THE DEPOT
Back in the fall of 2022, I was driving home from the grocery store on 28th Street in Minneapolis and passed the East Phillips Depot building, an abandoned distribution warehouse. Surrounding it were signs, flyers, and leaflets reading things like "no demo!" and "urban farm, not toxic harm." One thing, in particular, stood out for me: someone had spelled out the word "imagine" in scraps of knotted fabric and tied it to the chain link fence surrounding the parking lot. It spoke to me, and that is the idea that informs my project.
I imagined the reconstruction of the East Phillips Roof Depot as a center for the community, with a central glass promenade running through the building and small businesses flanking on either side. This covered green space would allow people to congregate even in the cold of Minnesota winters. Additionally, a small grocery store and an adjacent hydroponic farm would aid in providing fresh produce to the community year-round. The building also houses community classrooms, a collaborative workspace, and a wellness center. There is also housing on the upper floors with balconies and access to shared greenspaces and a rooftop community garden.
1860 E 28th St.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Photographs documenting the Nenoocaasi Camp (Roof Depot) movement: