Something evolutionary is happening here. Since May 2024, underutilized land in South Minneapolis has been turned over to soon house a cultural and residential space for community members — the Ventura Project. This is a first for MLCV. If you’re familiar, you likely know of our hand in workforce housing projects, striving to narrow the rural Minnesota housing gap and increase workforce participation in the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy — but never in urban communities.

This affordable mixed-use housing development will help serve the Mille Lacs Band population in the Twin Cities region and offer our commitment to providing further affordable housing spanning Minnesota.

The Ventura Project Amenities

The Ventura building first level bathroom

Each level of the building has undergone thoughtful considerations. The basement will feature private underground parking for tenants and Mille Lacs Band government workers. The first floor will be the new home to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Urban Office and Aanjibimaadizing program. The second through fourth floors will boast comfortable, high-efficiency living, including 24 one-bedroom, nine, two-bedroom, and three, three-bedroom apartments. Additionally, the roof will be a haven for family-friendly get-togethers, offering a fully-fenced playground, a garden to inspire a green thumb, and solar panels, which will help generate electricity for the building. The structure’s design seamlessly prioritizes safety with badge-access elevators and stairways, keyed entries, exterior security systems, and a gated parking garage.

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Urban Office and Housing Connection

The decision to co-exist the Urban Office and affordable housing was entirely community-based. The vision is that the connection to housing will strengthen accessibility, ensuring Band Members can quickly obtain the services they seek and perhaps tap into previously unknown benefits. Plus, the overall proximity will boost a sense of togetherness, particularly with the inclusion of a community gathering area and kitchen, which will be used for food distribution and other events. Cameron Wind, MLCV’s Senior Construction Project Manager, talks about this vision, “We are creating a place where people can feel a sense of belonging — from early morning cribbage games and coffee talk to getting your Band ID renewed.” The Ventura Project is more than another housing venture for MLCV. It is securing a meaningful Mille Lacs Band presence in an area not yet reached — supporting Band Members and bringing vitality to the Twin Cities neighborhood where it will soon live.

“We are creating a place where people can feel a sense of belonging — from early morning cribbage games and coffee talk to getting your Band ID renewed.”

— Cameron Wind

The Ventura Project Topping-off Ceremony

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, a Topping-Off Ceremony was held at the Ventura Project construction site, signaling the completion of the enclosure or roof of the building. A Topping-Off Ceremony is a tradition in construction, typically for multi-story commercial buildings, where the final structural element, such as the last beam or panel, is placed on the roof. Though this project includes residential housing, the team upheld the tradition, marking a significant milestone in this special development. During the ceremony, all those involved were celebrated for their dedication. Key highlights included:

Recognizing the installation progress of the walls’ mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Noting that the exterior walls were pre-insulated, helping the project move forward efficiently.
Acknowledging the upcoming steps, including soundproofing between units and sheetrock installation.
Celebrating zero safety incidents on the job site.
Sharing a meal as a thank-you gesture to the workers.

Attendees captured the diverse partnerships needed to drive success in such a dynamic project, including MLCV Associates, Circle Sage, an MLCV subsidiary that will assist with leasing, the Wenaha Group, a tribally owned consulting firm involved in project management and administration, Mille Lacs Band Urban Office staff, building architects from DSGW, and workers from the building contractor, PCL Construction.

As the Ventura Project takes shape, it commemorates MLCV’s journey of growing our portfolio of businesses, deepening our partnerships, and expanding our mission to a rising urban district. Evolutionary? Sure. A long-overdue investment in the urban Native community with much anticipation surrounding its impacts? Absolutely.

The Ventura Project’s completion is on track for summer 2025. Leasing opportunities for the Ventura building will be posted on the Circle Sage website. Those interested should check the site for application details.

This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Senior Communications Strategist. Hannah is a writer responsible for executing internal and external MLCV communications and capturing impactful moments within MLCV’s portfolio.