Part of the City of Minot’s National Disaster Resilience Program, Broadway Circle on South Broadway will provide a family shelter, low- to moderate-income rental units and space for The Lord’s Cupboard food pantry and its new soup kitchen.

Liz Larsen, executive director for Project BEE, which is building and will operate Broadway Circle, said demolition has started on the interior of an existing building on the property. The front portion that is leased to a restaurant will remain, but the remainder of the building will be converted into a commercial kitchen and pantry. 

Larsen said new water and sewer lines, separate from the restaurant’s utilities, will be installed. The garage door will move to the east side of the building for deliveries from Great Plains Food Bank and the building’s functionality and parking area will be improved.

“It’s just going to be better suited for the organization, for the Lord’s Cupboard,” Larsen said. 

Submitted Art A rendering shows the proposed new building for The Lord’s Cupboard.

She estimated The Lord’s Cupboard potentially could move from its current headquarters on West Burdick Expressway into the new quarters in early spring. 

Construction on the six individual units of family shelter and a 17-unit apartment building are expected to begin next year.

“They are ready to go as soon as this existing structure is finished,” Larsen said. While waiting to break ground, there may be some pre-fabrication of interior components that can be accomplished off-site, she said.

Larsen said the construction should move quickly because of the basic design elements involved. Broadway Circle should finish by 2024.

“It’ll be nice, especially when I look at the weather and it’s just such a struggle seeing how many families we have in our shelter and just knowing that the need is there,” Larsen said. Project BEE operates a downtown winter warming house.

“Once it gets to the point where construction is wrapping up and we’re looking more at the landscaping and final details,” she added, “we will be working with 1000 Trees for Minot and the Minot Pollinator Project just to ensure that our landscaping is local and potentially donated.”

Project BEE has two Twice Blessed matching grant initiatives currently running through the St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation. One would assist with Project BEE’s operating costs and the other would go specifically to Broadway Circle to help cover costs of furnishings and contingencies. 

People can donate to Project BEE and Broadway Circle at projectbeend.org or visit the St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation’s website at sjchfnd.com for a link to the Twice Blessed page.

“We’re so grateful for the community’s support. This project has not been easy,” Larsen said. “But we’re seeing the finish line and we’re doing it, and we’re excited for what this is going to do for the community.”