By: Hailey Colwell

University of Minnesota students and alumni joined 8 other Minnesota colleges and more than 75 schools nationwide Friday in a day of fasting to raise awareness about climate change in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. 

The typhoon, which hit landfall in the Philippines on Nov. 8 and is known as Yolanda there, spurred an international protest headed by Philippines delegate Naderev Sano, who announced Nov. 11 during United Nations climate talks in Warsaw that he would fast until a “meaningful outcome is in sight.”

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By: Hailey Colwell

A University of Minnesota student was assaulted and robbed Wednesday night while walking home in Stadium Village, according to a Minneapolis police report.

University Police Chief Greg Hestness sent a crime alert to students, faculty and staff on Thursday. It is the ninth alert sent so far this semester, documenting 14 violent crimes. 

The student was walking near Essex and Ontario Streets Southeast around 9 p.m. when a man approached and punched the student in the face, knocking him unconscious and stealing his backpack, laptop and wallet, according to the report.

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By: Tony Wagner

The University of Minnesota Police Department is stepping up its forces in response to a spate of robberies around campus.

Minneapolis, Metro Transit and University police are working overtime or adjusting schedules to up patrols this week, Lt. Dave Wilske said. The extra officers will patrol campus and surrounding neighborhoods looking for suspects in several robberies in which groups of men allegedly stole wallets and cell phones, often injuring victims.

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By: Meghan Holden

University of Minnesota student Anarae Schunk likely died Sept. 22, the day she disappeared, police said.

Schunk, whose body was found Monday in rural Rice County, likely died in Rosemount the same day her ex-boyfriend allegedly shot and killed a man, according to a Thursday press release from the Rosemount Police Department.

Charges in Schunk’s death aren’t likely to be filed for several weeks, the release said.

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By: Kia Farhang

A man was hospitalized after falling from the second-story balcony of a University of Minnesota fraternity house Saturday afternoon.

The Minneapolis Fire Department responded to a call at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house at 12:41 p.m, said MFD Battalion Chief Mike Carswell. An 18-year-old had fallen from a balcony, Carswell said, and was treated at the scene before being taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center.

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By: Kia Farhang

A University of Minnesota student caught a man masturbating behind her in Anderson Hall, according to a University police report.

The student was waiting for class to start when she saw the suspect standing about 5 feet away from her, the report said, she turned away from him and sat on the stairs.

When the student turned around, the report said, she saw the suspect had pulled his pants down. He was staring directly at her and masturbating, the report said.

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By: Kia Farhang

A fire damaged part of a home in Southeast Como Friday afternoon. No one was injured.

The fire started around 3 p.m. Friday near the intersection of 15th Avenue Southeast and East Hennepin Avenue. Minneapolis Deputy Fire Chief Harold Breffle said officials don’t yet know the cause of the fire, which started on the deck and eventually spread to the roof.

Charred furniture and flooring were piled in the front yard after firefighters left the house, which is located next to the Chin Dian Café.

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By: Kia Farhang

Plans emerged Thursday for a six-story, 70-unit apartment complex by Doran Companies in the heart of Dinkytown.

The proposal came just weeks after the Minneapolis City Council approved a similar controversial student housing project by the Opus Group on the same city block.

Developer Kelly Doran said although his company had been assessing properties on Fourth Street Southeast for the past two months, it was waiting for the City Council’s decision on the Opus project before unveiling plans for its own mixed-use building.

Doran’s yet-unnamed development would displace Mesa Pizza, Camdi Restaurant  and other businesses. Three-quarters of the proposed site is now surface parking lots.

Doran said he’s already signed purchase agreements with all of the property owners involved.

The city planning commission will discuss the project Thursday.

Third Ward City Councilwoman Diane Hofstede has proposed a moratorium on development in Dinkytown, which could block the project. Minneapolis city planner Janelle Widmeier said the Council is set to vote on the moratorium Aug. 30.

The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association voted Tuesday to support the moratorium, said association Vice President Doug Carlson.

