Commission establishes interim protection and orders designation study for Lakeshore Arms at 3026 Lake St. W.

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission voted Aug. 12 to approve a nomination for the Lakeshore Arms apartments at 3026 Lake Street West, to institute interim protection and to direct staff to prepare a designation study.

Rob Skalecki, senior city planner in CPED's Historic Preservation section, presented the nomination submitted by Commissioner Amy Thomas. Staff concluded the property appears to meet local criterion 4 as an intact example of Spanish eclectic (period revival) multifamily architecture from 1930 and recommended the commission institute interim protection and direct a formal designation study.

Commissioner Amy Thomas, who submitted the nomination, said she brought it forward because the building is a "rare and remarkably intact example of high quality 1930s multifamily housing in Minneapolis." Tenant Joseph Ladley, who lived in Lakeshore Arms from 2020 to 2025, said the building served as an important community resource and urged study and protection.

Owners Steve Hornig and his brother, who purchased the property in June, opposed immediate designation in the public hearing and raised concerns about prior survey findings, economic and planning compatibility with Minneapolis' 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and alleged conflicts of interest. Staff and commissioners discussed prior survey work (2006 and 2011) that had not recommended designation for National Register purposes and explained those prior surveys were targeted Section 106 or inventory reviews done more than a decade ago; staff said more detailed, updated study work is available for the commission to consider in a designation study.

Commissioners emphasized that the vote before them was to authorize a designation study and interim protection for a one-year period, not a final designation. Interim protection means permit reviews are evaluated under the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while the study is prepared; staff noted routine maintenance and repairs can proceed but are reviewed under preservation standards.

Commissioner Booty moved the motion to institute interim protection and direct the planning director to prepare a designation study; Commissioner Wallace seconded. The clerk recorded six ayes and one abstention (Commissioner Thomas abstained). The commission directed staff to prepare a designation study that will examine the property's significance in depth and return findings to the commission.

Votes at a glance: Nomination of 3026 Lake Street West (Lakeshore Arms). Motion: "Approve the nomination of the property at 3026 Lake Street West as a landmark, establish interim protection, and direct the planning director to prepare or cause to be prepared a designation study." Mover: Commissioner Booty. Second: Commissioner Wallace. Vote: 6–0–1 (6 ayes, 1 abstention).