MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2020) – West Monroe Partners, a national business and technology consultancy, today announced that its Minneapolis office will relocate to new space in the North Loop neighborhood to accommodate its expanded local team and future growth projections. The firm has agreed to lease more than 42,000 square feet at The Nordic, a unique mixed-use development at 729 Washington Avenue, and expects to move into the new space in April 2020.

“West Monroe joins other fast-growing companies on the leading edge of their industries that have selected The Nordic as their home because it offers an ideal location and a variety of amenities their employees can enjoy.”

West Monroe, which has nine offices across the United States, doubled its local team in October 2019 through the acquisition of Minneapolis-based digital product studio, GoKart Labs. The new office will have more than two times the space of West Monroe’s current local footprint, allowing the firm to bring more than 100 employees together in one location and still have room to grow. Based on increasing demand for consulting services from the region’s upper-mid-market and Fortune 1000 companies, West Monroe expects to double the size of its local workforce again between now and 2025.

“Already, we are seeing tremendous impact from integrating the respective consulting, creative, and technology talents of West Monroe and GoKart Labs, so it has been a priority for us to find space where we can bring everyone together. The Nordic not only enables us to do that; it also offers a modern, efficient, human-centered environment that is very much aligned with our people-first culture,” said Tom Ewers, managing director and Minneapolis office leader. “We are excited to find a space that enables us to collaborate and do ground-breaking work for category leaders committed to differentiating themselves and creating value in a digital marketplace.”

West Monroe opened its Minneapolis office in 2013. Today, the office provides technology-enabled consulting solutions for clients across the Upper Midwest in key industries, including healthcare and life sciences, financial services, consumer and industrial products, and private equity. The firm’s Minneapolis-based digital product studio serves clients nationally as West Monroe builds out additional studios in other offices.

West Monroe earned 35 awards for its unique, people-first company culture in 2019. Nationally, the firm has been recognized as a leading company at which to work by Great Place to Work and Fortune, as well as by Vault Inc. and Consulting magazine. Both West Monroe and GoKart Labs have been named a Star Tribune Top Workplace and a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Best Place to Work.

“Collaborating to create value through multi-disciplinary teams is at the heart of what we do, so it is important for us to have space that inspires that, while also being an attractive destination for our current and prospective employees. The Nordic offers a space and location that exemplifies our unique culture, while also proximity to both of our current offices so as not to disrupt people’s current commutes,” said Don Smithmier, co-founder of GoKart Labs and now a senior director with West Monroe. “Just as important, we are eager to have our entire Minneapolis team together in one space so that everyone has exposure to and can learn from each other’s skills and diverse perspectives. This creates career growth opportunities for all and helps us fulfill our mission to build the next generation of leaders.”

The Nordic, led by United Properties, is one of Minnesota’s first registered projects employing the WELL Building Standard^TM (WELL), a global movement focused exclusively on the health and wellness of building occupants. It features full-service restaurants, retail, micro-unit housing, parking and bike storage, and gathering areas, including a unique four-season plaza and a rooftop patio.

“We’re pleased to welcome West Monroe Partners to The Nordic, our unique mixed-use development in Minneapolis’ vibrant North Loop neighborhood,” said Gordy Stofer, vice president, capital markets for United Properties. “West Monroe joins other fast-growing companies on the leading edge of their industries that have selected The Nordic as their home because it offers an ideal location and a variety of amenities their employees can enjoy.”

West Monroe currently occupies space at 123 N. 3^rd Street and 110 N. 5^th Street. Peter Fitzgerald of Cushman Wakefield represented West Monroe in the deal.

West Monroe is currently hiring for an array of positions in Minneapolis. For career opportunities, visit https://www.acceptthechallenge.com.

About West Monroe Partners

West Monroe is a national business and technology consulting firm that partners with dynamic organizations to reimagine, build, and operate their businesses at peak performance. Our team of more than 1,400 professionals is comprised of an uncommon blend of business consultants and deep technologists. This unique combination of expertise enables us to design, develop, implement, and run strategic business and technology solutions that yield a dramatic commercial impact on our clients’ profitability and performance. For more information, visit www.wmp.com.

