Minneapolis staff is recommending that a historic preservation commission sign off on demolition of the Star Tribune's building on Portland Avenue, with one condition: Keep the medallions.
That refers to six stone medallions embedded in the facade of the building, each representing a different Minnesota industry. They are dairy, milling, mining, fishing, farming and lumber. The heritage preservation commission will weigh the demolition application at a meeting Tuesday.
The demolition is necessary to make way for a park that has been proposed as a complement to Ryan Companies' massive mixed-use development adjacent to the new Vikings stadium.
In their report, city staff members concluded that the building "appears to meet the definition of a historic resource."
They nonetheless recommended moving forward with demolition, as long as the medallions were removed and incorporated into the proposed park.
Eric Roper
@StribRoper
