The City of Minneapolis is putting a call out to find a group to redevelop the former gas station at George Floyd Square. The goal is to transform it into a permanent community space.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told WCCO Radio's Vineeta Sawkar Wednesday that it was important for the city to step in and buy the former Speedway gas station last year. The boarded up space has become a protest site since Floyd was killed in May 2020.
"We have now created a wonderful canvas on which our community members and leaders can, you know, take advantage of, and do something really impressive," says Frey. "I mean, obviously, there will be a memorial in some form there and we're gonna make sure we're recruiting the best and the brightest artists from our community to do this right."
A "final visioning" workshop was held Tuesday night. It looked to shape the future of George Floyd Square which is at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis.
"It could be anything from no traffic, to both traffic and buses," explained Mayor Frey. "And, you know, I really believe in the direction that our city staff in conjunction with community, in taking a lot of input from the people that are going."
The city purchased the site in 2022 with a cost of $200,000 in taxpayer money which included a $420,000 donation from the entity that owns the parcel. The former gas station likely stands on contaminated soil because of its former use.
A final version and preferred street design will be presented to the community in October, and to the Minneapolis City Council in November.
“I am thrilled that community has worked together to bring us closer to revitalizing this area known as George Floyd Square,” said Council Member Andrea Jenkins. “The People’s Way has the potential to become a community owned, national symbol of social justice and racial healing.”
In July, the City shared three concepts for Chicago Ave and 38th Street. They include options that provide for flexible vehicle access, a transit mall and a pedestrian-only plaza. Each of the concepts maintains a consistent design along 38th Street and Chicago Avenue south of 38th Street, while offering different options for Chicago Avenue north of 38th Street.
The city says that all three options preserve and expand space for pedestrians, community uses for gathering, art and memorials.