Media Contact
Christina Galoozis
Media Relations Manager
cgaloozis@wmp.com
312.447.6623

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2020) – United Properties announced today that Brandon Champeau has been promoted to market leader for the Minneapolis commercial development group. The promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2020.

In his new role, Champeau is responsible for directing and managing the execution of all office, industrial and commercial mixed-use projects in the Twin Cities market. Champeau joined United Properties in 2004 as a retail leasing broker. He was hired by Keith Ulstad as a retail project manager in 2006 and was promoted to assistant vice president in 2012, vice president in 2014 and senior vice president in 2017. He has been instrumental in many key United Properties projects, including the historic renovation of the Ford Center, the Penn & American redevelopment in Bloomington, Midway Stadium Business Center — the first USGBC LEED Silver speculative industrial building in the state — and Northcross Business Park, a highly successful industrial development in Brooklyn Park. In the last five years, he has delivered more than 2.5 million sq. ft. of industrial space to the market, and since 2016, he has been leading the master planning of Upper Harbor Terminal.

“Brandon has continued his own growth and success by demonstrating repeated, disciplined work across all commercial property types,” said Bill Katter, president and chief investment officer, United Properties Development. “I am confident he will continue to have a meaningful impact in this expanded role and am very excited to see his efforts expand into our office development efforts.”

In addition to his role at United Properties, Champeau is deeply involved in the commercial real estate industry, most recently serving as the president of NAIOP Minnesota, the local chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in entrepreneurial studies and finance, with a minor in marketing, from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

AUTHORED BY COLE STERR

One of our most recent developments in the vibrant North Loop neighborhood, The Nordic, has already begun the work of creating legacies over the past few months.

As the newly developed “living room and back yard” of the North Loop, The Nordic has provided many hours of enjoyment in the open, outdoor plaza space that connects to the neighborhood’s popular The Freehouse restaurant at the Loose-Wiles Building next door.

Our friends from The Musicant Group are mainly responsible for this; since 2012, they’ve been planning and hosting placemaking events and designing spaces to connect the public with common areas throughout Minnesota. Its main mission is simple: to create places where people want to be.

United Properties partnered with The Musicant Group on The Nordic in the development phase, keeping the question of “What do people want to do?” top of mind. Through engaging and interviewing residents, employees, and visitors of the North Loop, Founder Max Musicant and Community Event Manager Shelby Schroeder uncovered a few common threads: people want to create new traditions and experience new amenities and events. 

Musicant and Schroeder explain that “the plaza was designed to accommodate physical curling programs, parties, fitness events, and intimate casual and day-to-day experiences.”  

From hosting musicians and enjoying a couple of cold ones to celebrating the holidays and practicing yoga, the Nordic is fulfilling its promise to serve as the living room and backyard of the vibrant North Loop – satisfying the needs of people who live, work, and play in the neighborhood. 

The Nordic Shenanigans

This past September, an Oktoberfest celebration was held at the plaza between The Nordic and The Freehouse. It’s a convenient location, especially with The Freehouse right there to provide the beer! By bringing this event to the plaza, the space can engage with people and generate buzz, all in the hopes of making this an annual event at the plaza. 

The Musicant Group has also implemented what’s called “Minute Mondays” where employees in The Nordic and Loose-Wiles Building and bystanders can take a minute to engage in Minute-to-Win-It activities. It’s intended to interact with employees and the general public during our fast-paced lives. “I knew that people didn’t have 30 minutes to spare, but I knew they had one minute,” says Schroeder, “Minute Mondays are smaller-scale events so people see that there’s constant activity.” 

Additionally, The Musicant Group hosts Fika Fridays, which is an event held every Friday where coffee, treats, doughnuts, pastries, and even a yogurt bar are offered to the public and employees. It’s so popular that 80-100 people come every time, and people have it scheduled on their calendars. “There’s one employee that shouts across the cubes every time Fika Fridays rolls around” explains Schroeder, “he even brought me coffee one day to show his appreciation for the work we do with this event.” This event has certainly achieved the goal of the space by creating a weekly ritual amongst employees and neighboring organizations. “It allows people and employees to take some time out of the office, come down to the plaza and plan something together and enjoy themselves” explains Musicant. 

