April 2025
Spring is here – CCC is busy
Readying for May open house
As we move ahead into spring, the Como Community Center is pleased to again be a part of the citywide “Doors Open” historic building weekend, when hundreds of Como neighbors and city visitors come by to view the Center and chat with CCC people and other neighbors. It’s been great to see the visitor count at CCC for this weekend increase each year! Come on by on May 17-18, 10am to 5pm – stroll the building, learn about Como present and past, and meet friends and neighbors. The CCC team is preparing some new info presentation for this May’s event. This is an enjoyable and valuable outreach event, showcasing to everyone the Center in its historic Congregational building.
Renovating, improving the CCC interior … work goes on
Our building activity is ongoing. Recent and upcoming items include outdoor paving, building interior monitoring systems, insulation weatherstripping consultations with contractors on building systems improvements/additions, and interior surface restorations. With winter now behind us, we’re happy that the Center’s new copper roofs below the towers served to keep the building tight during the snowy and cold season.
Communications and fundraising
As a community effort, outreach and funding efforts are key. The CCC team is in discussion with a half dozen public organizations, to gather planning and strategy help for the CCC mission, and to pursue all funding opportunities. If you have an interest in planning and communications (including media/web), and would like to move Como ahead, contact CCC about volunteer opportunities.
Enrichment courses offerings
One part of the CCC program of activities to serve Como is enrichment courses, and these have started “off campus” at nearby residence buildings. Among recent and upcoming topics are film, painting and literature topics. Care to spend some time exploring interesting study topics in the arts and society? Contact CCC to check offerings and join to take your seat.
Spring greening at the CCC community garden
We’re looking forward to enjoying the CCC garden as it renews itself and greens up for spring. We have some upgrades to install, and we’re ready for spring replantings too. It will be great to see garden features blooming and adding beauty – such as the brick circle flower bed. Do you have a bit of a green thumb? Contact CCC and we’ll let you know times to drop by for a bit of volunteer garden care. Enjoy the garden when you are along 14th Avenue SE.
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January 2025
Keep warm and keep moving ! CCC activities and planning
Winter season is swirling outside, and the CCC team is keeping moving, at work on many project activities. Here's a sample as we look ahead.
May 17-18 The Como Center will once again be open for the citywide "Doors Open" event. Event organizers are busy with the May 2025 planning. Here in Como, we'll be showing off our center facility in the Congregational building, and sharing and talking with the hundreds of visitors who come to this annual event. It's a great opportunity for Como and SE Minneapolis neighbors to come together, experience and learn a little of Como heritage and history, meet neighbors old and new, and stroll and enjoy the new garden on the grounds. More info coming soon -- mark those event days.
May - June With warm weather, the CCC will offer its West Como History and Architecture tours, with new stops and stories to be added.
Como history in the garden We're at work on the historical interpretation plaques, and the garden bench, intending for a springtime installation and ceremony . More planning is being done for building interior renovations. Fundraising activities, planning, and discussions re going ahead during the winter time as well.
Next year 2026 will be the 140th anniversary year for our Como Community Center at the Congregational building! So we're thinking of that anniversary, share your thoughts about ways to celebrate this Como heritage.
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November 2024
Fall Giving Season Underway !
Join in on the Give MN fall 2024 community support campaign. We're looking for another wonderful community response this year. Look for us at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Como-Community-Center or donate here on the CCC site (via PayPal) by going to the Donate page. Your donations power the next CCC renovation activities -- so important!
Meanwhile we shared CCC's 2024 progress and other project info in October at our annual community info meeting for the project. And: it was a great warm and sunny fall day last month, when 10 people did the CCC history and architecture style tour around West Como blocks, looking at wonderful houses and enjoying stories about the Como people and their accomplishments associated with those buildings.
We're invited again to be part of the spring "Doors Open" preservation event across Minneapolis next May, so we'll be showing off the CCC to everyone in springtime. Como touring will also be on the schedule again when warm weather returns.
