Minneapolis Council Explores George Floyd Square Pedestrian Mall

The Minneapolis City Council has rejected a proposed redevelopment plan for George Floyd Square, opting instead to explore transforming the area into a pedestrian mall. This decision follows extensive community engagement and a plan that would have allowed vehicular traffic while enhancing pedestrian infrastructure and preserving green spaces and memorials. Councilmember Jason Chavez advocated for the pedestrian mall, citing new legislative support, while some members, like Andrea Jenkins, criticized the decision for disregarding years of community input. Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the need to proceed with the original plan to honor community voices and facilitate healing. The new direction could delay construction, originally slated for 2025, by several years, posing challenges for coordinating with emergency services and potentially erasing existing community-led memorials.