Dinkytown is also in the process of crafting a small area plan, though it’s not yet clear how that could affect Doran’s proposed development.

Doran is a prolific developer in the University of Minnesota area. Doran Companies’ fourth luxury student housing project, the Knoll, is set to open this fall, and another 10-story development is under construction on University Avenue Southeast.

Some community members say Doran’s plans validate ongoing concerns that the yet-unnamed Opus project would open floodgates for further development in Dinkytown.

“This is our worst fear,” said Kristen Eide-Tollefson, owner of Dinkytown’s Book House. “It means that the developers have the same plans for Dinkytown that they had for Stadium Village.”

Eide-Tollefson said the project is likely to refuel efforts to keep student housing out of Dinkytown’s core commercial district.

University alumnus Alex Hanson, who works at Publika coffee shop on Fourth Street Southeast, said efforts to block new housing projects have come too late.

“I’m not really big on all the developments sprouting up around here,” he said, “[but] it seems kind of inevitable.”

Hanson said it’s ultimately up to students to decide the neighborhood’s future, but he’d like to see Dinkytown retain its character.

“If a majority of [students] don’t really care about having a unique, interesting spot or aren’t willing to fight for that sort of thing,” he said, “you kind of get what you deserve.”

Doran said his project would bring more customers to Dinkytown — rejuvenating the area, not destroying it.

“There are parts of Dinkytown that should be preserved,” he said, citing Al’s Breakfast, Loring Pasta Bar and Varsity Theater as examples.

Engineering sophomore Lucas Petersen said he’s generally in favor of housing development around the University. But changing the core of Dinkytown, Petersen said, negatively impacts the student experience.

“The whole area is just something that adds to the U,” he said. “It’s known for what’s there right now.”

Below, find an interactive map of all new student housing developments around the University. 

Sources: The City of Minneapolis, Lupe Development, Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, Prospect Park East River Road Association, Cornerstone Group, Dinkytown Rentals, Doran Companies, Hupp Holdings, CPM Property Management

By: Kia Farhang

Plans emerged Thursday for a six-story, 70-unit apartment complex by Doran Companies in the heart of Dinkytown.

The proposal came just weeks after the Minneapolis City Council approved a similar controversial student housing project by the Opus Group on the same city block.

Developer Kelly Doran said although his company had been assessing properties on Fourth Street Southeast for the past two months, it was waiting for the City Council’s decision on the Opus project before unveiling plans for its own mixed-use building.

Doran’s yet-unnamed development would displace Mesa Pizza, Camdi Restaurant  and other businesses. Three-quarters of the proposed site is now surface parking lots.

Doran said he’s already signed purchase agreements with all of the property owners involved.

The city planning commission will discuss the project Thursday.

Third Ward City Councilwoman Diane Hofstede has proposed a moratorium on development in Dinkytown, which could block the project. Minneapolis city planner Janelle Widmeier said the Council is set to vote on the moratorium Aug. 30.

The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association voted Tuesday to support the moratorium, said association Vice President Doug Carlson.

Dinkytown is also in the process of crafting a small area plan, though it’s not yet clear how that could affect Doran’s proposed development.

Doran is a prolific developer in the University of Minnesota area. Doran Companies’ fourth luxury student housing project, the Knoll, is set to open this fall, and another 10-story development is under construction on University Avenue Southeast.

Some community members say Doran’s plans validate ongoing concerns that the yet-unnamed Opus project would open floodgates for further development in Dinkytown.

“This is our worst fear,” said Kristen Eide-Tollefson, owner of Dinkytown’s Book House. “It means that the developers have the same plans for Dinkytown that they had for Stadium Village.”

Eide-Tollefson said the project is likely to refuel efforts to keep student housing out of Dinkytown’s core commercial district.

University alumnus Alex Hanson, who works at Publika coffee shop on Fourth Street Southeast, said efforts to block new housing projects have come too late.

“I’m not really big on all the developments sprouting up around here,” he said, “[but] it seems kind of inevitable.”

