Phillips Roofing in Minneapolis: Homes, Apartments and Commercial Buildings
Phillips packs a lot into a small area. In about a square mile and a half between I-94, I-35W, Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street, you will find older houses, apartment buildings, Franklin Avenue and Lake Street storefronts, hospitals and industrial sites, plus landmarks like the American Swedish Institute and the Midtown Exchange. For Phillips roofing in Minneapolis, that means one community can call for shingles, flat-roof membranes and commercial systems on the same block.
Minneapolis Roofing Company helps homeowners, landlords, nonprofits and business owners across the Phillips community arrange roof repairs, inspections and replacements. This page explains what is distinctive about the area’s buildings and how that shapes roofing decisions.
Call (888) 657-0348 or request a free estimate. We respond within 24–48 hours.
The Community
The Four Neighborhoods of Phillips
Phillips is named for the 19th-century abolitionist Wendell Phillips. Long treated as a single neighborhood, it was divided in 2002 into four official neighborhoods:
- Ventura Village: the northern part of the community, from I-94 south to 22nd and 24th Streets, between I-35W and Hiawatha Avenue. Franklin Avenue is its main commercial street, and most of its housing is rented.
- Phillips West: from 22nd Street to Lake Street between I-35W and Chicago Avenue, home to the American Swedish Institute.
- Midtown Phillips: from 24th Street to Lake Street between Chicago and Bloomington Avenues, including the Midtown Exchange at Chicago and Lake.
- East Phillips: east of Bloomington Avenue to Hiawatha Avenue, north of Lake Street, with a mix of housing and industrial land near Hiawatha.
The community also includes Little Earth, a residential area centered on affordable housing for Native American residents, though it is not an official neighborhood. Phillips has a long history as a center of Native American community life in Minneapolis; the American Indian Movement was founded here in 1968.
With about 22,000 residents in 2020 on roughly 1.6 square miles, Phillips is one of the most densely populated communities in the city. That density, together with the community’s commercial and industrial land, means many roofs here cover apartment, commercial or institutional buildings rather than single-family homes.
Building Mix
What Kinds of Roofs Are Common in Phillips
Phillips sits just south of downtown and has a mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses. Rather than one typical house, roofing here usually falls into a few categories:
Older houses and duplexes
Phillips still has older single-family houses and duplexes among its apartment and commercial buildings. On these older homes, expect board sheathing under the shingles, multiple layers from past re-roofs, and worn flashing at chimneys and dormers. A full tear-off and deck inspection is usually the right approach.
Apartment buildings
Brick walk-ups and larger apartment buildings typically have flat or low-slope roofs, often behind parapet walls, draining to interior drains or scuppers. They need membrane systems rather than shingles, and steady attention to drains, parapet flashing and rooftop equipment.
Storefronts and mixed-use buildings
Franklin Avenue and Lake Street are lined with one- to three-story commercial buildings, many with apartments or offices above. Their flat roofs carry HVAC units, exhaust fans and signage supports, each one a roof penetration that needs proper flashing.
Warehouses and institutional buildings
Near Hiawatha Avenue and along the rail and transit corridors, larger low-slope roofs cover warehouses, light industrial buildings and institutional facilities. Large hospital and office employers, including Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Allina Health, are also part of the community.
Landmarks
Historic Landmarks and Heritage Preservation in Phillips
Phillips has some of the most recognizable historic buildings in South Minneapolis:
- The American Swedish Institute at 2600 Park Avenue in Phillips West occupies the Turnblad Mansion, a Châteauesque house built between 1903 and 1910. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and designated a Minneapolis landmark in 1974.
- The Midtown Exchange, the former Sears, Roebuck and Company mail-order warehouse and retail store at Chicago Avenue and Lake Street, opened in 1928 and covers about 1.2 million square feet. After sitting vacant from 1994, it reopened in 2005 as a mixed-use building with housing, offices and the Midtown Global Market. It was added to the National Register and designated a Minneapolis landmark in 2005.
These are large, specialized buildings that need specialized care, but they are a reminder that designation matters. If a property is a Minneapolis landmark or lies within a local historic district, exterior changes, including changes to roofing materials, may need review by the city’s heritage preservation staff before work begins. Owners of older buildings in Phillips should check a property’s status with the City of Minneapolis before planning a material change and allow time for any review.
Need a Roofer in Phillips?
From a leaking duplex to a flat-roofed apartment building or storefront, we can help you arrange the right repair or replacement. Call (888) 657-0348.
