The Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA) wishes to thank the volunteer members of the Downtown Community for the many hours they have given to Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) task forces, sub-committees, and projects as they worked toward improving the environment, livability and character of Downtown Minneapolis.
We thank and appreciate Minneapolis NRP staff, Alicia Cox-Jenkins, Joe Horan, Barb Lickness, and director Bob Miller. We also thank Bob Cooper, MCDA Citizen Participation and Councilmember Lisa Goodman and Council President Jackie Cherryhomes. We appreciate the efforts of the Minneapolis Planning Department, Police and Fire Department, and Public Works.
A large debt of gratitude goes to current DMNA Board of Directors: Jerrie Hayes, Chair; Larry Calhoun, Vice Chair; Mark Moller, Treasurer; Carletta Sweet, Secretary; Monroe Bell (former Chair and Treasurer); Andrew Hauer; and Daniel Hunt. Heartfelt thanks go to recent board departee Minneapolis Fire Chief Rocco Forte for his unstinting efforts in helping to prepare the Master Plan. Much appreciation and continued camaraderie is extended to other recent board departees Glenn Johannesen, Eric Mitchell, and Joan Willshire.
To Scott Engel, former DMNA NRP Coordinator, we extend special thanks for his patience and diligence during his tenure and to Bill Stark who organized over 100 citizens to work on NRP task forces. DMNA thanks Patty Connolly, Art Centor, Saul Carliner of the Downtown Development Task Force; George Rosenquist and Barbara Andrews, Crime and Safety; and Bob Saginaw and Barbara Bell Smith of the Arts, Culture and Education Task Forces.
Many of the task force members wore two hats and worked doubly hard as DMNA Board members, and special thanks go to its chair, Monroe Bell, former Chairs George Rosenquist and Saul Carliner, Vice-Chair Jonathan Specktor, Secretary Dolores Cotton and members of its Board of Directors: Frank Brust, Elayne Caldwell, Arthur Centor, Sue Jahn, Michael Murphy, Robert Saginaw, Al Smith, Carletta Sweet, Ashu Kataria and Laura Lazar.
NEIGHBORHOOD VISION
Our vision of downtown
THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
Located in the heart of
Through the majority of this
planning process the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association represented
three neighborhoods including Downtown East, Downtown West, and Northloop. Recently,
the Northloop Neighborhood voted to form an
independent neighborhood association and become its own planning group. DMNA voted to support the new Warehouse
District North Loop Neighborhood Association in its efforts. The borders of Downtown East and West are
bordered by the historic
The 2000 U.S. Census reports a total of 4,709 residents in the two downtown neighborhoods. Downtown is “home” to about 140,000 workers.
NRP PROCESS
The planning process has
spanned over a five-year period beginning in the Spring
of 1996. The Downtown Minneapolis
Residents Association (DMRA), now DMNA elected its first NRP Steering Committee
on
Four task forces were formed to develop Goals and Objectives for the First Step Plan. The task forces were: Arts, Culture & Education; Community Development: Crime & Safety and Downtown Development. In May of 1997, The downtown community voted on the goals and objectives developed by each task force.
In December, 1997, The Downtown Minneapolis Residents Association (DMRA) approved a name change to the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA). This change allowed Downtown business owners, residents, and workers to participate in the community organization.
The DMNA volunteers worked
toward refining their strategy proposals during 1998. The First Step plan was approved by the
neighborhood on
The DMNA worked on implementing
the projects funded in the First Step Plan during 1999 and 2000. Early in 2001, the task forces worked on
identifying strategies for the full Neighborhood Action Plan. The task forces completed their work in
October 2001 and held an all community meeting on
DOWNTOWN
Section 1: Arts,
Culture, and Education
Goal 1: To create a more united downtown neighborhood by utilizing arts,
Culture and education resources.
Objective 1: Provide theater experiences for school age children in downtown
Strategy 1: Organize workshops and theater experiences for downtown school
(First Step) Children in coordination with small downtown theaters.
· Workshops may include acting classes and improvisational skills training.
· Assist MPS with organization of the workshops and theatrical training.
· Theaters may include for example Theater De la Jun Lune or Margolis Brown.
· Coordinate activities with other downtown theaters and programs for children to avoid duplication of effort or activity.
Participants: DMNA, DMNA Implementation Coordinator, MPS, downtown
schools, downtown theaters.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$50,000
Purpose: Workshops
Contract Minneapolis Public Schools
Manager:
Outcome: $50,000 of NRP funds were contracted with the Minneapolis Public
Schools under contract #14684 in November 1999. The
Minneapolis Public Schools sub-contracted with Margolis Brown
Dance Theater to provide theater
experiences to schoolchildren at the
Objective 2: Create a strong cultural identity for downtown by promoting the Warehouse District’s artistic, commercial and historic resources.
Strategy 1: Develop the “Explore the Warehouse District Program”.
(First Step)
· Organize tours of visual performing arts locations and historic
Buildings.
· Develop a promotional campaign to attract residents, workers and visitors to the artistic and historic resources of the Warehouse District.
