Riverside Plaza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Riverside Plaza (Cedar Square West)
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Riverside Plaza and Mixed Blood Theatre at sunset in 2014
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1973 |
| Architect | Ralph Rapson |
| NRHP reference No. | 10001090 |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2010 |
Riverside Plaza is a large apartment complex in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by architect Ralph Rapson and opened in 1973. This unique building is known for its modern and brutalist style, which means it uses a lot of concrete and has a strong, bold look. It's located near downtown Minneapolis, close to the University of Minnesota and Augsburg University. The tallest part of Riverside Plaza, the McKnight Building, stands 39 stories high, making it a very noticeable landmark. It was first called Cedar Square West but got its new name, Riverside Plaza, in 1988.
Riverside Plaza has six buildings and 1,303 homes. It is a main part of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Each building has a different height, showing the different people who live there. Ralph Rapson was inspired by cities in Europe. He saw how people of all ages and wealth lived close together. The project got help from the U.S. federal government through a program called "New Town-In Town." This program helped build new communities inside cities. Riverside Plaza was the first project to get special funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
History of Riverside Plaza
The buildings are made of concrete and have many colored panels. These panels were inspired by a design called Unité d'Habitation. The colors show when the buildings were built. Nearby highways like Interstate 94 and I-35W make it easy for people to travel. Even with these highways nearby, many people live in Riverside Plaza. It has almost always been more than 90% full for nearly 40 years.
The idea for this complex, first called Cedar Village, started in 1966. It was a team effort between Gloria and Martin Segal, University of Minnesota professor Walter Heller, and the B. W. and Leo Harris Company. The city of Minneapolis also helped. They wanted to plan how to rebuild the area.
In 1970, the project was proposed to the Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority. It was approved quickly. People then suggested applying for a "New Communities" loan. In 1971, they received a promise for a $24 million loan. The project planned to have homes for people with different incomes. This included public housing, subsidized units, and homes for middle-income and "semiluxury" tenants.
Changes Over Time
At first, the complex had homes for both high-income and low-income residents. But later, new owners changed the buildings to mostly subsidized housing. This meant they got extra money from the state. Ralph Rapson, the architect, felt the new owners did not take good care of the buildings. This led to some negative nicknames like "Rainbow Sky Ghetto" and "Slum in the Sky." There were also some safety concerns in the early 1990s.
However, local police say that crime in the area has gone down. Riverside Plaza has become a lively home for new families, especially from Vietnam and Northeast Africa. Because of this, the complex is now sometimes called "Little Mogadishu". This new nickname shows the diverse community living there today.
In 1993, the Cedar-Riverside Community School opened near the Plaza. This school helps meet the needs of the families living in the Plaza, especially new immigrants. It is located in former business spaces near the McKnight Tower and Chase House.
As of 2011, Riverside Plaza has over 4,500 people living in 1,303 homes. Half of these homes are market-rate, and half are subsidized. People usually live there for about three to four years. This quick change happens because many new families use the apartments as a temporary home while they get settled and improve their lives.
On December 28, 2010, Riverside Plaza was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. It was recognized as a good example of city rebuilding helped by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was also the first project to get special funding for this type of community. It is also important because it shows the great work of Ralph Rapson.
In October 2016, the people living in Riverside Plaza did not allow HBO to film their TV show Mogadishu, Minnesota in their building.
Renovations and Updates
In 2011, a big renovation of Riverside Plaza began. The complex was almost 40 years old and needed major repairs to its systems like plumbing and electricity. The renovation took two years and cost $132 million. Most of the money came from private sources. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development helped by backing $50 million in loans. They saw Riverside Plaza as a good example of public housing for many families.
See also
In Spanish: Riverside Plaza para niños
