The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) is working to secure land for an indoor urban farm project that would bring affordable housing, urban food production, a coffee shop and a bicycle shop to the small southside neighborhood.

The project would be part of the Hiawatha Campus expansion. The city of Minneapolis is planning to relocate and consolidate the Public Works Water Distribution Maintenance and Meter Shop operation from three sites to a centrally located facility, replacing the existing Water Distribution facility. Learn more on the city’s website.

EPNI is encouraging supporters to show up—with signs—to meetings that could affect the project outcome. It started as a 7.5-acres project when EPNI was negotiating the purchase of the site in 2015—and now EPNI is hoping to secure at least 2 acres for a sustainable urban farm project and save the building on the site from demolition.

Ways to Show Support
The EPNI is asking folks that live in Ward 1, Ward 3 and Ward 4 to contact their councilperson and ask them to support the two-acre East Phillips Community Vision.

The Minneapolis City Council is meeting on Friday, Dec. 7, another opportunity to show support for the project. The meeting is at 9:30 a.m. in room 317 at Minneapolis City Hall.

Follow the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute on Facebook to stay up to date on news and opportunities to show support.

Winona LaDuke Offers Support
Winona LaDuke attended an information session with elected officials and project supporters, including Jose Luis Villaseñor of Tamales y Bicicletas, our July SEED recipient, on Nov. 20 at the Little Earth Youth Development Center.

Winona spoke about the need for a cooperative economy and the environmental and political issues that she said give us all “a shot to do some cool stuff.”

“What if we built an economy built on cooperation, not competition?” Winona said. “I want the next economy.”