What’s going on with the Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Work Group?
In early December 2022, Mayor Jacob Frey announced a new task force to examine retail market dynamics, storefront spaces, policy guidance, and barriers to progress in Downtown. The Vibrant Storefront Work Group’s 30-odd members met over a dozen times between December 2022 and May 2023.
I encourage you to check out their report, published June 1, 2023.
What were their recommendations? Recommendations centered around four focus areas: desired uses, regulatory environment, business community, and infrastructure. There is a lot to unpack, and so if you want to dive into the details, I encourage you to read their report in full.
Here are my “top picks” recommendations from each focus area:
Desired Uses: Start Small
“Allocate energy and resources towards implementing interventions at focused intersections to maximize success and build momentum. Identify the locations and characteristics of potential nodes of opportunity and provide focused study to identify site-specific opportunities for activation and vibrancy. Node development will be central to the future success of retail and retail innovation. Identifying nodular micro-communities that fuse lively arts and culture experiences with retail is the path to revitalization.”
One of the solutions we have been talking about for decades at this point is the need for smaller-scale commercial. In Ward 3, Central Hennepin is thriving in-part because of the high density of small scale lease opportunities combined with a high density of residents within walking distance. I support adaptive redevelopment to create more small scale lease opportunities, especially for food service that don’t need ventilation, like coffee, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, and more.
Regulatory Environment: Evaluate Land Use Regulations
“The City should continue to monitor the implementation of the new land use regulations and consider modifications over time as needed to encourage flexibility and allow new and innovative business models. Consult with downtown property/business owners to identify uses that may be desired but are not currently permitted. For example, with the most recent adoption of new citywide land use zoning, the Nicollet Mall Overlay District has been eliminated, in favor of a broader expansion of required street front activation in more areas of downtown, including Nicollet Mall. As part of this change, a broader mix of uses will now be allowed to satisfy the ground floor activation requirements in new buildings.”
This was part of my policy action agenda on Day 1 of my campaign. Current zoning treats Downtown as a destination only, not as a thriving residential community with resident needs like grocery, pharmacy, family restaurants, and more. While I am in favor of zoning reform overall to allow more people in more places and more uses in more spaces, especially in Downtown we need to shift the mindset towards creating a thriving community of residents and amenities to support that vision.
Business Community: Activation of Nodes, Spaces, and the Public Realm
“Form a regular “problem solving” table to bring together public and private actors around specific issues and to enhance a shared understanding of conditions.”
I support what the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District have done to activate spaces on Nicollet Mall with seating and oversized games during the summer. With a combination of programming and flexible deployments of infrastructure, we can make more of Downtown more welcoming with a positive, family-friendly environment.
Infrastructure: Evaluate the Future of Nicollet Mall as a Pedestrian-Only Zone
“Explore alternative options for transit service elsewhere through downtown. Engage stakeholders to understand full range of impacts.”
I have long supported re-imagining Nicollet Mall as a pedestrian promenade with a safe bikeway for all micromobility options. The right of way on Nicollet Mall from building face to building face is only 80 feet, compared to 120 feet on Washington Ave S and 90 feet on the reconstructed Hennepin Ave in Downtown. To improve livability on Nicollet, we should also invest in artificial shade canopies across the entire promenade. With the ongoing march of climate change, this will be a great investment that makes every activation of the promenade easier.
What are your thoughts and ideas about Downtown and Nicollet Mall? Send me an email at [email protected] or find me on Twitter as @conradzbikowski.