City of Minneapolis staff is moving forward a recommendation to award Minnesota Agape Movement exclusive development rights for the Peoples' Way, the former gas station property at the heart of George Floyd Square. This announcement, paired with the start of street reconstruction, marks major progress at the Square’s intersection.
"George Floyd Square carries significant meaning for Minneapolis and for people around the world,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “We’re looking forward to partnering with Agape and the community as we take this next step together to continue building toward the long-term vision for the Square.”
After City Council approval, Agape would have the exclusive rights for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension, to plan and prepare for the property’s development. The Agape team would use that time to formulate a detailed development plan in collaboration with the City, with continued community engagement throughout the process. Since George Floyd’s murder, the site has been a central space for community gathering and remembrance.
“We’ve done a lot of work in the last several years to ensure the community’s voice is centered at George Floyd Square,” said Alexander Kado, senior project manager for the City of Minneapolis. “Throughout the RFQ process, Agape demonstrated a deep commitment to collaborating with both the City and the community to realize a site that truly honors the Square.”
Timeline & approvals
The City purchased the Peoples’ Way property in June of 2023 and released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a community owner in 2024. The City Council will consider the development rights recommendation at its Business, Housing, and Zoning Committee on June 2 and at its full City Council meeting June 11.
While Agape would have exclusive development rights, the City will still own and maintain the property until the property is sold and construction starts. During the development rights period, Agape will work collaboratively with the City and community on the development plan and will need to secure funding and all relevant permits before it can purchase the site. At the end of the development rights period, the City Council will need to approve the land sale prior to a sale to Agape.
“The Minnesota Agape Movement is honored to move forward in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, business owners, artists, families and the broader community on the future of the Peoples’ Way,” said Reginald Ferguson, CEO of the Minnesota Agape Movement. “We see this opportunity as both an honor and a responsibility to ensure the future of the space reflects healing, remembrance, justice, culture, economic opportunity, and continued investment in the people who carried this space through its most painful and powerful moments. This work is about more than a site plan — it is about protecting history, uplifting community voices, and building a lasting impact for generations to come. This moment is bigger than development — it’s about preserving the legacy, humanity, and community voice that made George Floyd Square a sacred space recognized around the world.”
Construction starts soon
Another point of progress at George Floyd Square will start June 8, when the City begins work on street and infrastructure improvements with a goal of completion in 2027. Community gathering space will remain available during construction, though locations may shift. The City is also engaging artists and community members to ensure the public can continue to access the memorials throughout construction. The team will continue to work with artists and community members to preserve, document and reinstall memorials and artwork.
The start of construction comes with significant amounts of feedback from the community to ensure all voices are seen and heard throughout the process. The final vision incorporates nearly all priorities from the residents, business owners and visitors to the site.