Park & Portland Avenue:

Vision for Development

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Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan

“…this study is one of the more pragmatic downtown urban planning studies in years. It calls for increased density, wider sidewalks to support outdoor cares and other activities, and a variety of housing options, many of which will be affordable…the vision creates a pathway for the next 30 years, one that’s not so much government-driven as forged in the cooperation with the landowners, institutions and the public….”

-STAR TRIBUNE, 2017

DOWNLOAD THE VISION STUDY HERE

A Shared Vision for Two East Town Corridors
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East Town (Elliot Park and Downtown East) is a thriving district of 120 square blocks (300 acres) in the most accessible and visible sector of Downtown Minneapolis. It is bounded by the Minneapolis Central Business District on the west, the Mississippi riverfront to the north, Interstate-35W to the east, and Interstate-94 to the south.

The East Town Development work group was formed by the mpls downtown council, mpls downtown improvement district and the East Town Business Partnership and includes more than 60 organizations and 100 leaders representing businesses, nonprofits, elected officials, universities, and neighborhoods. This inter disciplinary group advances the development goals of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan and hosts monthly strategic presentations ranging from planning and design to projects and critical path with a special focus on diverse housing growth.

East Town is within a period of great growth and transition. Continued efforts of strong planning and neighborhood engagement will help guide the growth to continue building the area into a strong cohesive neighborhood. Over the past decade plus many citizens, elected officials, business community members, developers, designers, and students have collaborated to complete multiple urban studies within the recently branded East Town, primarily focusing on the Elliot Park Neighborhood and Downtown East Neighborhood. This study provides an update of the current status of East Town, builds upon the previous studies and master planning that have been completed, and identifies opportunities for development.

Goal One:

INCREASE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Increase residential development along the Park and Portland corridor in terms of attraction, distribution & density, the variety of types and diversity of residents. This will add different opportunities for people to live in this stretch of downtown neighborhood.

Goal Two:

STRENGTHEN PARK & PORTLAND AS “CONNECTORS”

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Focus on preservation, circulation, accessibility, sustainability, safety, new retail/entertainment districts, street-level experience, owner-occupied housing, neighborhood character, balancing economic vitality with the environment, livability and quality of life. 

Goal Three:

EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE PUBLIC REALM

Attract residents, diverse developments and innovative businesses by focusing on green space, hardscapes, streetscaping, transit/vehicle/pedestrian patterns, infrastructure and sustainable environments.

Contributors to Source Material

BKV Group

City of Minneapolis

Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)

Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA)

Downtown East Elliot Park (DEEP)

East Town Business Partnership

Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI)

Hennepin County

Metro Transit

mpls downtown council 

mpls downtown improvement district

Relevant Stakeholders

Aeon

Augustana Care

Developers

Guthrie Theater Foundation

HCMC

Kraus-Anderson

North Central University

McKnight Foundation

Metro Transit

Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA)

Minnesota Historical Society

Star Tribune

Thrivent Financial

University of Minnesota

Valspar

Wells Fargo