Straight River Apartments under construction in 2022. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo March 2022)
IN RECENT YEARS, Faribault has experienced a boon in apartment building construction, especially in the downtown area. Hillside Apartments, Straight River Apartments and Riverchase Apartments have all opened with Riverchase II coming soon.
Additionally space in downtown historic buildings has been, or will be, rehabbed into more apartments.
At the former Farmer Seed & Nursery site along Minnesota State Highway 60, Midwest Flats Apartments are under construction.
And on the south end of town are the new Elmview Apartments.
That’s a whole lot of apartments added to already long-standing apartment complexes and other rental units in the city. But apparently the need and demand are there based on discussions among local government officials.
Housing will focus a monthly City Council Chat slated for 5 pm Wednesday, March 11, at Viaduct Park. Specifically, Maxfield Research will present results of a housing needs analysis done for the Faribault Housing and Redevelopment Authority. That will include demographic trends, market demand, affordability challenges and projected housing needs over the coming years, according to the city of Faribault.
I’m curious about the results of that study. As an aging Baby Boomer, I hold a different outlook on local housing needs than a young person or young family just settling into the community or looking to buy a home.
What I appreciate about the monthly Council Chats are the focused topics, the informality of the gatherings, and opportunities for the public to ask questions, comment and mingle with city employees and elected officials. This is about as grassroots as it gets in local government. Listen. Learn. Discuss. Make informed decisions.
A painting on burlap by Mexican artist Jose Maria de Servinfrom my art collection. It seems to fit the moment. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)
AS I GATHERED INFORMATION for this blog post, I wondered how to start. I’ll begin with one simple statement: The need is great here in Minnesota following the largest mass federal immigration enforcement in the country.
That’s a broad, undefined statement which I want to narrow down to specifics in my community of 25,000 in southeastern Minnesota, an hour south of Minneapolis. Faribault is a blue collar city, home to many people of color, including Somalis, Hispanics and Latinos, the demographic hit hardest by the months’ long Operation Metro Surge.
I can’t tell you how many people have been taken from my Greater Minnesota community by ICE. I can’t tell you how many people have been racially profiled, stopped and questioned. But residents of Faribault have been taken. And stopped, because of their skin color. I know this simply by being out and about, talking with people. This federal activity, which initially saw 3,000 immigration agents in the state, is not done, despite statements otherwise.
This shows a portion of a promo I received in the mail this week from the Community Action Center with locations in Faribault and in Northfield.
FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
That brings me to the topic of today’s post. Need. And how you can help the many people in my community who now find themselves facing financial challenges due to ICE activity. Many have been sheltering in their homes, afraid to go to work or the grocery store or church. Afraid to take their kids to school…
The fear they’ve felt of being detained, even if they’ve done nothing wrong, even if they are here legally, even if they are American citizens, has been great. As a white woman, as a human being, I feel a moral obligation to do what I can for my neighbors who are suffering. Many people in Faribault have stepped up—taking kids to school, delivering groceries, driving people to work, donating food and money…
Some of you have asked me how you can help, and some of you have already helped. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your kindness, your care, your compassion, your support, your encouragement and your financial gifts.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has been a collection site for food and non-food items during the current crisis. (Graphic sourced from the Our Savior’s Facebook page)
The demand for funds to assist renters facing eviction is high. These are people who have not gone to work because they fear ICE. No work equals no income equals no money to pay the rent or other expenses.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Faribault is among the organizations helping people in my community. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo February 2026)
HELPING PEOPLE IN FARIBAULT
I’ve compiled a short list of selected places to which you can donate monies that will help those impacted by federal immigration enforcement, and others, in Faribault. Please click on the boldfaced organization names to reach websites, where you will find donation tabs and more information. Thank you for considering my request to help people in my community. I am grateful.
Faribault Community Action Center. Donate to the CAC Community Response Fund which meets urgent and evolving needs such as for food and rent. Please designate your gift for the FARIBAULT CAC as one exists in neighboring Northfield. That town’s council approved a $50,000 request for emergency rental assistance.
Spreading Warmth: Supporting Immigrant Families in Faribault.This is a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $30,000 (a new goal) to help struggling immigrant families. Thus far, the effort has raised nearly $21,000. The organizer provides detailed info on needs and how families have already been helped.
