1700 Project Mpls Campus

August 18, 2026
Community Meeting Update – Monday, August 17

On Monday, August 17, 40-50 neighbors gathered with leaders from Mount Olivet Church and HGA (Hammel, Green, and Abrahamson Architects) to talk about the status of the 1700 Chapel project. Senior Pastor David Lose reviewed the overall concept for a community gathering space anchored by a coffee house and taproom as well as the primary values behind the project. He then shared several updates related to obtaining permission to bring the existing building down (with the hope of reusing as much of the existing materials as possible), the shift from a brewery to tap room serving beer and coffee from local breweries and roasteries, addressed some of the questions that surfaced at the last community meeting in June of 2025, and laid out next steps. You can access a pdf of his presentation here.

Pastor Lose then introduced two partners from HGA – Todd Kraft and Michelle Hammer – to talk about the upcoming design process and importance of community feedback and opened the floor for questions and conversation. As with last year, there were a number of helpful questions and suggestions related to parking and traffic flow, coordinating plans with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s intention to reimagine and renovate Lynnhurst park, long term commitments to the present concept, the durability/permanence of zoning changes, and general questions about receiving future updates and continuing the conversation. If you have questions, ideas, suggestions, or concerns, you can email the Mount Olivet planning committee at the following address: 1700project@mtolivet.org.

August 13, 2026
Community Gathering – August 17, 6:30pm Mpls Rehearsal Hall

On Monday, August 17, neighbors and community members are invited to hear an update on the plans to build a community gathering place where the current 1700 Chapel stands. We’ll gather at 6:30pm in the Rehearsal Hall. Please enter through Door 3 (SE corner of the building) and head to the end of that hallway and up a flight of stairs. (There will be signs and people to help guide you.) We look forward to reviewing the primary goals of the project, providing several updates, and receiving input, feedback, and suggestions from our neighbors.

March 26, 2026
Mpls City Council Meeting

The Minneapolis City Council approves our appeal of the Heritage Preservation Commission decision that the 1700 Chapel was a building of “potential significant interest” unanimously. From here, Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey, needs to sign this approval. This decision is then published at the Finance & Commerce site, and there is a 10-day period for anyone to appeal in court. After that, Mount Olivet will be free to apply for, and expect to receive, a demolition permit for the 1700 building in Mpls.

With regard to the question of when demolition may start, Mount Olivet needs to complete three additional steps before any demolition would begin.

1) A re-zoning application
2) An approved business plan
3) A completed design phase of the new space

While Mount Olivet wouldn’t necessarily have to wait for all three of these to be completed before demolishing, it’s important to note that, although we’re calling it demolition, we actually want to deconstruct the building so as to re-use as much of the existing materials as possible. Materials of interest include: iconic Kasota stone, beautiful wood, and creative possibilities for the existing stained glass.

All of this means we need to have a complete design for the new space in order to know what we want to, and can, re-use, and this plan will guide the demolition. Senior Pastor Lose does not intend to invest in the design phase until Mount Olivet has successfully completed the steps that require city approval, therefore the church will carry out these steps in the order listed above.

March 24, 2026
In-Person Appeal to the Minneapolis City Council

The City Council, meeting as “the Committee of the Whole,” hears Mount Olivet’s in-person appeal to overturn the decision of the Heritage Preservation Commission and votes to recommend granting our appeal.

February 10, 2026
In-Person Hearing Regarding our Request for a Permit to Demolish

Mount Olivet met with the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) and presented our rationale for why the 1700 Chapel should not be considered for historic significance. Ultimately, the HPC disagreed and denied our application. Mount Olivet then initiated an appeal to the City Council, per the city’s guidelines.

December 27, 2025
Submission of Application to Demolish 1700 Chapel to the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission

With significant input from Historical Preservationist and Consultant Amy Lucas, of Landscape Research, and with help from Kraus Anderson, who conducted a thorough Facility Condition Assessment, Mount Olivet submitted an application to demolish the building in response to learning that the 1700 Chapel was marked as a building of “potential significant interest.”

June 23, 2025
Community Open House, Mpls Campus

Mount Olivet invited community input on the 1700 project; we gathered in the Mpls Campus Rehearsal Hall to share the hopes and values guiding this project and to receive questions and feedback from neighbors in south Minneapolis. Between 30-35 people gathered and there was strong support to move ahead. We heard some excellent suggestions, received some very good questions, and also were able to address some legitimate concerns. Whatever the suggestion, question, or concern, each person first offered their support of this idea and concept.