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October 2024
TWO OCTOBER 2024 EVENTS
WEST COMO HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR
-- Saturday October 26 1pm, at the CCC center, 1037 14th Avenue SE
Join us for a Como History and Architecture walking tour! Listen and walk along on a fun tour, approximately an hour, with sidewalk presentations at a dozen west side Como houses and buildings. Because of its historic dating and construction, Como's west side features an amazing mix of house styles, and the fascinating stories of the Como people associated with the houses, their accomplishments and contributions to Como and the city. Como figures range from famous social leaders and civic architects to sports heroes, entrepreneurs and even the woman head of the state correctional agency! And their home styles easily match their variety, for walking enjoyment in a small area. The tour meets at the Como Community Center building at 1pm.
You'll receive a paper guide to the tour, which is offered weather permitting, with about 6 blocks of walking, no major street crossings, brief standing presentations on sidewalk. Join us for a great, enjoyable stroll through Como past, present and future! Free or optional donation. Email Info@ComoCommunityCenter.org to list a spot for yourself.
EVENING ---
COMO COMMUNITY CENTER 2024 ANNUAL COMMUNITY MEETING
-- Saturday October 26 6:30pm, online Zoom meeting
A lot has been going on during 2024 at the Como Center -- so get the picture. Join us for quick look at our Como activities and accomplishments by the CCC team: building renovations, funding, history, and garden creation! The Como Community Center building is held and operated on behalf of the benefit of the entire Como community. This is the annual information presentation to Como neighbors about the Center. We'll also talk about what's upcoming in future months around the Center. Listen in and watch, ask your questions, make your suggestions -- so you know!
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July 2024
Como's on the move ! We're on the move this summer at the Community Center -- here is an update about the last two months of activities and progress.
May Open House. We're enjoying momentum from the "Doors Open" weekend open house event -- we welcomed hundreds of enthusiastic visitors for viewing and discussion, and at-event donations tripled from last year. Mixing in among local Como neighbors visiting were notable Twin Cities historians and many city visitors.
Garden beauty on exterior Center grounds. After the open house kicked off the warm season, our activity focus went outdoors to the Center grounds. Happy to announce that the Como community garden at the Center has newly completed main south section! Over five weekends, a crew of 20+ Como folks and more garden-loving visitors laid the bricks and granite blocks for the garden's central flower circle; tilled and prepared the flower garden bed; put over 250 flowers, shrubs and small trees into the ground; then did mulching and finishing. Mild weather and precipitation are helping the garden establish.
Como neighbor and professional landscape architect Luke Nichols designed the Center garden, creating a historic period design to represent the building's 1915 era of prime significance. It's an overall formal period design, but the patterns of flowers, sedges, and plants form pleasing, irregular groupings along the garden's 80 foot length, and curving lawn border. Flower and plant colors are already making an impression on visitors. The 16 foot flower circle is the highlight centerpoint, with its vintage red-brown brick pavers and gray granite blocks. It's all a fine addition to Como's gardens.
Next up -- interpretive signage to inform about Como and significant Como people associated with this place, next to a shady garden bench for enjoyment of the building and garden.
Busy inside. Renovation continues on the interior as well. More plumbing work has been completed in the basement, and in the auditorium, sound insulation has been installed around the stage, and additional upgraded electric power circuits have been added. For a new safety egress door at the corner of the auditorium, an attractive tall, vintage paneled wood door from the building was refinished and installed. Floor refinishing and exterior door paving are next up on this renovation work.
Connections and funding. CCC team people are always in communication with other community center organizations, to share information and ideas, along with government and corporate contacts. These connections help focus priorities, do outreach to team volunteers, and locate support funding target opportunities. We also hear from groups and neighbors eager to make use of the center when it opens for operation -- encouraging us to keep moving ahead.
Would you be interested in doing a bit to help? Contact us and participate in the Como Community Center volunteer team -- the center is our nonprofit Como neighbors preservation and service project.
