Minneapolis mayor urges council to move ahead with plan for 3rd Precinct site
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The former 3rd Precinct building. Photo: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey argued to a wary city council Tuesday that a majority of residents support his plans to repurpose the former 3rd Precinct building as a "democracy center."
Why it matters: The charred police station has sat vacant since it burned in 2020, an enduring reminder of the violence that followed George Floyd's murder even as the rest of the intersection was rebuilt.
Friction point: City leaders have struggled to agree on a plan for the site, as the council's majority has pushed Frey to use the building in a way that directly benefits "racial healing" in the city.
- The mayor needs council support to secure funding for any plan for the site.
Catch up quick: In April, Frey proposed turning the building into a "democracy center" to host the city's elections division alongside 8,000 square feet of "community space."
- The city is building a replacement police station a few blocks away.
Driving the news: During a Tuesday City Council meeting, Frey's staff presented two surveys showing more than two-thirds of respondents within the precinct's boundaries "somewhat" or "strongly" supported the plan.
What they're saying: "Moving forward doesn't mean negating our history," Frey told the council. "It means embracing the future."
The other side: Many City Council members aren't sold. A non-binding resolution to rebuke the mayor's entire plan failed by one vote.
- In a separate vote, a majority expressed doubt that a bustling commercial hub is the right location for what would partly serve as a "warehouse" for election equipment.
- "It lacks imagination for what this corner can be," Council Member Jason Chavez said of the warehouse idea.
The big picture: The vacant 3rd Precinct has become a backdrop for Republican politicians seeking to criticize Democratic local and state leaders before news cameras.
- VP hopeful Sen. JD Vance held a press conference there Monday and decried the city as "overrun by crime."
What's next: On Thursday, the full council is set to vote on a resolution that would urge Frey not to include a warehouse in his plans.