New Partners

Ryan Companies US, Inc., and The Green Institute deepen the MCW Partnership's focus on development issues

August 2004—The Midtown Community Works Partnership welcomed two new members this month, both heavily involved in progressive redevelopment of the Lake Street-Midtown Greenway corridor.

Ryan Companies US, Inc., a locally based developer with projects spread across the United States, leads the Midtown Exchange project at Chicago-Lake, one of the largest-ever redevelopment efforts in Minneapolis and the lynchpin for continued revitalization in the Lake Street corridor. Ryan previously led the development of the Target Corp. headquarters complex in downtown Minneapolis, the expansion of Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota and the Grain Belt Brewhouse redevelopment in the city's north side.

"It's a pleasure and also a responsibility to join this leadership group," said Rick Collins, Ryan's Vice President for Development. "Ryan Companies recognizes that the Midtown Exchange project will affect layers upon layers of public and private interests. Fortunately, there is a partnership in place to facilitate communication among many of these interests and to advance a shared agenda for the future of the area. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of this approach to civic planning."

The Green Institute, located in East Phillips a block north of Lake Street, emerged from a grassroots organization of concerned neighbors to become a community development leader with an entrepreneurial streak and a focus on environmental sustainability that has been recognized worldwide. The organization owns and operates the Re-Use Center, a popular architectural salvage store in the Hi-Lake shopping center.

Michael Krause, The Green Institute's director, says he welcomes the opportunity to work within the MCW Partnership in pursuit such initiatives as the formation of a local energy cooperative and the eventual construction of a heat and energy plant near the Hiawatha-Lake commercial node.

"The Green Institute's approach has always been to aim progressive development ideas at the mainstream economy. We have a track record of creating stable neighborhood businesses that promote economic opportunity and environmental sustainability. It's clear to me that there's great opportunity to scale up these efforts within the far-sighted development framework of the Midtown Community Works Partnership. "