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February 2024
Moving ahead with the aid of strong community donation support last fall, our CCC team is very active as we move into the 2024 year. Here is more information for everyone. Support outreach for this Como project continues with government, corporate world, and new community sources.
First, we're planning and moving forward on several building renovation work items -- indoors and out. Despite winter conditions (on and off!), the CCC team is making plans for some great community garden development on the building external grounds. We are very pleased to let you all know that Luke Nichols will be overseeing garden construction at the CCC building. Luke is a Como neighbor, active Como gardener, and a professional landscape architect at the HGA firm. Luke is the principal designer of the garden concept designs provided to CCC, through HGA's Community Design Workshop event. The first portion we intend to install is the south flower bed, running about 80' long. We're also happy to tell you that the Garden Club of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Horticultural Society are interested in helping build the CCC gardens -- planning discussions are underway with those community groups, and we're grateful to them for bringing their interest. garden expertise, and support to CCC. We're looking for participation by Como gardeners as well, when it's time to begin digging and planting. This garden addition will make a great visual statement and improvement to the Como Center building grounds.
Next, we're working on several important building interior renovations that are suitable for wintertime construction crew activity. One of these is the addition of a safety egress door to the auditorium SW corner, to comply with current safety codes. And the stage area will be receiving electrical upgrades to bring it to current standards, along with some necessary reflooring of the stage rear edge -- a followup after previous wall renovation work.
Looking ahead, we're hoping that most of these work activities and improvements will be visible and close to completion at the upcoming May weekend when the Como Community Center will again be featured in the Rethos citywide "Doors Open" historical buildings tour event, May 18-19. Please mark your calendar to save those days, and visit the Como Community Center to have a look and speak with other Como neighbors.
While building preparation goes ahead, the Como Community Center has begun several of its programming activities -- such as Como architecture/history tours, and community education classes (offsite). Watch for notices of upcoming CCC events. Final note: The CCC continues to receive outside inquiries about booking events and uses at the center (an encouraging sign) -- we're working our best to bring the center into new operation as soon as possible, to enrich Como neighborhood life.
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December 2023
Como Community Center is again among the Give MN community support campaigns for 2023. We're receiving a wonderful response. Look for us at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Como-Community-Center or donate here on the CCC site (via PayPal) by going to the Donate page.
Meanwhile we shared 2023 progress and other project info in November at our annual community meeting for the project.
We're invited again to be part of the spring "Doors Open" preservation event next May, so we'll be showing off the CCC in springtime.
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October 2023
Open House & West Como History and Architecture Walking Tour
Saturday October 28
It's another Open House! We are inviting Como neighbors to a fall open house to inspect the building and renovation progress, learn about the building's fascinating history and its future plans. The open house event is 10:00 to 11:00am on Saturday, October 28. Visit the open house, and then join the West Como History and Architecture walking tour!
West Como History and Architecture walking tour! Join us for an approximate 60 minute walking tour with sidewalk presentations at a dozen West Como houses and buildings. Learn about Como's amazing mix of house styles, and the fascinating stories of the Como people associated with the houses, their accomplishments and contributions to Como and the city. The tour departs from the CCC building at 11:00 am.
The CCC center open house is all weather and free entry. The Como walking tour is weather permitting, the tour walks about 5 blocks, no major street crossings, brief standing presentations on sidewalk, free with a donation to CCC suggested. Contact info@ComoCommunityCenter.org for advance info.
Join us for a great morning of Como past, present and future!
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September 2023 current activity update
A beautiful new look arrives at the Center! Renovation of the CCC moves ahead during August, with a striking and impressive renovated look to the center's main exterior facade and its auditorium walls. Light brown scallop siding was installed on the upper wall sections, giving the building an attractive and fresh look, this upgrade carries out our intended return to a 1915 period appearance -- a time of important social and historic significance for the Center building in its Como community.
