38th & Chi Small Business & Cultural District Support Plan
Developed by the 38th & Chi Business Coalition - August 2025
Vision Statement
We envision 38th & Chicago — known historically and presently as 38th & Chi — as a vibrant, safe, and culturally grounded commercial corridor. This place is the site of a global reckoning. It is also a living, breathing neighborhood where people run businesses, raise children, host community events, and build toward futures of their own making.
We honor what happened here and the ongoing movement that followed the murder of George Floyd. We hold space for grief and remembrance. But this place cannot and should not be defined solely by tragedy. The story of 38th & Chi is one of Black and Brown entrepreneurship, immigrant resilience, cultural expression, and collective survival. It is a corridor rooted in legacy and brimming with future possibility.
We are home to a deeply diverse network of businesses — Black-owned, Indigenous-owned, immigrant-owned, women-led, and legacy establishments — that have served this community through times of crisis and rebuilding. The goal of this plan is to elevate their visibility, stabilize their operations, and ensure their role in shaping the future of this district.
Part 1: Reimagining Infrastructure for Safety, Accessibility, and Dignity
The physical condition of 38th & Chi must reflect the pride and potential of those who live and work here. Our streets, sidewalks, signage, and public spaces need immediate and sustained investment to ensure beauty, functionality, and safety.
We propose a coordinated infrastructure upgrade plan that includes: permanent trash, recycling, and compost bins; regular street washing and seasonal sidewalk maintenance; fresh paint and façade improvements for commercial buildings; improved overhead lighting and illuminated business signage; and the creation of green spaces with raised flower beds, tree plantings, and public seating.
Access is a key concern. The corridor should include curb cuts for ADA compliance, clearly marked parking areas, and angle parking to increase availability. We recommend exploring the 3700 block as a one-way southbound street to balance pedestrian gathering space with traffic flow. Importantly, all changes must preserve emergency vehicle access and business visibility.
Part 2: Meaningful Investment in Small Businesses and Economic Resilience
Symbolic recognition is not enough. Real support means resources, access to capital, and long-term stabilization tools.
Our recommendations include:
Façade improvement grants, with the matching funds requirement removed for this district
No-fee permits for vending and cultural events hosted by local businesses
A property tax abatement program (retroactive to 2020) for impacted business owners
Real estate acquisition grants for commercial tenants seeking ownership
Low-interest, need-based loans to support business expansion and recovery
Front-loaded, non-reimbursement-based technical assistance for applying to public and private grants
Marketing and digital visibility funding to ensure all businesses in the corridor are discoverable, promoted, and supported
We also propose the establishment and funding of a dedicated 38th & Chi Small Business Support Plan, a district-wide Economic Development Plan, and renewed public commitment to the 38th Street Thrive Plan, with a minimum investment target of $10 million in this cultural corridor. The City must also maintain all publicly owned infrastructure and properties within the district.
Part 3: Honoring the Legacy with Care, Structure, and Shared Responsibility
We recognize that 38th & Chi is sacred ground. But sacredness and functionality must coexist. Currently, there are two primary memorial spaces in the area: the original memorial site at the intersection of 38th & Chicago and the space known as People’s Way (the former Speedway site), now owned by the City.
People’s Way — A Key Opportunity
People’s Way remains in visible disrepair. The site is an abandoned gas station surrounded by makeshift memorial items, a disorganized clothing donation shelter, and encampment activity that raises ongoing safety concerns. These conditions have directly impacted nearby businesses, housing, and foot traffic. This is not a dignified presentation of community memory.
We believe this space holds tremendous potential for transformation. The final design of People’s Way will ultimately be decided by whoever the City selects through the RFP process. Our coalition does not seek to dictate the use of this space, but we are committed to partnering with the selected site operator to ensure it becomes a clean, well-maintained, community-centered memorial and gathering place.
We envision a future where People’s Way includes intentional landscaping and hardscaping, accessible seating and lighting, curated public art, and space for cultural events. We also propose the relocation of the greenhouse and select planters from the current intersection to this improved site. Mutual aid services should be dignified and well-managed, and accountability for cleanliness and activation must be clearly defined.
Current Memorial Site — Realignment with Respect
The current memorial site sits at the center of the intersection, in front of Unity Foods and adjacent to the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center. It includes fencing, planters, sculptures, and a greenhouse structure that has repeatedly created issues with visibility, safety, and unsanctioned use. While we deeply respect the intention behind this space, its current design poses daily operational challenges for surrounding businesses and cultural institutions.
