center
- American Indian Development Corporation
- Central Weed and Seed Initiative
- East Phillips Improvement Coalition
- Hennepin County
- Lake Street Council
- Midtown Community Works Partnership
- Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association, Inc.
- Minneapolis Police Department, 3rd Precinct
- Peter Boosalis
- Phillips Weed and Seed Initiative
- Phillips West Neighborhood Organization
- Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association
Funding Partners
- Allina Hospitals and Clinics
- Central Weed and Seed Initiative
- City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development
- The Empowerment Zone
- Hennepin County
- John Wolf, Chicago Lake Liquor
- The Neighborhood Revitalization Program
- Payne Lake Community Partners
- The Perlman Foundation
- Phillips Weed and Seed Initiative
- Phillips West Neighborhood Organization
- Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association
- Wells Fargo
Chicago-Lake supporters celebrate opening of safety center
November 10, 2005—Dozens of community members were joined by a long list of civic leaders to dedicate the Midtown Community Safety Center. Many speakers emphasized the "eyes on the street" public safety presence the center would add to the busy intersection, but on this sunny afternoon actions spoke larger than words. As police officers including Chief William McManus gathered for the celebration, they received a stolen car report originating less than a block away. They sprinted down the block and made an arrest.
The safety center:
- Results from the partnership of several neighborhood groups, local businesses, Minneapolis and Hennepin County to put a needed public safety facility in place.
- Puts police and probation officers, plus a community meeting space, on street level at one of the city’s busiest intersections, expanding a community outreach and enforcement model proven successful on Franklin Ave.
- Supports revitalization: The safety center will begin operating the week before Chicago Ave. and Lake Street are re-opened after construction and two months before the Midtown Exchange opens its doors.
- Helps local merchants send the message that the area is open for business with new attractions and added safety.