Participants: DMNA, DMNA Implementation Coordinator, MCDA-Public Information, Office of Public Affairs, Warehouse District artists and performance groups, Warehouse District businesses.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$20,000
Purpose: Promotion
Contract
Manager:
Outcome: $20,000 of NRP funds were contracted with the Minneapolis Office
of
Public Affairs in contract #15907 to provide a one-day event on
Strategy 2: Develop the “Word Mural” Signage project.
(First Step)
· Research the history and architecture of buildings in the Warehouse District.
· Work with artists, a sign-company and installation of professionals to develop “Word Mural” signs that animate each participating building’s history and architecture through an artistic written description.
· Consult and coordinate signage locations with building owners and appropriate city agencies (The estimated size of each sign: 4’ X 10”)
Participants: DMNA, DMNA Implementation Coordinator, Public Works, Heritage
Preservation Commission, building owners.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$50,000
Purpose: Signs
Contract
Manager:
Outcome: $50,000
of NRP funds were contracted with the
Planning Department under contract # 14069 in May 1999 for use with this project. This project has experienced some difficulty in implementation. The volunteers are continuing to work with the Minneapolis Planning Department and the Heritage Preservation Commission to resolve the issues that are preventing implementation of this project.
Objective 3: Enhance the appearance of the Hennepin Avenue Theater District.
Strategy 1: Provide NRP funds as a loan to Minneapolis Public Works for use in the Hennepin Avenue Theater District Streetscape Improvement project.
Once loan is repaid, DMNA
will re-allocate this funding to other projects identified by the neighborhood
during the prioritization meeting of
Participants: DMNA, Orpheum-State Theaters,
NRP
Resources: 2002 - $300,000
Purpose: Assessment Bond Guarantee loan to public works
Contract
Manager: Minneapolis Public Works Department
Section 2: Crime
and Safety
Goal 1: Enhance the current level of safety and improve the perception of safety in the downtown neighborhood.
Objective 1: Increase the visibility of positive influences in downtown.
Strategy 1: Develop a Downtown Ambassador Program.
(First Step)
· Utilize volunteer and/or paid “Ambassadors” to provide directions, hospitality services and additional crime watch for downtown residents, visitors, and workers.
· The Downtown Ambassador Program would be a 2-year pilot project to occur initially during summer months (June – August) in coordination with the Downtown Marketing Committee.
Participants: DMNA, Downtown Council-Downtown Marketing Committee, GMCVA.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$40,000
Purpose: Ambassador Staff & Administration
Contract
Manager: NRP
Outcome: $40,000 was contracted with the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association under contract 14007 in April 1999.
Strategy 2: Expand the downtown “beat patrol”.
(First Step)
· Utilize the “police buy-back” program to allow additional beat patrols at times when a high level of crime occurs in the downtown neighborhood.
Participants: DMNA, Minneapolis Police Department, Downtown Command, CCP/SAFE
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$40,000
1999 - $15,000 (re-directed from Downtown Development
strategy 3.2.1.1, consolidate/expand existing plans in
Plan Modification #1)
Purpose: Police Buy-Back Funds
Contract
Manager: Minneapolis Police Department
Outcome: $40,000 of NRP funds were contracted to the Minneapolis Police Department under contract #14007 beginning in May 1999 to provide buy-back police patrol services in the Downtown and Warehouse District area. These services will be continued until December 2001. $15,000 of NRP funds were added to this contract as a result of Plan Modification #1 dated September 2001.
Strategy 3: Expand the downtown “mounted patrol”.
(First Step)
· Utilize the “police buy-back” program to increase mounted horse patrols during special events in the downtown neighborhood.
Participants: DMNA, Minneapolis Police Department, Downtown Command, CCP/SAFE.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$20,000
1999 - $10,000 (re-directed from Downtown Development
strategy 3.2.1.1, consolidate/expand existing plans in
Plan Modification #1)
Purpose: Police “Buy-back” funds
Contract
Manager: Minneapolis Police Department
Outcome: $20,000 of NRP funds were contracted to the Minneapolis Police Department under contract # 14007 beginning in May 1999 to provide buy-back police patrol services in the Downtown and Warehouse District area. These services will be continued until December 2001. $10,000 of NRP funds were added to this contract as a result of Plan Modification # 1 dated September 2001.
Strategy 4: Support and expand the downtown ‘bicycle patrol”.
(First Step)
· Utilize the “police buy-back” program to provide additional bicycle patrols at times when a high level of crime occurs in the downtown neighborhood.
Participants: DMNA, Minneapolis Police Department, Downtown Command, CCP/SAFE.
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$10,000
Purpose: Police “Buy-back” funds
Contract
Manager: Minneapolis Police Department
Outcome: $10,000 of NRP funds were contracted to the Minneapolis Police Department under contract # 14007 beginning in May 1999 to provide buy-back police patrol services in the Downtown and Warehouse District area. These services will be continued until December 2001.
