A Coliseum Reimagined: Transforming the Soul of Downtown Longfellow
Equitable, Community-Centered Redevelopment Brings New Life to East Lake Street
McKnight Foundation. By LM Brimmer.
“This project has been a labor of love. It has incredible fruit. From the ashes rises the phoenix.”
—Janice Downing, Coliseum Co-owner, Common Sense Consulting Owner
Downtown Longfellow is having a renaissance. In June, The Historic Coliseum Building in South Minneapolis reopened with a new, inclusive purpose. In a collage of co-inspiration and shared ownership, the Black-led reconstruction of the former Freeman’s Department Store demonstrates a collaborative approach to community development that is responsible in vision, clear in mission, and pragmatic in its use of resources. Punctuated by new sustainable architectural features, the 80,000-square-foot facility boasts historic terrazzo floors, lofty ceilings, and bright windows. After the civil unrest in 2020 following the police murder of George Floyd, the Coliseum is helping bring new life to Minneapolis’ East Lake Street.
On Juneteenth (June 19, 2024), the national holiday celebrating Black emancipation from enslavement in the United States, the Coliseum‘s grand opening will take place in conjunction with the Soul of the Southside block party. By joining forces with Arbeiter Brewery, Moon Palace Books, and the Hook and Ladder Theatre, the Coliseum opens its doors with a celebration that centers Blackness, kinship, and community. This Black-led project reveals a renewed neighborhood securing its relationship to racial and cultural equity.