Metro Plains Development has proposed modifications to a proposed development at Lowry Avenue and Polk Street. In February, the City's Planning Commission approved plans for a four-story mixed use building on the north side of Lowry Avenue between Central Avenue and Polk Street.

The City of Minneapolis has created the Minneapolis Advantage Program, a loan program to help potential buyers purchase a foreclosed, vacant or boarded home in neighborhoods that have been the most highly impacted. This program offers $10,000 that can be used to pay for closing costs, down payment, or even small repairs to the home. This is a Five-year forgivable loan with 0% interest.

The Audubon Park Neighborhood will host the first annual Spring WingDing on April 25 from 11am to 2pm at Audubon Park. ANA, in partnership with the Minneapolis Park Board, Audubon Society of Minnesota, Northeast 4H Group, Northeast Middle School, Metro Blooms, Mississippi Watershed Managment Organization, and Northeast Royalty, will sponsor the event, which will include activites for residents and guests of all ages. Additional details about the event are available at SpringWingDing.org.

Thanks to the work of Hillcrest Development, the City of Minneapolis, and the Hollywood Theater Task Force, several improvements to the vacant Hollywood Theater are occurring. These improvements will assist in marketing the property to potential developers for reuse. First, the house north of the theater (2819 Johnson Street) was demolished on February 23.

In late 2008, ANA engaged a group of University of Minnesota students to explore various options for including bicycle facilites along the 29th Avenue corridor. The final report, "Audubon Park: Improving Neighborhood Bicycle Amenities" (.pdf) has been completed.

April agenda to be determined.

The Audubon Park community meets 4 times each year in the Salvation Army’s King Community Center at 2727 Central Avenue. Parking is available. Enter through the south door.

Everyone is welcome • ADA accessible • Childcare Provided

Audubon resident and Realtor, Terri Harder, is featured in a WCCO-TV report on improving conditions in the local housing market:

Mayor Rybak has announced an expansion of the Minneapolis Advantage program, which offers $10,000 grants to buyers of foreclosed homes. Audubon Park was not included in last year’s pilot version of the program. For 2009 our neighborhood has been elevated to eligible status.

Happy New Year! I look forward to serving as president during 2009 and am very excited about ANA’s initiatives for the coming year. A native of southern Wisconsin, I work as a city planner in the northern suburbs and have lived in Audubon Park for nearly three years.

The results are in, and crime in Minneapolis has dropped for the second year in a row. Even better for Audubon and all of Northeast, our Precinct saw the biggest drop, and we maintained our rank as the safest part of the city.