St. Louis County Residents Asked to Help Shape Lobby Mural for Historic Tower Renovation

Stone Beam, the building's owner and developer, chose to include a public-benefit feature inside the Alice Nettell Tower as part of its renovation: a lobby mural honoring the region's mining history. Now they want Virginia to help decide what it looks like.

A short online survey has been launched to gather community feedback on the artwork, coordinated in part by Rethos, a nonprofit based in St. Paul that works to preserve historic buildings across Minnesota. The mural will be created by Minnesota artist Adam Swanson, who will use the survey responses to guide the themes and design.

"The goal is to make sure the mural reflects the history, identity and stories that matter most to the community," said Amy Thomas, director of real estate at Rethos.

The survey asks residents to share what mining means to the community and what stories, symbols, or images they believe should be represented in the artwork. The goal is not only to recognize the miners who helped shape the region, but also to ensure the mural feels meaningful to those who live in and around Virginia today.

The Alice Nettell Tower, built in 1975, currently serves as affordable senior housing and will continue to do so after the renovation is complete. The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2026 and will include 156 affordable senior housing units. The 14-story building has 156 units at 550 N. 3rd Ave. in Virginia, a city in St. Louis County on Minnesota's Iron Range.

The renovation is part of a broader effort to preserve older buildings rather than replace them, keeping longtime community landmarks in use while updating them to meet modern needs.

Residents can access the survey online at form.jotform.com/260756560896168. The survey will be open through the month of April.