Local musicians have also been taking advantage of the open plaza outdoor and indoor spaces to share their talents with the public. The Musicant Group has an extensive list of local musicians, and they pick a variety of musicians to perform so that different tastes and genres can be heard by the public at least once a month. Tenants have even said that they want to come down for lunch and enjoy some local music on the plaza. “It’s a great way to engage so many different types of people” describe Schroeder and Musicant, “witnessing a concert communicates a live invitation, and implies that the plaza is an inclusive space and that we want people there.” 

The Musicant Group has also worked with the North Loop Neighborhood Association to create recurring events. “We’re actively recruiting partners to create larger events and seasonal traditions” Musicant explains. In October, the two groups worked together to use the plaza space for a Halloween celebration, kicking off a theme of recurring events on the plaza to create traditions and foster a memorable gathering space. 

And to top it off, The Musicant Group worked with the Downtown Resource Group (DRG) to utilize the space for yoga. As part of its partnership with the Best Christmas Ever (BCE), an organization that works to bless families who have been through tough times during the holiday season, DRG asked The Musicant Group if the space could be used for yoga to raise money for BCE. The Musicant Group couldn’t say no. “We want to make our spaces a ‘yes’ space. If somebody wants to host an event, we don’t say no, we try our best to make it happen,” say Schroeder and Musicant. The open space on the plaza makes it a perfect spot for not only parties, but also a space where people can be physically active, underscoring the plaza’s versatility. 

In partnership with The Musicant Group and The Freehouse, United Properties is also in the process of installing curling into the space with hopes of recurring every winter. It will be the only outdoor curling courts in the Twin Cities that use actual stones, too. The group is also moving the outdoor concert series indoors for the winter, rebranding it Lattes and Listen, in partnership with the new coffee shop FRGMNT. Continuing to work with the North Loop Neighborhood Association, hosting more Fika Fridays, making annual holiday events, and implementing an ice bar with The Freehouse are all in the works too. 

Impact of Public Spaces 

Whether it’s some good ‘ole beer-drinking, family gathering, or relaxing yoga, our plaza at The Nordic is a versatile space well suited to host a wide variety of activities that bring the neighborhood together.

Our partnership with The Musicant Group has truly created a place where people want to be, and we’re excited to imagine more possibilities for cultivating a welcoming public space. It’s all part of our work to leave lasting legacies in the Twin Cities and fulfil our mission of advancing transformative real estate. ​​

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2020) – United Properties announced today that it has completed construction of a new hotel at 501 Sixth Ave. N. and music hall at 525 Fifth St. N., located at Target Field Station in the North Loop of downtown Minneapolis. The 150,000-sq.-ft. building features the Fillmore Minneapolis music hall and Element by Westin hotel.

“Fillmore Minneapolis will be the destination for people looking for an evening of live music with great food and drinks. Whether you are at Fillmore Minneapolis for a show, attending a Twins game with family, or in town for business, Element by Westin offers a fresh, comfortable and convenient place to stay while visiting Minneapolis,” said Rick McKelvey, senior vice president, development. “We are very proud that United Properties was able to deliver this incredible mixed-use project to the city.”

“We are particularly grateful to Hennepin County and the Minnesota Twins for the support they’ve provided us throughout the development process. Their bold vision for Target Field Station will provide great benefits to our community for decades,” McKelvey said. “We are confident that United Properties’ addition to Target Field Station brings wonderful new amenities that will further enliven the area.”

United Properties worked with Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment division to bring the popular Fillmore music hall to Minneapolis. The venue occupies 36,000 sq. ft. and features an intimate, 1,850-guest-capacity venue for music performances. The music hall is enhanced by signature Fillmore aesthetics, including chandeliers and vintage concert posters.

