Vision

The East Phillips community has a long-held vision to repurpose the vacant Roof Depot warehouse into a vibrant neighborhood hub that supports public health, affordable housing, and local businesses.

  • Community Ownership

  • Indoor Farm / Aquaponics

  • Cooperatively Owned Solar

  • Skills Training Centers

  • Cultural Education

  • Gathering Spaces

Local Retail and Business Space

Community Kitchen

Job Training Facilities

Services for the Unhoused

Collaborative Art Making Spaces

Approximately 570 Jobs

& more

The project would add an estimated $53M in personal income and $3.6M in state tax revenue annually.

Below is the simplified basis for this project’s novel ownership model, crafted with local law experts and ongoing feedback from the community.

  • 1/3 East Phillips community

  • 1/3 Building Tenants (small businesses & organizations)

  • 1/3 Outside investors

Income: Sale of energy from solar array, sale of healthy food, business rental income, appreciation

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Project Partners

Cooperative Energy Futures
Nexus Community Partners
University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Loeffler Construction
Mortenson Company
Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue
Hope Community, Inc.
Little Earth Protectors
Strong Body, Strong Mind Foundation
Little Earth Resident Association
Blue Water Farms
Women’s Environmental Institute