Flat Roofs
Flat Roof Care for South Minneapolis Apartment and Commercial Buildings
Because so many Phillips buildings have flat or low-slope roofs, flat-roof maintenance is one of the most important roofing topics in the community. These roofs are built with a slight slope toward drains or scuppers. When that drainage fails, water sits on the roof, and Minneapolis freeze-thaw cycles work it into seams and flashing.
Common problems on these buildings include:
- Ponding water from clogged drains, debris or a deck that has settled over time.
- Parapet and coping leaks where the membrane turns up the inside of the brick wall, or where the coping cap on top has opened up.
- Leaks at rooftop units and penetrations, such as HVAC curbs, vent stacks and exhaust fans.
- Old, repeatedly patched membranes, where each new patch adds another seam that can fail.
- Snow drifting against parapets and rooftop equipment after heavy snow.
For details on membrane types and when to repair or replace, see our flat roofing page and our guide to flat roof repair in Minneapolis.
Owners and Managers
Roofing for Landlords, Nonprofits and Property Managers
Most housing in parts of Phillips is rented. In Ventura Village, more than 84 percent of housing is renter-occupied, and in East Phillips the figure is just over half. That means many roofing decisions here are made by landlords, property managers, housing nonprofits and building owners rather than by occupants.
For owners responsible for one or more buildings, a few habits make roof costs more predictable:
- Inspect regularly, ideally in spring and fall, and after major storms. Small problems at drains and flashing are far cheaper to fix early.
- Keep records. Note roof ages, past repairs and membrane types for each building so replacement can be planned rather than forced by a leak.
- Plan replacements in phases. If you own several buildings, spreading replacements over several years helps budgets.
- Coordinate with residents. Give tenants notice, plan dumpster and crane placement, and keep entrances safe while work is underway.
- Confirm permits with your contractor and the city before work starts.
Our roof replacement cost guide covers the factors that drive pricing on both pitched and flat roofs.
Services
Roofing Services We Arrange in Phillips
Whether you own a single house in Midtown Phillips or a mixed-use building on Franklin Avenue, we help arrange:
- Roof repair on pitched roofs, including leaks at dormers, chimneys and valleys, missing shingles and storm damage.
- Roof replacement on houses and duplexes, with tear-off, deck repair, ice dam protection at the eaves and ventilation.
- Flat roof repair and replacement on apartment buildings, storefronts and additions.
- Commercial roofing for retail, office, mixed-use and light industrial buildings, including warehouses with large low-slope roofs.
- Emergency roof repair and tarping after storms, wind or falling debris.
- Roof inspections for buyers, sellers, lenders and property managers.
Winter
Snow, Ice and Phillips Roofs
Minneapolis winters affect every roof type in Phillips differently. On older houses, ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves; air sealing, insulation and ventilation are the lasting fixes. On flat roofs, the bigger concerns are blocked drains, drifting against parapets and the weight of heavy, wet snow on older structures.
After a large snowfall, keep drains and scuppers clear and watch for interior signs of trouble, such as stains on top-floor ceilings or doors that start to stick. If snow is piling up faster than it can melt or drain, professional removal can reduce the load without damaging the membrane. Our roof snow removal page explains when it makes sense.
Nearby Minneapolis communities
We also arrange roofing work in neighboring parts of the city, including Downtown Minneapolis Roofing, Powderhorn Roofing, Longfellow Roofing. See every community we cover on our Minneapolis roofing service area page.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common roofing questions from homeowners and property owners in Phillips.
Which neighborhoods are in the Phillips community?
Phillips includes four official neighborhoods: East Phillips, Midtown Phillips, Phillips West and Ventura Village. It also includes the Little Earth residential area.
Do you help with flat roofs on apartment and commercial buildings?
Yes. Many Phillips buildings have flat or low-slope roofs, and we help arrange repairs and replacements using membrane systems suited to them.
I manage several rental buildings. Can you inspect them together?
Yes. Inspecting several buildings at once makes it easier to compare conditions and plan replacements over time instead of reacting to leaks.
Does a historic building need approval for a new roof?
If it is a designated Minneapolis landmark or in a local historic district, changes to roofing materials may need review by the city’s heritage preservation staff. Check the property’s status with the city before planning work.
What causes most flat roof leaks?
The most common causes are clogged drains and ponding water, failed flashing at parapets and rooftop equipment, and aging membranes with many patches.
How soon can you respond?
Call (888) 657-0348 or request a free estimate, and we respond within 24–48 hours.
Get Help With Roofing in Phillips
From Ventura Village to East Phillips, Minneapolis Roofing Company can help homeowners, landlords and businesses plan roof repairs and replacements. Call (888) 657-0348 or request a free estimate. We respond within 24–48 hours.
