[0:01] Uh for generations, the north side has [0:04] been separated from one of its most [0:07] vital assets by a massive highway, a [0:10] whole lot of heavy industrial. And young [0:13] kids on the north side would have lived [0:15] a half mile away and maybe even not [0:18] known that there was a riverfront there. [0:19] Why? Because they couldn't touch it. [0:21] They couldn't get to it. Now, what is [0:24] beautiful is that we are all flipping [0:26] the script. Not only do we have like 40 [0:30] acres worth of park space, a mile [0:32] stretch right here along the Mississippi [0:34] River, but as Senator Champion will tell [0:37] us repeatedly, the north side deserves [0:39] extraordinary things. Uh, and one of [0:42] those extraordinary things that will now [0:44] happen because the financing has been [0:47] complete, the design is complete, every [0:49] final hurdle has happened to make sure [0:52] that the North Side Community Performing [0:55] Arts Center will take shape right on [0:57] this land behind us. [0:59] Yes, [1:05] this vision for a community performing [1:07] arts center is not a new one. We've been [1:11] working on it with a whole lot of [1:12] partners for the better part of a decade [1:15] and great things take time. Uh great [1:18] things take a whole lot of community [1:20] engagement and there are are people that [1:23] have been to countless meetings to make [1:25] sure that the north side wasn't just [1:27] involved but they were co-creators in [1:29] this vision. uh the team that worked [1:32] together with city staff and community [1:35] members, they wanted to make sure that [1:37] this wasn't something that happened to [1:40] the north side. Uh but the north side [1:43] was directly partnering with the city [1:45] and the state developers, 1 Avenue, the [1:50] orchestra, and so many other partners to [1:52] make this and truly extraordinary [1:54] project. Uh there are a lot of people I [1:56] want to thank. Um, I want to thank uh [2:00] Senator Champion and Representative Lee [2:03] uh who helped extraordinarily with the [2:04] funding. We could not have done it [2:06] without you. I want to thank uh uh the [2:08] queen of the north side over here, [2:09] Council Member Vita. [2:12] I want to thank First A CEO uh Dana [2:15] Frank. Uh she has not quit. It has been [2:18] tough. We have been through so much, but [2:20] you made sure that this great vision was [2:22] here for our city and for the north [2:24] side. Uh, I want to thank Minnesota [2:26] Orchestra board chair Nancy Lindall, uh, [2:29] and the AACDC board chair Keith Baker [2:33] and all of our community partners and [2:35] neighbors. And of course, we've got [2:36] Kenya Mcnite here as well, who I know is [2:38] going to speak shortly, uh, to some of [2:40] the great work. And I want to thank uh, [2:42] people that were heavily involved doing [2:43] the community engagement, including uh, [2:45] Eric Hansen, uh, including Brandon [2:48] Champo, uh, including, you know, [2:50] partners with both First A and United [2:52] Properties. And I'm know I'm going to [2:54] miss some other people that were heavily [2:56] involved as well, but this t this t [2:59] takes a whole team and it's going to [3:01] continue taking a large team because [3:03] we've got 500 construction jobs that [3:06] will be on site making sure that this [3:08] site is emblematic of everything that [3:11] the north side in Minneapolis is about. [3:14] Uh there's another 250 jobs that first a [3:17] is going to have on an ongoing basis to [3:19] make sure that the performing arts [3:21] center uh is serving with brilliance. Uh [3:24] and I also just want you to take a step [3:26] back and imagine what this is ultimately [3:28] going to be like. You know, rather than [3:31] this blank slab of formerly industrial [3:35] space, [3:37] you will have a beautiful outdoor [3:40] amphitheater. And you're going to show [3:42] up. You head over to your seat and you [3:45] will have the Mississippi River, which [3:47] is the most epic river in the entire [3:49] world, to your left. The sun will be [3:52] setting and downtown will be a backdrop. [3:55] The mu the music, maybe it's Beyonce, is [3:58] going to be playing. Uh, and we all are [4:01] going to celebrate in true Minneapolis [4:03] style together. Uh, so proud to be here [4:06] at this point. Um, this is a huge [4:09] achievement for our city collectively. [4:11] Uh and with that I have the honor uh of [4:14] introducing someone who again this [4:16] project would not have taken place [4:19] without Senator Bobby Joe Champion. [4:26] First of all, let me say thank you for [4:28] having me. Thank you to the mayor and [4:29] all the other extraordinary partners [4:31] that he's already outlined. And let me [4:33] just say how excited I am to be here [4:36] today, even on this wonderful hot day [4:38] that I know in February that we're going [4:40] to all wish that we were still [4:41] experiencing. Uh, one of the reasons