United Properties worked with Lion Hotel Group to develop the Element by Westin hotel, which features 156 guest rooms. The Element by Westin hotel is a unique concept that suits both short- and long-term stays and incorporates eco-conscious design elements and wellness programming. Project partners include Tushie Montgomery Architects and Weis Builders.

Both the music hall and hotel will open shortly.

Target Field Station caps the company’s commercial real estate development activities in the Target Field Station area, which includes the Ford Center, Be The Match headquarters and Caribou Coffee.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 21, 2019) – The Nordic, United Properties’ mixed-use building located at 729 Washington Ave. N., announced today a series of exciting developments as the project nears completion. Nearly 70 percent of the space is now leased, with just three floors totaling 60,000 sq. ft. remaining.

New tenants now open include FRGMNT coffee shop and Thr3 Jack restaurant and indoor golf venue, and programming at the outdoor public plaza has been in full swing.

FRGMNT, a coffee shop owned by Ben Banse and Sarah Roehl, has opened in the ground floor lobby of The Nordic. The brand was created specifically for The Nordic and features coffee from Monogram Coffee in Calgary, Canada, Heart Roasters in Portland, Oregon, and Saint Frank Coffee in San Francisco. The coffee shop has a partnership with Honey & Rye Bakehouse to provide pastries for patrons. FRGMNT is open 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Thr3 Jack, a restaurant and indoor golf venue on the ground floor of The Nordic, had its grand opening Oct. 7. Created by siblings Lucy Robb and Bo Massopust, the venue features six best-in-class simulators for golfers of all levels and a thoughtfully crafted food and drink menu. Thr3 Jack is open 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The outdoor plaza space at The Nordic has begun programming and events with yoga classes, a festive Halloween celebration and other activities. Featuring an outdoor firepit, planning is underway for additional winter outdoor events in the coming months.

Sable, The Nordic’s residential component, represents the first owner occupied condominium building that allows short-term rentals in the Twin Cities. Several units have closed, with just 15 percent remaining. The building features a Members’ Lounge, rooftop deck with downtown views, outdoor firepits and same-floor parking access. Contact Joe Grunnet with Downtown Resource Group at (612) 244-6613 for more information.

The Nordic is a modern warehouse-style building designed to be the living room and backyard of the North Loop. Other tenants include Ovative Group and WeWork, a cooperative office space. A food hall operated by Galley Group on the first floor is expected to open next month. The Nordic is United Properties’ fifth project in Minneapolis’ historic North Loop neighborhood.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2019) – United Properties has announced its plan to develop Canterbury Distribution Center in Shakopee, Minnesota. The 302,650 sq. ft. building, located at 3200 Fourth Ave. E., will be moving forward as a speculative industrial product.

United Properties purchased the 24-acre property near U.S. Route 169 and Canterbury Road from Canterbury Park in 2015. Site work on the project began in August 2019, with an expected completion in the spring of 2020.

Canterbury Distribution Center is currently the only large bulk space available in the south metro area, and the property is located less than a quarter of a mile from the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shakopee, noted Connor McCarthy, development manager, United Properties. “We’re pleased to be developing much-needed large bulk space in the supply-constrained southern metro,” he said.

R.J. Ryan Construction Inc. is the general contractor on the project. Kris Smeltzer and Jason Meyer of Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing representatives.

United Properties also recently purchased land in Burnsville at 35 South Business Center located at the corner of Interstate 35 and Highway 13. The 96,000 sq. ft. build-to-suit industrial project represents phase four of United Properties’ 35/13 Crossings project.

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 12, 2019) – United Properties announced today that it has broken ground on Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington, located at 5501 American Blvd. W., within the Normandale Lake area of Bloomington, Minnesota. The senior living community is expected to open March 2021.

This marks the first time United Properties will bring its Cherrywood Pointe concept to Bloomington, a community that is already familiar with another of its senior living options, Applewood Pointe senior cooperatives. “We are delighted to be further serving Bloomington seniors with the continuum of care offered by Cherrywood Pointe, from independent living to 24-hour on-site nursing staff,” said Mark Nelson, executive vice president, residential development, United Properties.

