Howe Elementary School was built in 1927 and incorporated architectural features of the time. It is proposed to reuse the building as Julia Ward Howe Commons, a mixed-use development providing housing, commercial space, and community amenities. The first floor would include a restaurant, store, daycare and rentable classrooms. The second floor would be converted to apartments. Exterior updates and a parking structure are also proposed. The development aims to incorporate neighborhood values while meeting community needs.

1. Howe Elementary School Primary Significance Secondary Significance Tertiary Significance
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
First Floor Second Floor
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.com Photo credit twentytwowords.com

2. Reuse as Julia Ward Howe Commons
Dance studio space, such as Two bedroom apartment suites,
BallareTeatro with perfromance made up of one 814 sq ft unit
Parking structure
space. Performance space could and one 924 sq ft unit along Elevator to second floor,
for residents.
also be rentable to outside with the hallway (over 1,738 sq resident lobby area as
Houses indoor
company or schools. The ft total). well as their mailboxes.
parkign for each
Handicap accessible doorway to the exterior would
unit and an
entrance. be closed off. The gymnasium
elevator entrance
performance space of 3,550 sq
to the second
ft and the additional classroom
floor.
is 814 sq ft.
Office space
for the building
rental. Handling
both the above
apartments
and first floor
amentities.
(814 sq ft)
Commercial
entrance. Public restrooms for the facility,
one male, one female, and one
handicap accessible. (924 sq ft)
A neighborhood A daycare, giving preference to
store that offers the tenants in the building as
local, organic well as the residents from the
groceries as neighborhood. (924 sq ft)
well as other
convience items.
(2,112 sq ft)
Second Floor
First Floor
A locally based restaurant, in the lower Two classroom units rentable
to middle price range level, such as The for small local shops, such
Blue Door Pub that includes outdoor patio as a Patina or Bibelot, and One bedroom aparments, retaining the basic
seating, covered by removable umbrellas. a locally owned liquor store. layout of the room. Reusing the original built
The indoor section of the restaurant would Each classroom is 924 sq ft. in wood cabinets and maintaining the basic
be 1,122 sq ft. hallways. Two front 924 sq ft units and six
814 sq ft units.
Photo credit NorthMarq Realty
Proposed Interior Changes Necessary Building Updates
Lunchroom, general office expanded into one interior Exterior windows need painting and repair.
space, patio added on.
Roof needed surface repairs.
Classroom 109 converted to office area.
Surface parking lot that exists needs repairs.
Gym and classroom 110 combined into one space.
Doorway to the exterior closed off. Rezoning of area from R1 (low density single
family) to C1 (Neighborhood Commercial
Classroom 106 (a and b) converted into public restrooms, District)
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.

3. Surface parking for visitors to the
amentities. Area for public parking
can accomondate 30 to 40 parking
stalls.
Green space, available for community
Community gardens, preference use or rentable for practice
given to the tenants of the fields. Dimensions of the field are
building, including the restaurant approximately 245 ft by 271 ft (66,395
and neighborhood store. 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.
Patio seating for the restaurant,
covered by easily removable
umbrellas.
Playground area used by both the
local community as well as the
daycare.
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