The new siding is long life, and it was selected to be part of the Center's s new color scheme -- as shown in a CCC website concept drawing. The siding installation includes attractive restored and revealed decorative elements that make the center so eye catching. The new siding runs along both auditorium sides and across the main east facade.
What's next? The lower stucco section of the exterior will take on a historic brick color. This will be another renovation to recreate a 1915 period color scheme appearance for our restoration of the Center. This an upcoming renovation work item, planned to happen this fall.
Meanwhile, contractors are planning installation of new finish roof sections by the building towers. We're intending to apply new roof treatments that will be long life, compatible with the Como center's overall historic nature, and which reinforce its distinctive look.
And good progress too recently on the building interior with its necessary systems and renovations. With new electric wiring in place, contractors crews were active recently to install the ductwork and power vent system for the new rest rooms in the building. These new systems are being designed and constructed to meet modern code requirements, while fitting in smoothly and preserving the building's historic appearance as fully as possible.
And, to let everyone know about us, the Center has a new sign above the door !
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July/August 2023 current activity update
Reconstruction of the roof by the south and north towers is being completed, to replace worn-out framing and sheathing. This is preparatory work for new finish roofing on those areas.
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April/May 2023 update
Interior: Carpentry, electrical, and plumbing crews have been at work, framing the new spaces and upgrading the electrical supply and lighting. This work will provide necessary service spaces at the rear of the auditorium, and create the renovated entries into the building. As systems are updated, fixtures are either renovated for reuse or new fixtures in 1915 style are installed. It's wonderful to see the interior become a renovated, usable space.
Exterior: The siding crew removed stucco from the upper half of the auditorium exterior walls, and installed building wrap and flashing. This work will complete with installation of long life vinyl scallop shakes, restoring the building's facade to its 1915 period look and color.
Plus: The April work revealed wonderful surprises for the goal of historic Como preservation! Our preservation architect, CCC team, and Como neighbors were gathered around below as the exterior crew began stucco removal. Within an hour, we were all thrilled to see original Charles Sedgwick 1886 decorative details reappear as the stucco coating was carefully removed. These are original, 135-year-old building details that have not been seen since the 1950s. Across the front of the building, a large decorative band of rounded and geometric shapes was uncovered below the gable. Soon after, these crew uncovered matched half-round and diagonal ornament panels, and a full width repeating pattern decor band, on the sides of the south tower. These striking design elements by Minneapolis master architect Sedgwick are now going to be restored and repainted -- they will add even more eye catching and pleasing visual interest and beauty to the restored Como Community Center facade for Como folk to enjoy!
Visiting CCC in May: Over 150 visitors from Como and beyond came by to visit the CCC during our participation in the Rethos / Preserve MN "Doors Open" event on May 13-14. Memories, shared information about the building and its history, donations, and project assistance -- all came our way, so our thanks to all our weekend visitors and event volunteers. The Rethos event info page is here.
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November 2022 update
the Como Community Center nonprofit organization has now obtained ownership of the main auditorium front section of the historic Congregational building! This important milestone assures that the building will be preserved for the future. It opens the way to launch rehabilitation work projects for the building.
on the day when ownership was transferred, contractors began installing a new heating system in the auditorium section of the building
other rehabilitation work begins soon on other building systems: electrical, water and rest rooms, lighting, building exterior facade
Community meetings to communicate about the project are ongoing. To receive updates about upcoming project status, upcoming meeting invitations, and other notifications please contact us us at Info@ComoCommunityCenter.org .
Elsewhere on the project, fundraising and grant research and writing efforts continue. Neighbor donations for Como Community Center have begun, reaching over $140,000. This is a good start but much more funding is needed to complete the building renovation and begin operation. The CCC team is pursuing additional rehabilitation funding from governmental, corporate and private sources -- to realize the mission of bringing this valuable Como resource back into active community use.
We look forward to offering scheduling of public events at the Como Community Center building.