Hanson said it’s ultimately up to students to decide the neighborhood’s future, but he’d like to see Dinkytown retain its character.

“If a majority of [students] don’t really care about having a unique, interesting spot or aren’t willing to fight for that sort of thing,” he said, “you kind of get what you deserve.”

Doran said his project would bring more customers to Dinkytown — rejuvenating the area, not destroying it.

“There are parts of Dinkytown that should be preserved,” he said, citing Al’s Breakfast, Loring Pasta Bar and Varsity Theater as examples.

Engineering sophomore Lucas Petersen said he’s generally in favor of housing development around the University. But changing the core of Dinkytown, Petersen said, negatively impacts the student experience.

“The whole area is just something that adds to the U,” he said. “It’s known for what’s there right now.”

Below, find an interactive map of all new student housing developments around the University. 

Sources: The City of Minneapolis, Lupe Development, Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, Prospect Park East River Road Association, Cornerstone Group, Dinkytown Rentals, Doran Companies, Hupp Holdings, CPM Property Management

By: Kia Farhang

Plans emerged Thursday for a six-story, 70-unit apartment complex by Doran Companies in the heart of Dinkytown.

The proposal came just weeks after the Minneapolis City Council approved a similar controversial student housing project by the Opus Group on the same city block.

Developer Kelly Doran said although his company had been assessing properties on Fourth Street Southeast for the past two months, it was waiting for the City Council’s decision on the Opus project before unveiling plans for its own mixed-use building.

Doran’s yet-unnamed development would displace Mesa Pizza, Camdi Restaurant  and other businesses. Three-quarters of the proposed site is now surface parking lots.

Doran said he’s already signed purchase agreements with all of the property owners involved.

The city planning commission will discuss the project Thursday.

Third Ward City Councilwoman Diane Hofstede has proposed a moratorium on development in Dinkytown, which could block the project. Minneapolis city planner Janelle Widmeier said the Council is set to vote on the moratorium Aug. 30.

The Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association voted Tuesday to support the moratorium, said association Vice President Doug Carlson.

Dinkytown is also in the process of crafting a small area plan, though it’s not yet clear how that could affect Doran’s proposed development.

Doran is a prolific developer in the University of Minnesota area. Doran Companies’ fourth luxury student housing project, the Knoll, is set to open this fall, and another 10-story development is under construction on University Avenue Southeast.

Some community members say Doran’s plans validate ongoing concerns that the yet-unnamed Opus project would open floodgates for further development in Dinkytown.

“This is our worst fear,” said Kristen Eide-Tollefson, owner of Dinkytown’s Book House. “It means that the developers have the same plans for Dinkytown that they had for Stadium Village.”

Eide-Tollefson said the project is likely to refuel efforts to keep student housing out of Dinkytown’s core commercial district.

University alumnus Alex Hanson, who works at Publika coffee shop on Fourth Street Southeast, said efforts to block new housing projects have come too late.

“I’m not really big on all the developments sprouting up around here,” he said, “[but] it seems kind of inevitable.”

Hanson said it’s ultimately up to students to decide the neighborhood’s future, but he’d like to see Dinkytown retain its character.

“If a majority of [students] don’t really care about having a unique, interesting spot or aren’t willing to fight for that sort of thing,” he said, “you kind of get what you deserve.”

Doran said his project would bring more customers to Dinkytown — rejuvenating the area, not destroying it.

“There are parts of Dinkytown that should be preserved,” he said, citing Al’s Breakfast, Loring Pasta Bar and Varsity Theater as examples.

Engineering sophomore Lucas Petersen said he’s generally in favor of housing development around the University. But changing the core of Dinkytown, Petersen said, negatively impacts the student experience.

“The whole area is just something that adds to the U,” he said. “It’s known for what’s there right now.”

Below, find an interactive map of all new student housing developments around the University. 

Sources: The City of Minneapolis, Lupe Development, Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association, Prospect Park East River Road Association, Cornerstone Group, Dinkytown Rentals, Doran Companies, Hupp Holdings, CPM Property Management