Future of Minneapolis 3rd Precinct: Business owners sound off during first ‘community conversation”
- The 3rd precinct building at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in South Minneapolis was abandoned and set on fire in May 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.
- Since then, officers patrolling the precinct have been operating out of a facility downtown.
- City leaders are considering two sites for a future third precinct building, either at the old location or a vacant lot owned by the city at 26th and Minnehaha four blocks away.
- City leaders held a meeting on April 11 for business owners next door to the vacant 3rd precinct building to get feedback on the two possible options.
“Personally, I think it’s kind of a slap in the face to have the third precinct return to this location. There’s a lot of trauma that’s been inflicted by the police,” said Juno Choi of Arbeiter Brewing Company a few doors down.
“I think the option of the Minnehaha and 26th would be easily accepted or easier to accept,” said Frederick Brathwaithe, co-owner of Wendy’s House of Soul.
But Don Blyly, owner of Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Book, says he’d feel safer if the 3rd precinct was rebuilt on its old location about a block away from his store.
“I’d rather see an improved police force at a location where they can do the most good for the community and I think that would be at the old location,” said Blyly.
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