A Century of Serving Minneapolis
Look closely at the very top of Kyle Garden Square, just above the entrance, and you'll find it carved into the stone: Nurses' Home Swedish Hospital. It's easy to miss, but for those paying attention, it tells the story of this building.
The Swedish School of Nursing opened in Minneapolis in 1899 and over the 80 years it was active trained more than 3,000 nurses who went on to serve and care for their communities. Their dormitory is the same building that now houses 59 deeply affordable homes for those who have experienced homelessness: Kyle Garden Square.
From the outside, it looks nearly the same as it did in 1921 when it was first built. The mission of serving people hasn't changed much either. Over the past 100 years the building has had many identities (and many additions), dormitory, office building, medical training and research center, and now: permanent supportive housing.
Inside, however, it looks very different. The entrance on 10th Avenue opens into a large entry area with a front desk staffed 24/7 by Touchstone Mental Health support staff. Computer stations are available for residents, and to the right is a common room with a kitchen, chairs and couches for lounging, and a TV (likely currently tuned to a March Madness game). Further in are offices for the supportive housing and property management staff, a nurse's room, private meeting spaces, a large bike room, and, most importantly, 59 studio and one-bedroom units.
Walking around Kyle Garden Square, it can be hard to believe the building you're standing in is more than a century old. It's that transformation that earned Kyle Garden Square a spot as a finalist for the 2026 ReScape Brownfield Redevelopment Award, which celebrates projects that creatively revitalize existing buildings for community benefit. A fitting honor for a building that has never stopped serving Minneapolis.
Now that the construction dust has settled and the building is at full occupancy, we're celebrating with a grand opening on Tuesday, April 14th. We hope you'll join us to tour the building, hear from Pat, a resident who found her home at Kyle Garden Square shortly after it first opened, and learn from the funders and partners who made this possible and are working to make more projects like it happen across the city.
When: Tuesday, April 14th
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Kyle Garden Square
700 10th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
What: Program at 4:00 p.m., refreshments, guided tours
Let’s Build Long-Term Stability, One Home at a Time
All who engage in strengthening Alliance are equally valued, whether donor, volunteer, public advocate, board member, resident, or staff, your involvement directly supports safe, dignified housing for those facing the greatest barriers.