How badly did the May 22, 2011 tornado hit Fridley's commercial buildings?

Ron Julkowski, City of Fridley commercial building official, said 90 percent of repairs have been completed, though the city is waiting on insurance claims adjusters to make a final determination on pricing and damages for the remaining jobs.

“It was mainly roofs and very minor constructional stuff,” Julkowski said. “An overhanging roof, a tree limb through the rafters, that’s mainly been the extent in Fridley. It was wind and blown down trees, basically.” 

Julkowski said the City of Minneapolis waterworks, located on East River Road in far southwest Fridley, suffered roof brick damage from flying debris. Many industrial buildings along Main Street NE saw damage too, he said, but the tornado’s most costly impact in Fridley was at BAE Systems, where rebuilding cost more than $300,000.

“BAE lost their blast building on the north side,” he said. “They replaced some structural purlins and the side wall metal skins.”