why [4:44] I'm excited about this is because it is [4:45] in North M North Minneapolis and [4:48] understand that I was born and raised in [4:50] North Minneapolis. So when I see [4:52] investments like this and other [4:53] investments, it's important because I [4:55] want individuals to be able to come and [4:58] experience North Minneapolis. And so [5:00] this is what I would consider a [5:02] destination [5:03] opportunity even though we know we have [5:05] the great uh first avenue and the uh the [5:09] the orchestra and others are [5:11] collaborating and I I remember always [5:12] going to first avenue and enjoying [5:14] whether it's the time or prince or [5:17] something. I am excited about the fact [5:19] that they're going to be able to extend [5:22] their reach into arts and and culture [5:25] and bring it here to North Minneapolis [5:27] and right here. So, thank you so very [5:29] much. Thank you to everyone that made [5:30] this possible and we will continue to [5:33] work because it's teamwork that makes [5:34] the dream work. And so, I want to thank [5:36] Bill English. I know that he's he's been [5:38] a great community uh member and partner [5:40] as well. I have the pleasure now of [5:44] bringing up uh my uh house member and we [5:47] work as a team, but he's also the [5:49] bonding chair. And so, I'm really [5:52] excited about that. Please help me [5:54] welcome none other than Representative [5:55] Fool. [5:56] Hey. All right. [5:59] Well, thank you everyone for being here [6:01] and thank you to our partners at the [6:03] city, the mayor, the staff, uh, First [6:05] Avenue, and a lot of the community [6:07] partners for being here today. Uh, [6:09] finally, after nine years, this is going [6:11] to be a reality. Uh, the state of [6:13] Minnesota invested over $25 million into [6:15] this project, not just the performance [6:17] art center, but, you know, the public [6:19] infrastructure that all of us were [6:20] standing on today. And this is an [6:23] investment in not just uh North [6:25] Minneapolis, but throughout the entire [6:27] region and the entire state of [6:28] Minnesota, bringing in a first uh rate, [6:31] you know, venue here on the north side [6:33] for folks to be able to come across the [6:35] not just the state, but the entire [6:37] country to come and enjoy some uh music [6:40] here, some performances here. So, I'm [6:42] really excited for that and just want to [6:44] say, you know, thank you for all of you [6:46] for being here. I really look forward to [6:48] the next few years as this project get [6:49] going. And I'm hopeful that, you know, a [6:51] lot of our youth on the north side could [6:53] now finally see that, you know, the [6:54] riverfront is accessible for them, not [6:56] just uh other parts of the Mississippi [6:58] River, but up here on the north side. [7:00] And with that, I'll turn it over to my [7:01] great colleague, our city council woman, [7:04] uh Council Member Vita. [7:06] All right. All right. All right. [7:10] Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to [7:12] the beautiful Ward 4. Uh this is the [7:14] future home of a just a beautiful, [7:18] beautiful outdoor arena that we've all [7:21] been waiting on. This morning the uh the [7:24] council took a really big vote and we [7:25] got unanimous support. That is not an [7:28] easy thing and I am so proud of it. I am [7:31] also grateful for my north side [7:33] colleague, council member Jeremiah [7:34] Ellison, who made sure that we got that [7:37] unanimous support this morning and [7:39] getting this project over the finish [7:41] line. As the council member for Ward 4, [7:43] I'm proud to support this development. [7:45] Not just because it's my ward, but for [7:48] all of North Minneapolis. For far too [7:50] long, this community has been [7:51] underserved and faced disinvestment. [7:54] This project is a step towards changing [7:56] that narrative, and it shows that north [7:58] side residents matter and deserve the [8:00] same investment in other opportunities [8:03] as other parts of this city. The [8:05] development aligns with the priorities I [8:08] hear from community every day. equity, [8:10] access, and opportunity. That means [8:13] making sure this project benefits those [8:15] who've historically been left out. It [8:17] means designing with the community in [8:19] mind, connecting people to jobs, [8:22] services, and safe walkable spaces. Most [8:25] of all, it's about the long-term impact. [8:27] It's about safer neighborhoods, more [8:29] housing options, a better health [8:32] outcomes. Most importantly, it lays the [8:34] foundation for a future where Ward 4 [8:37] residents don't have to leave their [8:39] community to find opportunity. [8:41] They can find it right here where they [8:43] live. The kind of future we're building [8:46] together is right here. Thank you all so [8:49] much. Thank you to all the partners. [8:52] Thank you. This has been a labor of [8:54] love, not just for me, but many before [8:56] me. Thank you to council members and [8:59] electeds who served before me. And with [9:02] that, I am going to introduce Dana Frank [9:05] of First Avenue. [9:06] All right. All right. All right. [9:10] Hello everyone. Thank you, council [9:13] member. Thank you esteemed speakers. Um, [9:15] if we're having this much fun today, can [9:17] you imagine how much fun we're going to [9:18] have when the concert starts rocking in [9:21] the summer of 2027? Um, I want to [9:24] especially say a thank you to the [9:25] community members, Markella, Mr. [9:28] English, Kenya, everyone from the CPC [9:29] who couldn't be here who worked with us [9:32] and when the initial plans didn't meet [9:33] their vision and their expectations [9:35] worked with us to co-create a vision and [9:38] a space and a plan that will work for [9:39] the north side. So much that now it's [9:41] being described as imperative and the [9:43] model for equitable community centered [9:45] development. Um we look forward to [9:48] building an 80,000 capacity worldclass [9:50] inviting boutique urban amphitheater [9:52] that anchors and spurs real change in [9:54] our city and potentially beyond. This [9:56] project is more than a venue. It's a [9:58] long-term investment in local economic [10:00] vitality, workforce development, and [10:02] inclusive access to the arts. It's a new [10:05] model of what cultural infrastructure [10:07] can look like when it's built through [10:09] partnership and public purpose. I'll [10:11] never forget one of the 150 community [10:14] engagement sessions when a community [10:16] member stood up and shouted, "But will [10:18] you sign in CBA? Will you sign a CBA?" [10:21] And I just responded, "Of course. Why [10:22] not?" Um, and it's no doubt that of [10:26] course we'll put our commitments into [10:28] writing and sign that CBA with the AACDC [10:31] and keep our commitments. This shouldn't [10:33] be the surprising part. Why this was so [10:35] groundbreaking and revolutionary should [10:37] be much more surprising. And so we sign, [10:40] we sit here ready to move forward. Um, [10:42] the amphitheater will provide the north [10:44] side and BIPO entrepreneur vending [10:45] opportunities, public art integrations, [10:48] neighborhood employment opportunities, [10:49] as well as contribute a per ticket fee [10:52] that will fund could fund youth [10:54] apprenticeship programs, community [10:55] events, anti-gentrification efforts, and [10:58] more. Um, however the community sees the [11:00] money best spent. This will be the [11:01] community fund that they will spend at [11:03] at their behest. Thank you to the state [11:05] of Minnesota, the city of Minneapolis, [11:07] our partners at the orchestra and the [11:09] AACDC, and the First Avenue staff [11:11] members who took time out of their busy [11:13] day to come here and join us. Um, and [11:15] the hundreds of North Side community [11:16] members who contributed ideas over nine [11:19] years and 150 meetings to make this [11:22] project truly special. We're thrilled to [11:24] be moving forward and build a cherished [11:26] community asset to be enjoyed for [11:27] generations to come. And now it is my [11:30] great pleasure to introduce Nancy [11:31] Lindall who's the board chair of the [11:34] Minnesota Orchestra. She and her husband [11:36] John have been amongst the biggest [11:37] supporters of the arts in Minnesota and [11:39] championing championed this project from [11:42] the orchestra's perspective to ensure it [11:44] benefits both the community arts and the [11:46] city and community. Thank you Nancy for [11:48] your commitment to making all of us [11:49] better. [11:50] All right, [11:54] thank you so much Dana and thanks to all [11:56] of you who are with us today. I do want [11:59] to say I taught on the north side and [12:03] I'm proud to have been part of your [12:05] community. So this is even more [12:07] meaningful for me today. The Minnesota [12:10] Orchestra is grateful to the mayor, the [12:12] Minneapolis City Council, city staff for [12:15] their collaboration over many months, I [12:19] should say a couple of years of meetings [12:21] to get to the particulars of this [12:23] project and get it right. This is a true [12:26] example of public and private [12:29] partnership designed to make a [12:31] difference in our community. And I'd [12:34] like to really thank the coalition and [12:37] the general funders who rallied together [12:41] to make this amphitheater a reality. [12:44] These individual funders were drawn to [12:46] support the project because of a shared [12:49] belief in the importance that music [12:52] plays in our city. The arts and the [12:55] orchestra can help to strengthen this [12:58] city. The Minnesota Orchestra is also [13:01] proud to partner with First Avenue. [13:03] Thank you, Dana. the city and the [13:06] AfricanAmerican Community Development [13:08] Corporation to