Howe Elementary School

First Floor Second Floor

Primary Significance Secondary Significance Tertiary Significance

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Howe Elementary School was built in 1927, during the Minneapolis Public School building boom. It was part of the Bureau of Buildings, Division of Design and Inspection standardized “Plan #3”. It incorporated many of the significant features such as the Collegiate Gothic decorated arches on the extruded doorways . As well as some of the interior features like the Art Deco drinking fountain niches, and built in wood cabinets. Due to Howes ideal location in the Longfellow community, Howe neighborhood there are multiple opportunities for reuse of the building. One being a mixed-use development, incorporating the values of the surrounding neighborhood while also taking into consideration the various neighborhood needs and current amenities.

Photo credit twentytwowords.comPhoto credit twentytwowords.com

Second Floor

First Floor

Reuse as Julia Ward Howe Commons

Two bedroom apartment suites, made up of one 814 sq ft unit and one 924 sq ft unit along with the hallway (over 1,738 sq ft total).

One bedroom aparments, retaining the basic layout of the room. Reusing the original built in wood cabinets and maintaining the basic hallways. Two front 924 sq ft units and six 814 sq ft units.

Dance studio space, such as BallareTeatro with perfromance space. Performance space could also be rentable to outside company or schools. The doorway to the exterior would be closed off. The gymnasium performance space of 3,550 sq ft and the additional classroom is 814 sq ft.

Office space for the building rental. Handling both the above apartments and first floor amentities.(814 sq ft)

Two classroom units rentable for small local shops, such as a Patina or Bibelot, and a locally owned liquor store. Each classroom is 924 sq ft.

A locally based restaurant, in the lower to middle price range level, such as The Blue Door Pub that includes outdoor patio seating, covered by removable umbrellas.The indoor section of the restaurant would be 1,122 sq ft.

A neighborhood store that offers local, organic groceries as well as other convience items.(2,112 sq ft)

A daycare, giving preference to the tenants in the building as well as the residents from the neighborhood. (924 sq ft)

Public restrooms for the facility, one male, one female, and one handicap accessible. (924 sq ft)

Handicap accessible entrance.

Commercial entrance.

Parking structure for residents. Houses indoor parkign for each unit and an elevator entrance to the second floor.

Elevator to second floor, resident lobby area as well as their mailboxes.

Proposed Interior Changes

Lunchroom, general office expanded into one interior space, patio added on.

Classroom 109 converted to office area.

Gym and classroom 110 combined into one space. Doorway to the exterior closed off.

Classroom 106 (a and b) converted into public restrooms, one male, one female, and one hanidcap accessible.

Doorways leading up to second floor are blocked off, residents will have keycards to access second floor.

Necessary Building Updates

Exterior windows need painting and repair.

Roof needed surface repairs.

Surface parking lot that exists needs repairs.

Rezoning of area from R1 (low density single family) to C1 (Neighborhood Commercial District)

Photo credit NorthMarq Realty

Green space, available for community use or rentable for practice fields. Dimensions of the field are approximately 245 ft by 271 ft (66,395 sq ft). Youth soccer fields for children 11 years old and younger are 150 ft x 240 ft or less, which would fit in this area. A little league baseball field is 200 ft x 200 ft which would also fit here.

Playground area used by both the local community as well as the daycare.

Patio seating for the restaurant, covered by easily removable umbrellas.

Community gardens, preference given to the tenants of the building, including the restaurant and neighborhood store.

Surface parking for visitors to the amentities. Area for public parking can accomondate 30 to 40 parking stalls.

Enclosed parking garage for tenants of the building. Along with the enclosed access area into the second floor of the building.

Proposed site changes

Front Patio area, dual leveled surrounded by a low brick wall.

Brick wall added around the playground for safety

Parking structure added on to the existing back of the building, wall added in around

Brick wall added to public parking area