The four-story community offers a variety of floor plans and housing solutions, with options ranging from independent living to services with around-the-clock personalized care. Cherrywood Pointe’s 118 units feature 82 maintenance-free independent and assisted living apartments, 24 memory care apartments and 12 care suite apartments. Amenities include a multi-venue dining room, pub room, community room, salon, fitness room and yoga studio, sun porch and outdoor patio, underground parking, and balconies on most units. Community members will have access to daily chef-prepared meals, scheduled transportation services and a comprehensive life-enrichment program designed to create engaging experiences and an active lifestyle.

Great Lakes Management will manage Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington. Customized health-care services will be provided by Gentle Touch Health, including a 24-hour on-site team of licensed nurses and nurses’ assistants.

Cherrywood Pointe of Bloomington was designed by Kaas Wilson Architects and Henrik & Co Interiors and will be constructed by Weis Builders.

The Bloomington location is United Properties’ sixth Cherrywood Pointe community in the Twin Cities. The other metro locations include Forest Lake, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Roseville on Cleveland and Roseville on Lexington. The company also has a senior living community in Littleton, Colorado, as well as communities under development in Naples and Sarasota, Florida.

Teaming with Habitat to help Twin Cities families create deep roots

One work day.

It’s something very small to give on the individual level. But then one company donates 10 employees’ labor for a day. Then 10 companies donate. Sometimes every year, several times a year. Then future Habitat homeowners contribute their “sweat equity” – 100 hours of homebuilding. Just one work day multiplied means working families in need all over the world can reach their aspiration of homeownership. And that ownership creates deep roots.

Earlier this month, United Properties joined forces with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) for two days of homebuilding and teambuilding. More than 30 employees from United Properties and senior living partner Ebenezer traded a day at the office for a day on-site, where 981 Euclid was in its third week of construction. Once finished, the 1800-square-foot St. Paul home will include 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an 800-square-foot unfinished basement (2600 square feet total) with an egress window. All volunteers will be invited to the housewarming.

“It was a very rewarding day personally, learning carpentry skills and doing tangible work with our hands for a cause we feel good about,” shared Kevin Powell, United Properties IT Director & AVP. “Working together and getting to know your colleagues in a different environment is also very rewarding – you learn things you wouldn’t have expected about them. Plus the Habitat team was brave enough to trust us with power tools…”

To date, TCHFH has constructed more than 12,000 homes for Minnesotan families in need. But what do these homes really mean for local families?

Why Home Matters

According to Habitat, having a stable place to come home to each day is associated with better public health and education outcomes. But what does that look like in the day-to-day? WHY does this work matter? TCHFH engages with past volunteers on a regular basis to help them understand the WHY behind the homebuilding – which isn’t really about the buildings at all:

For those of us who’ve never needed to question where home was, a window into a Habitat family’s day-to-day can be awakening. It helps us start to understand what home means to those who don’t take it for granted, and it helps us see why even one work day matters.

One work day at a time – one home build at a time – adds up to a lot of impact. It means a child can stay at one school long enough to make meaningful friendships and host sleepovers at home. It means making memories that become stories about “the neighborhood” and “the house where I grew up.” Habitat’s work is about more than providing shelter – it’s about how the shelter helps families create deep roots. It’s about the thing that makes a space a place and a house a home. That’s why United Properties is proud to partner with Habitat each year to help lift up families putting down their own roots in the greater Twin Cities.

Further Multiplied

Habitat for Humanity developed several programs that multiply each chapter’s local impact, all of which work toward the central mission of building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter:

1. A Brush with Kindness – TCHFH’s A Brush with Kindness Paint and Home Repair Program partners with low-income families, veterans, and seniors to affordably maintain safe, stable homes. Over the last 30 years, the program has touched more than 2,000 families in the greater Twin Cities area.
2. ReStore Home Improvement Outlets – Think Goodwill meets Home Depot. ReStore vets new and gently used home improvement products and building materials and is open to the public. Sales at the Minneapolis and New Brighton locations support Habitat homebuilding initiatives in the Twin Cities area.
3. Age in Place – In partnership with Allina Health, TCHFH launched Age in Place to support older low-income homeowners who wish to age peacefully in the comfort of their own homes. The program provides assistance with seasonal chores, yard work, home modifications (e.g., building wheelchair ramps, installing handrails), and other services that allow homeowners to continue living safely and affordably.