expand the musical [13:11] footprint of Minneapolis with the this [13:14] beautiful outdoor amphitheater in this [13:17] amazing location. The music and events [13:20] in the amphitheater will be programmed [13:22] and organized by local entities who live [13:26] here and care about this community. And [13:29] that is something to celebrate. We now [13:32] look forward to seeing the amphitheater [13:34] come to life right on this spot and for [13:37] the enjoyment of audiences for years and [13:40] years to come. I thank you all and it is [13:42] my pleasure to introduce Kenya Mcnite [13:46] from the AAC. [13:48] All right, Kenya. Kenya, [13:53] I like to [13:55] ask [13:57] my colleagues of the African-American [13:59] CDC to stand with me. um Miss Markella [14:02] and Mr. Bill English who served um on [14:05] the community portion of the uh internal [14:08] planning of this project. So I am Kenya [14:10] Mcnite um the treasurer for the [14:13] African-American Community Development [14:15] Corporation. We are honored to be a part [14:17] of this project and I have to say that I [14:20] uh personally have worked on this [14:21] project for 14 years when it started as [14:24] um part of our above the falls [14:26] commission plan. Um and it was our [14:29] intent to make sure that this part of [14:31] the river uh was accessible to the north [14:34] side and African-American foundational [14:36] black American people. Um, so it's an [14:39] honor to be on this side of it now in [14:42] partnership with um the African-American [14:45] CDC, the city of Minneapolis, First [14:47] Staff, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, and of [14:49] course all of our elected officials who [14:52] tremendously supported the ability for [14:54] this to move forward. Uh so we look [14:56] forward to our continued work uh with [14:59] first a and with the city and all [15:01] involved partners in being advocates and [15:04] avid uh land stewards or stewards of [15:07] this land and stewards ultimately of [15:09] opportunity for the north side beyond [15:12] ward boundaries the entire north side [15:15] and also as foundational black American [15:18] people who are culturally rooted deeply [15:21] in what this is all about arts [15:24] entertainment etc. to have an [15:26] opportunity for our artists, our [15:27] community to be front and center and [15:29] also for the rest of the region of [15:31] Minnesota and the world to participate [15:33] in our local north side arts, [15:35] entertainment, and economy and be [15:37] contributors to the opportunities that [15:39] not only that we're offering, but that [15:41] we receive. Thank you so much. Hey, [15:49] wait a minute. No, sir. [15:51] I was told. Okay, [15:54] I'm going to uh say something here, [15:56] though. It's I don't want to irritate my [15:59] colleagues. [16:00] But you see, you cannot repeat what's [16:03] going on here today to see it in its [16:05] full context. First of all, the people [16:08] that need to be thanked first is number [16:11] one, CPED and the people who spend five [16:15] years planning, [16:17] coming to meetings every other week, no [16:20] food and spending their Saturdays [16:23] planning this thing. This is the first [16:25] time the planning comes from the ground [16:27] up. That was your concept and the CPAP's [16:30] concept and Senator Champion happened [16:34] to help. But let me say something. First [16:37] Avenue is really there and it the [16:40] partnership that they created was pushed [16:43] by those very same people. Pushed and [16:47] put in so that community will have x [16:49] number of days to program this site. But [16:53] there's something missing. Our most [16:55] critical aspect in this community is [16:58] housing. [17:00] And while I'm happy to see step one, you [17:03] need to ask ourselves the question, why [17:05] is the amplitheater more important than [17:07] housing? I'll tell you is political. [17:09] That's [17:10] and that's our phase two. We will focus [17:12] on housing in phase two. Without further [17:14] ado, we uh turn the mic back over to our [17:16] mayor for uh Mayor Jacob Frey for more [17:19] questions. Thank you. [17:20] Great job. Amazing job. [17:23] As you can see, we're all pretty pretty [17:25] damn excited. Uh we'll open it to any [17:27] questions you might have. [17:31] What was the capacity the seating for [17:33] the amphitheater? [17:34] 8. All right. 8,000. 