We recommend:
Creating a defined, low-profile border around the sacred space that preserves its significance while minimizing visual and physical obstruction
Relocating a symbolic piece of the intersection (e.g., embedded pavers or sculptural elements) to the redesigned People’s Way for permanent memorialization
Establishing a shared governance model for ongoing care of the memorial, including representation from caretakers, businesses, residents, and community organizations
Part 4: Cultural Programming and Community Storytelling
Our cultural identity must be nurtured through consistent, intentional programming. We believe in healing through activation, bringing people together around food, art, performance, and ritual. Our coalition supports the pre-permitting and annual coordination of the following key events:
MLK Day
Black History Month
Women’s History Month
Easter Egg Hunt
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and other family-based gatherings
Day of Remembrance (hosted by Rise & Remember)
Juneteenth
612 Day
Black Business Week
Back to School Jamboree
Bowls & Spoons Harvest Feast
Red Hot Holiday Art Market
Miracle on 38th Street Christmas Celebration
Kwanzaa Celebration
We are developing a shared public calendar for all business and cultural events, which will be accessible online and coordinated across the corridor. In tandem, we will explore partnerships to support street closures, vendor activation, cultural performances, and cross-promotional marketing.
In addition to events, we call for an interpretive vision that documents the full narrative of 38th & Chi, not just its most painful chapter. This includes signage, digital guides, storytelling exhibits, and public art that honors the neighborhood’s long history of cultural power, entrepreneurship, and resistance.
This plan is a living document developed by the 38th & Chi Business Coalition, rooted in years of lived experience and refined through our 2025 meetings with Mayor Jacob Frey, Councilmember Jason Chavez, and key stakeholders, including Rise & Remember. As small business and property owners, artists, and neighborhood leaders, we are committed to carrying this vision forward — and ensuring it receives the political, financial, and logistical support it needs to become reality.
Immediate Priorities (August–September 2025):
Finalize & Submit Plan
Finalize this support plan with coalition member input
Submit to Mayor’s Office, Councilmember Jenkins, Councilmember Chavez, and relevant City departments with a cover letter and executive summary
Publicly share the plan via press release, community event, and digital channels
Build Implementation Partnerships
Reconnect with the City’s 38th Street THRIVE Plan implementation team
Schedule meetings with:
Office of Mayor Jacob Frey
Council member Andrea Jenkins (now Soren Stevenson) (Ward 8)
Council member Jason Chavez (Ward 9)
CPED: Community Planning & Economic Development
City Coordinator’s Office
Cultural Districts program leads
City’s Arts & Cultural Affairs team
Small Business Team
Engage Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit re: D Line and corridor access
Activate Cross-Sector Allies
Outreach to philanthropic partners: McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, Target Foundation, Bush Foundation, Minnesota Humanities Center, Propel Nonprofits
Outreach to business and civic associations: Lake Street Council, NDC, MEDA, NEON, Sabathani, Black Women’s Wealth Alliance
Engage allied coalitions: Cultural Districts Coalition, Twin Cities BIPOC Chamber, Main Street Alliance, Metro Food Justice Network, 38th Street United
Prepare Strategic Messaging & Materials
Finalize a one-pager, presentation deck, and talking points to share with funders, policymakers, and community members
Share our support plan at upcoming events, including Bowls & Spoons and Miracle on 38th Street, etc
Promote that the corridor is open for business and highlight upcoming activations
Fall 2025 Objectives (October–December):
Develop Full Budget & Cost Estimates
Finalize detailed line-item budget and capital needs projection
Break out funding needs for infrastructure, business relief, activation, and ongoing maintenance
Align with budget language in the 38th Street THRIVE Plan
Leverage Policy Opportunities
Advocate for 2026 City budget allocations to support corridor improvement
Align with THRIVE Plan commitments and Cultural District policy tools
Explore proposals for:
Property tax abatements
Real estate acquisition and land trust support
Commercial rent stabilization mechanisms
Infrastructure upgrades and corridor beautification
Launch Public Engagement and Storytelling Campaign
Host storytelling circles, photo documentation, business features
Develop interpretive signage and public art content to highlight corridor history, resilience, and vision
2026 Goals:
Secure first round of City funding and philanthropic commitments
Formalize corridor improvement working group with city liaisons
Complete installation of first public signage and infrastructure updates
Launch 2026 coordinated event calendar and support plan
We invite City officials, philanthropic leaders, and community-based organizations to align with this plan and to invest boldly in the future of 38th & Chi. Our corridor is not only a site of global significance, but a vibrant and enduring neighborhood shaped by the people who never left.
Let’s honor the past. Let’s care for the present. Let’s build the future. Together.
