How to turn a negative into a positive

Anyone who has taken the Greenway bike trail that runs through South Minneapolis over the past few years have seen some changes at least on the Empire building (aka 'The Bomb Shelter") At 3415 E. 27th St. back in 2002 the owner Darrell Hutson purchased the building for his glass & door company, back then the space between the building and railroad tracks was "a scary place."  His goal was to clean it up by trimming the brush shortly after he started running into issues from the buildings past.  The rear of the building used to be a 'free wall' meaning graffiti artists were free to use it as a blank canvas as part of an agreement with the city of Minneapolis.  The city did this as an attempt to stop the vandalism all over the city but allow these artists a place to show off their craft.  However after mayor Sharon Sayles Belton ended this program in 2000 the building continued to be a canvas for these artists but now it was illegal.  Even worse when Hutson cleared the brush and the city found all the graffiti they ordered him to repaint the building to the tune of $12,000, within a week it was covered in graffiti again.  Worried about having to pay another $12,000 Hutson believed there had to be a better way. 

Invoking his first amendment right to freedom of speech, when a few local artists contacted him asking to make a true piece of art, he agreed.   This ended up being the best solution because once there was a serious piece of art by artists that were recognized, and he maintained the integrity of the wall, the city and other graffiti artists would respect it as well.

Now Hutson attracts artists from Florida, California, Philadelphia, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis.  Artists like NMPH, Yen34, Mike Fitzsimmons and John Grider have contributed.  When you get a chance ride by and take a look it's worth it!  For more information and pictures check out the article on Ask.com