Late Friday night in Minneapolis, a burst water pipe ripped through the E building at Riverside Plaza in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, drenching hallways and apartments and sending residents scrambling. More than 20 units ended up water-damaged, crews rushed to shut down building systems, and the cleanup began almost immediately. Now, as the blowers hum and carpets are ripped out, residents and neighborhood leaders say the real test is how fast help arrives and how closely the building is inspected.
City inspections and remediation are still underway this week as officials and property managers work through the damage one apartment at a time.
What city crews found
The Minneapolis Fire Department was called just before midnight after reports of flooding on the 12th floor. Firefighters shut off the standpipe and sprinkler system to stop the water, then repaired the broken pipe. Fire inspectors later checked the building and deemed it safe, and city health inspectors came back for apartment-by-apartment assessments and to offer resources, according to Bring Me The News.
City officials say support services were offered to affected families on site and that staff will keep working with property management while remediation continues.
Sherman Associates and the plaza
Riverside Plaza, a six building complex in Cedar-Riverside, is managed by Minneapolis based developer Sherman Associates, which lists the property in its portfolio. Sherman Associates says its management team, on site staff and vendors moved quickly to limit the water damage and that remediation and inspections are happening in coordination with the city, according to the developer’s public materials.
Management has also told reporters that its priority is resolving the situation while supporting residents whose homes were hit by the flooding.
Dispute over scope and community response
City Council Member Jamal Osman posted that 22 units were impacted by the flooding and that, at the time of his update, no residents were considered officially displaced, although some families chose to stay elsewhere temporarily.
State Sen. Omar Fateh and Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley have challenged that picture, saying the scope is far larger. Conley described profound damage to roughly 192 units and called the situation a public health concern, pointing to a Cedar Riverside Alliance fundraiser that says more than 100 families were forced out.
The GoFundMe campaign has collected more than $62,000 for temporary housing, resettlement costs and basic needs, according to Bring Me The News.
Where residents can get help
City officials say support services have been offered on site and that the city will keep coordinating with building management until inspections and repairs are complete. Residents with immediate concerns about safety, mold or possible displacement can contact the Ward 6 office or call 311 for housing resources and public health guidance. See Contact Ward 6 for local staff and contact information.
Local community groups, along with the fundraiser cited by elected officials, are organizing short term aid for families who say they were temporarily forced from their homes.
Remediation crews remain on site, and city and property management officials say they will share updates as the apartment-by-apartment assessments wrap up. Hoodline will continue tracking those updates and report new information on repairs, inspections and any moves to assist displaced households.
