August 4, 2026 Heritage Preservation Commission

The August 4, 2026 meeting of the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission focused primarily on a demolition application for the property at 122 Franklin Avenue West. The applicant proposed demolishing the existing mid-century modern building, originally constructed in 1963 as the Minnesota Protestant Center, to build a new 145-unit affordable housing project. Staff presented findings that the building, while potentially eligible for historic designation, was not economically viable to rehabilitate due to high costs and code compliance challenges. The commission heard from the applicant and community representatives, discussed alternatives including partial rehabilitation, and ultimately voted to approve the demolition application. The new development aims to provide greater housing density and modern energy-efficient features. The meeting also included announcements about upcoming commission appointments and recognition of the commission's award for best practices in historic preservation.