Northern Mural

The current condition of the

building at 10 West Lake Street will vary depending on who you ask. To a street artist, the building is an open canvas waiting to be painted. To a concerned neighbor, the site is unkempt and unsafe.

The mural along the back side was an olive branch of sorts to

the community from Kmart. It was a commissioned project that didn't show the building in a great light since its completion in 1977. It shows what is assumed to be a business man closing a door on the community (MPR, 2014). When the Kmart building was built, no doors or entrances were designed on the northern side. What was built

was a nearly 600' road block, alley, and loading docks facing the Whittier Neighborhood. Construction of the Kmart was a clear decision to value

one area of the city over another. Instead, City investment was turned towards Lake Street and the

adjacent Uptown community. For 30 years following the construction of Kmart, the area north of it would develop slowly. For an entire generation the city would rush by on 35W and Lake Street.