Visit tchabitat.org to learn about other programs and help Habitat multiply its impact for Twin Cities families!

AUTHORED BY COLE STERR

We all love public art. We love to look at it, marvel at it, interact with it, learn about it, and take pride in it. The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture has become an icon for the city of Minneapolis and instilled local pride within our community, while the Mary Tyler Moore statue in downtown Minneapolis reminds us that our city was once the home of a popular and progressive sitcom.

But, what is the purpose of public art and why is it so important to communities? Further, how has United Properties been able to incorporate public art to enrich the communities where we live, work and play?

Public Art Uplifts Public Health

First, what is public art? It’s simple. According to Americans for the Arts, public art is “art in public spaces.” The way art is incorporated into a public space can be a response to the place and community in which it resides and is often site-specific. It can reflect a place’s history, culture, people, and societal norms.

Additionally, there are several health benefits that public art can provide to a community:

1. Helps us take a breather. In such a fast-paced world, public art can slow us down and help us appreciate the values in our communities we may not have previously noticed. Colin Ellard, a neuroscientist who studies the relationship between psychology and urban design, researched this and found that city residents walk at an average speed of three miles per hour. However, when comparing walking speeds of walkers in areas where there was public art and areas without, he discovered that those who walked passed the artwork reduced their speed by 50%. Even when it’s unbeknownst to us as citizens, public art affects how we move and view our surroundings.
2. Cultivates positive emotions. Contributor to Forbes Raquel Laneri articulates that public art pieces can break up “the monotonous and sometimes oppressive nature of city working life.” Simply put, it can just make you smile. Art installations can be clever, downright funny, interesting, goofy, fun, or be the source of a happy thought on your daily commute, while relaxing in a park, or exploring a new area.
3. Instills local pride and social capital. The Fearless Girl statue that was placed on Wall Street in New York City exemplifies this function of public art. Remember Spoonbridge and Cherry and the Mary Tyler Moore statue? Public art installations represent cultural icons that trigger a community’s collective sense of pride – especially when it can be used for a feel-good Instagram moment.
4. Represents marginalized communities. Public art can uplift voices of those who may not be at the forefront of the mainstream media or whose history might not be known to the general public. Pieces that have ties to indigenous tribes or communities of color can be a reminder that different communities exist and are present while fostering feel-good moments and open-mindedness in a community.

United Properties’ Public Art in Action

As part of our brand promise to enrich communities, United Properties has incorporated several public art installations into its developments – all of which can provide some sort of benefit to our communities!

Be The Match – Sidewalk Harp

In front of the Be The Match headquarters – developed by United Properties in 2015 – lies a unique structure that at first glance just seems like a fancy light fixture. After walking past the installation, however, one might start to hear noises. That’s no accident. That’s right – this piece has motion sensors to detect when someone walks by or waves their hand under it and subsequently plays different notes to resemble that of a harp. Created by artist Jen Lewin, this public art piece causes people to slow down and interact with their surroundings while having a little fun.

Align Sculpture at Enterprise Business Center

At our prime industrial building in Colorado, we’ve recently implemented a unique sculpture titled Align by artist Joshua Wiener. The piece resembles a root system and appears to be “growing” into the surrounding space, conveying wholeness and unity. Align brings an interesting perspective and gives bystanders and workers something inspiring to look at.

Mural at 7-Eleven in Broomfield, CO

The first-ever mural implemented at a 7-Eleven in Colorado has unique ties to the community of Broomfield. The mural itself reflects the community by highlighting the Colorado sunset palette and the area’s vegetation and landscapes. It brings a fun and vibrant mood to the gas station for shoppers and workers to admire through its bright and eye-catching colors while becoming a hot spot for social media engagement. It was created by members of So-Gnar Creative Division.

