George Floyd Square redevelopment rejected: Minneapolis business owners left in limbo

June 12, 2026 - 02:35

Minneapolis city officials have voted against a proposed redevelopment plan for George Floyd Square, the intersection where Floyd was murdered by police in 2020. The decision leaves local business owners in a state of prolonged uncertainty, with many saying they have been waiting for years for a clear path forward.

The rejected proposal would have transformed the area into a permanent memorial while allowing for some commercial activity. However, city council members cited unresolved concerns over community input, traffic flow, and the long-term purpose of the space. Some argued the plan did not adequately honor the site's significance as a place of protest and remembrance.

For small business owners near the square, the vote is another setback. Many have struggled with reduced foot traffic and road closures that have been in place since the protests. "We are stuck in limbo," said one shop owner, who asked not to be named. "We want to support the memorial, but we also need to pay rent. There is no timeline, no real plan."

The intersection has remained largely closed to vehicles since 2020, functioning as an autonomous memorial zone managed by community volunteers. While some see this as a sacred space, others argue it has hurt local commerce and made the neighborhood less accessible.

City officials say they will continue to hold public meetings to find a compromise. But with no new proposal on the table, business owners fear more months or even years of waiting. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between preserving a site of national grief and allowing a neighborhood to recover economically.