Faribault Supporting Families.This group manages a small community-supported fund to help families facing urgent immigration-related challenges.
Three Rivers Community Action. This organization offers multi-faceted services, including in the area of housing, such as rental assistance.
Downtown Faribault during a snowstorm on a recent Sunday afternoon. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo December 2025)
COMPLAIN. COMPLAIN. COMPLAIN. We all do it, right? While venting helps, that doesn’t solve problems. But listening, really listening, and sharing ideas thoughtfully and respectfully moves us toward solutions.
With that introduction, I point to the city of Faribault and its monthly Council Chats, an opportunity to engage with elected officials, city staff and others on issues of concern within the community. I’ve been to several of these and really appreciate the informal format of short presentation followed by a Q & A and then mingling. “Chat” definitely fits.
Faribault has experienced a surge in apartment construction in recent years, especially near downtown. This shows Straight River Apartments under construction in April 2022. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo 2022)
This month’s meeting, set for 6 pm Wednesday, January 14, at the Viaduct Park building, is promoted as a “Community Listening Session” led jointly by city staff and the Community Action Center, a community-based human services nonprofit in Faribault (and also in Northfield). Lack of housing, environmental concerns and employment opportunities will focus discussion. Those have been identified as top issues by city residents.
Based on the pre-event information I’ve read, the Community Listening Session promises to be a worthwhile sharing of information, exchange of ideas and thoughtful conversation. Attendees will be able to view and give feedback on locally-themed posters with Faribault specific data. It is the feedback that I find invaluable in planning for the future of my community. Attendees may have other concerns they wish to address.
The Community Action Center, according to its Facebook page, has been working hard to gather information for Wednesday’s chat:
Over the last few months we’ve been collecting meaningful feedback from our neighbors about important topics impacting all of our daily lives. Through one-on-one conversations with food shelf shoppers and folks at community events, by carefully listening to parent groups and partners, while reading responses from multilingual surveys, and by hearing participant stories, we are finally prepared (and excited) to share the perspectives and experiences that will help inform the future of our community.
The Gathering Room at Viaduct Park, the city’s newest park, will be the site of Wednesday evening’s Council Chat Listening Session. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo December 2025)
I am hopeful turn-out for this event will be good. People are too quick to criticize, especially on social media. Too quick to blame. Too quick to attack. Too quick to think their voice either doesn’t matter or is the only one that matters.
In many ways, these Council Chats are the most basic form of grassroots government—like sitting down over a cup of coffee, or a bottle of beer if you prefer that, and talking to one another sensibly. If we actually listen to one another, then perhaps together we can forge a plan of action that betters our community.
Traffic curves past Straight River Apartments, under construction along First Avenue Northeast in Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR now, I’ve observed construction of a new apartment complex near downtown Faribault next to an in-progress city park.
Another view of Straight River Apartments, northeast side. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
Straight River Apartments stand on the site of a former massive city garage, just north of the American Legion and aside train tracks tracing the Straight River. Fleckenstein Bluffs Park is adjacent. Both are definitely improvements to the properties.
The sprawling nature-themed playground fits the setting along the Straight River. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
Animals, like this chipmunk, are incorporated into the playground equipment, following the nature theme. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
The climbing apparatus at Fleckenstein Bluffs by Straight River Apartments. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
As I’ve watched developments on this land, I’ve considered how the apartment location will connect renters to nature and downtown. Renters will not only benefit from the next-door park, complete with nature-themed playground, picnic shelter and scenic overlook over the Straight River, but will also have direct access to the Straight River Trail.
A view of the Straight River and the train track crossing, photographed from the Straight River Trail. This scene is by Fleckenstein Bluffs Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo March 2022)
A river overlook at Fleckenstein Bluffs was fenced during my visits. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo March 2022)
A short distance from the park, just off the Straight River Trail, a pathway leads to this opening in the woods along the river. There’s a picnic table in this space. Rocks were hauled in and placed along the river bank. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo March 2022)
Just a short walk, jog or bike ride away along the trail, those who live here can immerse themselves in woods and sidetrack off the paved route to river’s edge for a picnic, to meander or to fish. I thought a canoe and kayak launch were also part of the park plan, but see no indication that will happen.