Curve Ball Art Piece near Caribou & Target Field Station

Near one of our Caribou Coffee developments and Target Field Station lies a rock sculpture titled “Curve Ball” by artist Zoran Mojsilov. The piece lies in the center of a gathering space that is encompassed by rock seating. This public art piece cultivates a sense of community within the heart of the North Loop and provides visually appealing scenery while one enjoys a good ‘ole cup of Caribou.

United Properties imagines the possibilities of how public art can transform real estate. Whether a public art piece sparks creativity, ignites curiosity, or instills positivity, one thing is for sure: it can certainly enrich a community.

“I hope to always be a tourist in this city. When I cross Hennepin Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River on my way to work, I often find myself in awe of the national landmark on our doorstep. Sometimes I stand next to the Grain Belt sign with the awareness that I’m walking across a national divide – from the Pillsbury side to the Gold Medal side over the natural wonder that helped grow the city I plan to call home for many years.”

–      UP Sunrise event attendee, Minneapolis resident (1 year)

It’s easy to appreciate the Mississippi’s powerful force on foot over a bridge – the speed of the water and the pounding sound – but it’s also easy to forget that this river is the birthplace of the tiny frontier settlement that grew into the 422K-resident metropolis we know today. The river powered Minneapolis’ thriving milling and logging industries that contributed to the economic prosperity of our growing city through the late 1800s.

Today, the upper and lower St. Anthony Lock and Dam plants alone generate a combined 24 megawatts of electricity per hour. That’s enough to power over 17,000 homes.

For over a hundred years, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (formerly the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners) has worked to preserve access to the historical river. Today, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and the Board strive to strengthen the Minneapolis community’s sense of stewardship and connection to the Mississippi and preserve the urban park spaces integral to mitigating the impacts of climate change in urban areas.

Sponsoring the Park Foundation’s annual Sunrise on the Mississippi event is just one way United Properties is creating deep roots in the Minneapolis community. The 5^th annual event raised over $110,000 for the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s work.

This year’s Sunrise was hosted at Boom Island Park on the unmistakably end-of-summer morning of Sept. 5. Attendees enjoyed mingling over hot coffee and tea under a fireplace pavilion before making their way under the tent for the program and breakfast overlooking the Mississippi.

Keynote speaker Paul Huttner, Chief Meteorologist at MPR, first woke the audience with stats highlighting the very real global impacts of climate change for perspective. Huttner then zeroed in on Minneapolis’ context and the importance of park space and preservation efforts in bracing for the impacts of climate change in metropolitan and riverside areas.

Data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate that the years 2014-2018 had the warmest global temperatures of any year since 1881. Since 1970, average temperatures in Minnesota have risen 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit; average temperatures in Minneapolis have risen 3.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re younger than 34, you have not experienced a cooler-than-average month.

These numbers seem small, but ground-level ozone is more concentrated on hotter days, magnifying the impacts of heat stress. Warmer air also holds more moisture, so as the climate warms, heavier rains are projected to continue to increase the instance of flooding in urban areas.

Fortunately, parks can mitigate many of the issues associated with a warming world.

• Trees not only provide shade and filter pollutants, they perform evapotranspiration, a process by which evaporating water cools the surrounding air.
• Parks near rivers provide a buffer zone for floods so heavy rainfalls do not cripple a city’s economy.
• Green things in parks reflect more sunlight than dark urban rooftops, helping them achieve temperatures 5-10 degrees cooler than normal for a typical downtown.

Access Huttner’s full presentation here.

Minneapolis Park Board Superintendent Al Bangoura then recounted the influence of parks on his youth in Milwaukee and his journey to a role overseeing Minneapolis parks. He was elected in late 2018 after a national search and is proud to lead “the premier park system in the country.”

United Properties shares Bangoura’s belief in the ability of parks to transform human life and considers the benefits to our clients, our communities, and our planet as we continue to care for the roots that originated the great City of Minneapolis. Though these benefits are not immediately tangible, one thing’s for sure: You’ve got to know your city’s roots and aspirations for your roots to take hold, and there are few places better than the banks of the Mighty Miss at sunrise to contemplate that.