By: Meghan Holden

The Minneapolis City Council approved development for a controversial apartment complex in Dinkytown on Friday, despite a committee vote last week against rezoning.

The Council voted 9-4 in favor of rezoning.

The six-story apartment complex, proposed by Opus Group, will replace businesses and a surface parking lot on 14th Avenue Southeast and Fifth Street Southeast.

Community members who attended the meeting were divided on the decision.

“This is a very sad day,” said neighborhood resident Chris Valenty. “It’s an important small business area.”

Karen Anderson, who supported the project, said she was relieved by the results of the vote.

“We need more safe student housing on campus,” she said, “and this project does that.”

Third Ward Councilwoman Diane Hofstede voted against the rezoning and said she is considering introducing a development moratorium for part of Dinkytown at the next Council meeting. The moratorium could potentially put a hold on development in specific areas of Dinkytown.

Hofstede did not provide additional details about the moratorium.

At a July 25 Zoning and Planning Committee meeting, Hofstede voiced opposition to the project. She said she wants to wait to make decisions about Dinkytown's future until after the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association master plan is finalized this winter.

Dinkytown is “a part of the experience and legacy of students,” she said Friday.

House of Hanson, one of the buildings on 14th Avenue being displaced, will close for good Monday, said owner Laurel Bauer.

Bauer said she’s thankful for the City Council members who have “visions for the future.”

“The jobs that this will bring in will be huge,” she said.

Duffy’s Dinkytown Pizza on 5th Street closed today after the meeting.

Susan Duffy, co-owner of Duffy’s, said they are working on plans to reopen their pizza shop in the commercial space of the Opus project. The project is planned to have 9,500 square feet of commercial space.

The surface parking lot, which Duffy also owns, will close on August 8.

The current lack of parking in Dinkytown, along with the loss of the 5th Street lot, will make it hard for customers, Valenty said.

“It’s going to be a disaster,” he said.