Photographed in mid-March as workers work on Straight River Apartments. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo March 2022)
Meanwhile, construction continues with an anticipated August opening of the 111-unit “boutique and high-tech apartment complex,” according to INH Properties. Apartment rental prices range from $925/month studio to two-bedroom two-bath plus den starting at $1,500/month. I’ve been out of the apartment market for decades, so rates seem high to me for Faribault. Yet, I realize that’s the going market rate in a community with a rental housing shortage.
A north end view of Straight River Apartments. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
Faribault is seeing a bit of a boom in apartment building construction. Other new complexes include Hillside Apartments across from Buckham Center and The Lofts at Evergreen Knoll on the site of the former Evergreen Knoll restaurant near Walmart.
The restrooms and park shelter being built at Fleckenstein Bluffs Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
Plans are also underway to build a 74-unit apartment near the viaduct, just blocks from my Willow Street home. And then even further along Willow, near the Faribault Soccer Complex and Middle School, developers are planning a 200-250 unit apartment complex. All of this new housing will bring even more traffic to my already heavily-traveled city street. And I’m not feeling at all good about that. More traffic equals more noise, more wear and tear on my street. More litter. More pollution.
No matter my concerns about more traffic past my house, the construction of new apartment buildings in Faribault is a good thing for those in need of rental housing. Our growing workforce demands local housing access. At least one Faribault business, C & S Vending, is planning workforce housing of three 12-plexes and one 8-plex. I’m sure there are other projects I’m missing in this summary.
At the Fleckenstein Bluffs Park, a xylophone, among several large scale musical instruments. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo late April 2022)
We are a growing community. We need rental housing and affordable single family homes and nearby parks. (A new, community-centered park is also planned near the viaduct.) Come August, a whole lot more people will be living near downtown Faribault as Straight River Apartments open. Now we need to focus also on making home ownership available and affordable, if that’s even possible given the tight market and cost of new construction today…
Porches front well-kept houses in the neighborhood near Powder House Square.
WELCOMING FRONT PORCHES grace nearly every home in the neighborhood where my son lives in Somerville, Massachusetts near Tufts University.
Balconies or enclosed porches extend from most second floors.
Likewise, second floor balconies front nearly every home.
Perennials were in bloom in many yards when I visited in late May.
Both are necessities in a neighborhood with minimal green space, not enough to call a lawn or a yard by Minnesota standards. I would be surprised if many homeowners have lawnmowers. Bushes, plants and even artificial turf fill the slim lines of land between houses and sidewalks.
I noticed signs like this around Powder House Square. Words printed in the blue circle read: “Municipal Freedom Gives National Strength, Somerville, Mass.”
There are no boulevards. Narrow sidewalks trace next to the street. Asphalt circles trees. The lack of land, of space between homes, is especially evident to me, a rural Minnesotan used to lots of elbow room. Everything feels cramped in this neighborhood of old homes.
The most colorful house I spotted in the neighborhood.
Noticeably absent are FOR SALE signs on these mostly three-story aged houses, many of them parceled into apartments. Up until recently, my son was paying $850/month rent for the second and third floors of a house apartment shared with three other college students. He’s now subleasing a place nearby for $700/month for the summer.
I was delighted to find a Little Free Library near my son’s apartment.
A local noted that houses in the neighborhood are passed down from generation to generation. He lives in his in-law’s house; they live in Florida. I suspect families are hesitant to sell because such a decision means they could never afford to live here again.
A lot of the homes have this barn roof design.
Most of the homes in this area between Tufts and Powder House Square are similar in design. The barn-like roof lines present a comforting, welcoming and homey appearance. At least to me, a farm-raised woman.
Residential streets in my son’s neighborhood are one-way. I can’t fathom how residents managed in the recent winter of record snowfall.
But I didn’t feel welcome here when I learned that my husband and I couldn’t park our van on the street in front of our son’s apartment for three days without a permit. After driving nearly 1,500 miles from Minnesota, parking rules were the last thing I wanted to encounter. But I suppose such regulations are necessary given the lack of space in neighborhoods. Residents are discouraged from owning a second vehicle. Parking is a challenge in this densely populated area.
Miscellaneous whatever on the back of a street sign by Powder House Square.
The son reminded me several times that “It’s not like in Minnesota where you can drive right up to a store.” Or someone’s house. Many residents rely on their own two feet, bikes or public transportation—the “T” or the bus—to get them places.
Could I live in the Boston metro? Maybe if I was 20-something. But now? No. I need space.
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