8,000. Uh is both [17:38] the seating as well as the standing or [17:40] no? [17:41] Uh combo flexible. [17:42] So yeah, 8,000 in total, which is [17:44] includes flexible space. [17:47] This for Dana, but like how many First [17:51] Avenue concerts a year? How many uh [17:53] orchestra concerts? How often are there [17:55] going to be like free free concerts down [17:57] here like like Harry Banchell has pretty [17:59] regularly? [17:59] You guys want to come up? I I believe [18:01] it's 50. Why don't you come up so you [18:02] can speak into it? [18:04] And I said Beyonce could be the first [18:06] concert, but here's the thing. The [18:08] Minnesota Orchestra is going to play [18:10] along with Beyonce. [18:13] Now, as you know, we have we have a [18:16] beautiful orchestra hall in in downtown [18:18] Minneapolis on Nicollet. So, we are [18:21] doing this in partnership. We're hopeful [18:24] that there will be a few concerts here [18:26] by the orchestra, but our home is on the [18:29] river. This is a partnership and we will [18:31] be supporting Dana and the choices she [18:34] makes for acts that will be here. [18:37] Yeah, there's up to 54 permitted [18:39] commercial events and then um the [18:42] community events as the the AACDC sees [18:46] fit. You know, during the years of [18:48] community engagement, we really heard [18:49] that the the north side wants to program [18:51] for the north side. And so what we did [18:52] is provide the mechanism for them to be [18:54] able to do that. [18:58] We've heard from some businesses on West [19:00] Broadway today who said they're [19:02] concerned that this could result in [19:03] deportation, a displacement of residents [19:05] and businesses and possibility a lack of [19:07] funding for projects like affordable [19:09] housing. How would you [19:13] repeat that one more time? And so their [19:14] businesses are saying that it's dis [19:16] concerns that this could result in [19:18] gentrification, displacement of [19:20] residents and businesses and also a lack [19:22] of investment in other projects like [19:24] affordable housing is future. So how [19:26] would you respond? [19:27] Here here's what I say when we talk [19:29] about gentrification. [19:32] The goal is not to ensure that [19:35] communities don't have the assets that [19:37] they need. The goal is not to prevent [19:40] wonderful things from taking place on [19:43] the north side. When we talk about [19:45] pushing back on gentrification, the goal [19:47] is to make sure that the communities [19:49] that have made the north side wonderful [19:52] to begin with get to stay when great [19:54] things happen. And that has been baked [19:57] into this process from the very [19:59] beginning. That's why we had years worth [20:01] of uh engagement. That's why we've got [20:03] affordable housing that is baked into [20:05] this particular site. Uh that's why we [20:08] made sure that the community members [20:11] themselves were part of the process. And [20:14] so to be clear, this was largely 40 [20:18] acres worth of formally industrial but [20:21] then largely vacant land. Um and so to [20:25] that extent there wasn't displacement. [20:26] Uh to that extent what this is is [20:28] connecting the north side with the [20:30] riverfront. Um, again, the north side [20:34] has been cut off from the riverfront for [20:36] generations. This whole, well, basically [20:39] the whole fourth ward, probably more [20:41] than that, um, did not have access [20:44] largely to the river. And this busts a [20:48] hole right through the center so that a [20:50] young girl who lives just blocks from [20:52] here can run down, experience music, um, [20:56] have this kind of community partnership [20:58] take place and and literally walk down [20:59] and touch the river itself. That's [21:01] something special. And yeah, I we all [21:03] stand by that 100%. The community does [21:05] too. Thanks. [21:09] How are the budgets looking? Are they on [21:10] on track right now for [21:13] we on track? [21:15] Let's just go with that. [21:19] How soon till we do see housing? [21:22] Who can speak the timeline? Eric. [21:28] Yeah. [21:30] Yeah, this is director Hansen in [21:32] addition to the AACDC who he partnered [21:35] extensively with and you guys I can't [21:36] thank you enough. Uh Director Hansen [21:38] here has really done a tremendous job to [21:40] bring this project through. [21:41] Thank you, Mayor. Uh Mayor Hansen, I'm [21:44] the CPA director and uh the housing [21:47] projects are in evaluation with the [21:49] state of Minnesota for funding. The city [21:51] and the county have um funded the first [21:54] phase which will just be to the south of [21:56] or to the north of us here. Uh we're [21:58] hopeful to get funding for that project [22:01] uh in the in the coming year and so [22:03] it'll be about a you know three to four [22:05] year process before the first project is [22:08] uh developed. [22:08] Now would that one be affordable? [22:10] It's a mix. So the project has uh a mix [22:13] of affordable um affordable housing and [22:17] market rate housing so that there's a so [22:19] it's not concentrated of affordable [22:21] housing into the plan. So there's [22:23] there's a a variety of different units [22:25] within within the concepts. [22:29] questions. [22:33] Any others? [22:35] All right, everybody. We're going to [22:36] head right over here and sign this [22:37] thing. [23:02] Yeah, if all the speakers all the [23:03] speakers could