Description
It appears a homeless encampment has popped up on this vacant lot.
Any ideas on who needs to be notified to have this removed? I'll get a few photos next time I go by but it's mostly about a dozen tents so far. Let's work together to keep it from growing!
48 Comments
Tiffany (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Need to get this cleared out. Its unsightly and an embarrassment to the neighborhood.
Tiffany (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Tiffany (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Tiffany (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Jeff (Registered User)
Tiffany (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Jeff (Registered User)
I received the following response from Mark Klukow, 1st Precinct MPD Lieutenant, after I reached out asking if the MPD was aware of the situation:
"The MPD is aware of the encampment at this location and have alerted the Municipal Minneapolis Health Department to consider placing this location among their priorities. The Deputy Director of the Minneapolis Department of Health is Noya Woodrich, who I’ve placed in copy to catalog your concern and our recommendation. The MPD will continue responding to reported crime and recording same while the other city departments that have missions to solve these problems work on the solutions. Thanks for taking the time to raise your concerns and please use 911 to report crime in progress as it appears."
We could try reaching out to Noya Woodrich - noya.woodrich@minneapolismn.gov
Judy (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Jeff (Registered User)
Here’s the response I received from Noya Woodrich, Deputy Director of the Minneapolis Department of Health. I reached out after Mark Klukow informed me that her department was responsible for these matters. I’m interested if others have heard the same.
“Good evening! Sorry for the delayed response. I was off Monday and Tuesday morning. Jeff, did you happen to attend the community meetings either Tuesday or Wednesday?
The City is making every attempt to work with the property owner to close this particular encampment. Our “soft” closure date is November 30th. We will be working between now and then to help the folks in the encampment to find other arrangements: shelter, housing, return to existing housing.
Noya”
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Meanwhile crime in the neighborhood is up substantially. I live close to this site and car break ins have increased noticeably! I feel it will continue to get worse as the weather gets colder and people become more desperate.
Anyone have any updates to share?
Thanks
Judy (Registered User)
Tiffany (Registered User)
Tiffany (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Jeff (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Whatever happened to the Nov 30 date to shut this down?
It doesn’t appear anyone at any level of government is willing to take this on.
I truly believe the only way anything is going to get done is if lawsuit’s are filed.
I believe the owners of the Glassart building would have a decent case.
Jeff (Registered User)
According to the Minneapolis Director of Public Health they’re working on it. Noya responded on the 8th with the following. Meant to share earlier but it’s clear addressing this problem isn’t a priority for Minneapolis city leadership.
“ Sorry Jeff for responding so belatedly. I was diverted for about a week to get a couple other projects done. As you know the closure did not happen. The challenge is mostly due to our inability to get on the same page as the property owner. Please trust that there are many of us here at the City working towards a closure of this encampment. We know that this not only is idea for those in the encampment but is creating a dangerous environment for those around the encampment.
Noya”
Judy (Registered User)
Sean (Registered User)
Has the city completely ignored this issue? There is no urgency to address this and find a solution. Do the property owner/government decision makers think that they’re being humane by allowing people to live outside in -15 degree temps? What happened to a soft closure date of 11/30?
Just this week there was a man standing in the street verbally assaulting anyone that walked by. These people need help, not ignored.
Tiffany (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Crime has been up significantly and home values have drop since the camp popped up.
City leaders are to afraid to take any action as it would make them look to hard on homeless. Very pathetic. May have to look at moving to the suburbs 😢
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Jeff (Registered User)
I had an email exchange with what I assume is one of Rainville's assistants last month (Henry C Jarvinen). The points Henry made align with the points Judy made. A few additional comments Rainville's assistant made:
- The encampment is technically in ward 5, so I should've contacted council member Jeremiah Ellison (Ellison was one of the "activists" protesting the closure, I don't think we'll make progress with him)
- He also stated that due to safety concerns for their staff, there is no current closure date, but the city is "actively strategizing how to safely complete closure" (whatever that means)
Henry made these points in emails sent on January 28th. I have zero confidence Minneapolis leadership will do anything about the encampment. I'm open to any suggestions on what we can do to clean up our neighborhood.
Judy (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
Hopefully it is a success!
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)
The only thing left now is to clean up the mess. The entire wall that was graffitied will need to be painted and as the snow melts I’m sure there will be piles of garbage and who knows what else to be cleared up. This should all be billed back to the property owner that allowed and encouraged this to happen.
Thank you to all that supported the efforts to have this encampment closed.
The takeaway would be that the next time something like this appears in our neighborhood we need to work together to get it shut down immediately before it takes root.
8449843259586 (Registered User)
Judy (Registered User)
Mark A (Registered User)