City ends lease negotiations over proposed temporary MPD 3rd Precinct

The city of Minneapolis on Wednesday said it has ended lease negotiations over the proposed temporary Third Precinct building for the Minneapolis Police Department.

According to the city, it and Imagine Express had been in negotiations over a lease for the building at 2633 Minnehaha Avenue but the parties reached an impasse in the process. As a result, both parties "have amicably agreed to cease lease negotiations over this property moving forward," a spokesperson for the city said.

Minneapolis City Council committee approves lease for temporary 3rd Police Precinct site

Meanwhile, Imagine Express issued the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Wednesday:

"Imagine Express has ended negotiations with the City of Minneapolis on their possible sublease of our Minnehaha Avenue property. We intend to move in a different direction with respect to the property."

Last month, a Minneapolis City Council committee approved a lease for the temporary precinct site that would’ve started in October. However, not everyone in the community was supportive of the proposed site, which would’ve cost the city about $1.2 million per year, and the city would’ve had an option to extend the lease for a fourth year, according to the terms approved by the city council. The building also would’ve required renovations.

It’s unclear what other sites the city may be looking at for a temporary precinct.

Since the destruction of the department’s Third Precinct building, police officers in the precinct have been working remotely and at the Minneapolis Convention Center.