Strategy 5: Support the development of a
Participants: City of
NRP
Resources: 2002 -
$60,000
Purpose: Costs related to center development
Contract
Manager: MCDA
Objective 2: Utilize technology to increase the safety of downtown residents, visitors, and workers.
Strategy 1: Install Safety Alert Phone Systems (911 phones) on downtown
(First Step) streets and in skyways.
· Coordinate phone system with downtown kiosk project.
Participants: DMNA, Downtown Marketing Committee, Skyways Advisory Committee, Public Works, Minneapolis Police Department.
NRP
Resources: 1999 - $34,000
Purpose: Safety Alert Phones
Contract
Manager: Public Works
Outcome: $34,000 of NRP funds were contracted to the Minneapolis Public
Works department under contract # 14421 beginning August
1999 for purposes of developing a system of skyway signs,
information kiosks, and safety alert phones to increase the safety of people traveling through the skyways and throughout the downtown business district.
Strategy 2: Provide downtown block/apartment clubs with cell phones
(First Step) improving their ability to report crime.
Participants: DMNA, existing downtown block/apartment clubs, Minneapolis Police Department, CCP/SAFE
NRP
Resources: 1999 - $2,000
Purpose: Cell Phones
Contract
Manager: MPD
Outcome: $2,000 was contracted to the Minneapolis Police Department under contract #14012 beginning May 1999 for purposes of encouraging more participation in block/apartment clubs throughout the downtown area in coordination with CCP/SAFE.
Strategy 3: Provide Thermal Imaging Equipment to the Minneapolis Fire Department to enable the firefighters to have better detection of the source of the fire within a burning building and to locate possible victims of a fire with quicker response time.
Participants: DMNA,
NRP
Resources: 2002 -
$36,000
Purpose: Thermal Imaging Equipment
Contract
Manager:
Objective 3: Attack the perception that a high level of crime exists in downtown.
Strategy 1: Develop and implement a marketing program to promote positive
(First Step) images of the downtown neighborhood.
· Work with the Downtown Council Marketing Committee to implement the marketing program directed towards residents and visitors in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.
· Work with CCP/SAFE to utilize free media to promote crime and safety initiatives such as block/apartment clubs and the police buy-back program.
Participants: DMNA, Downtown Council-Downtown Marketing Committee, GMCVA, CCP/SAFE
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$10,000
1999– ($5,000) (re-direct to Downtown
Development
Strategy 3.2.2.1. Develop Affordable
Housing
Fund)
Purpose: Marketing Program
Contract
Manager: NRP
Outcome: $5,000 was contracted through NRP under contract # 14007 for use in paying for the marketing program developed by the DMNA and the Downtown Council-Downtown Marketing Committee.
$5,000 of these funds are being re-directed through this plan to Downtown Development Strategy 3.2.2.1. Affordable Housing Fund.
Strategy 2: Work in partnership with Loring Park (CLPC) and other organizations to implement the Restorative Justice Program in Downtown Minneapolis.
Participants: DMNA, CLPC, Minneapolis Police Department,
Resources: 2002 - $10,000
Purpose: Implementation and Program Costs
Contract
Manager: NRP
Section 3: Downtown Development
Goal 1: Improve the accessibility and user-friendliness of the downtown area.
Objective 1: Expand and improve neighborhood transportation via vehicular, pedestrian (including skyways) and bicycles in the downtown.
Strategy 1: Create a system of signs and “information kiosks” directing
(First Step) residents, workers, and visitors to downtown streets and skyways.
·
Utilize computerized stations/kiosks to provide
skyway and street maps and directions, a directory of goods and services, lists
of events and emergency alert phones in several languages.
·
Utilize services of an “information host” to
provide additional information.
·
Increase the # of printed “orientation” signs
within skyways and coordinate their design and the information presented.
·
Enhance street-skyway connections by installing
small “Skyway Access” signs near street-level doorways.
·
Coordinate installation of Safety Alert Phone
Systems.
·
Coordinate long-term maintenance costs of the
information kiosks with the Downtown Marketing Committee.
Participants: DMNA, City of Minneapolis, Downtown Council, Downtown Marketing Committee, skyway Advisory Committee, Private business owners, GMCVA, Nicollet Mall Advisory Committee.
Resources: 1999 -
$132,000
Other funds dedicated to this program are:
·
$ 87,300
– City of
· $235,000 - Building Owner
· $ 50,000 - Downtown Marketing Committee
Purpose: Signs and kiosks
Contract
Manager: Public Works
Outcome: $132,000 was to the Minneapolis Public Works department under contract #14421 beginning August 1999 for purposes of developing a system of skyway signs, information kiosks, and safety alert phones to increase the safety people traveling through the skyways and throughout the downtown business district.
Strategy 2: Support efforts by the City of
(First Step) to conduct a comprehensive Current Parking and Traffic Study.
·
Conduct a “cordon count” of downtown
· Conduct and analysis of existing parking, proposed parking supply & demand, and parking management.
· Analyze downtown’s traffic flow to determine how Light Rail Transit (LRT) will affect residents, workers and visitors.
· Determine whether the city is obtaining optimum benefit from the current configuration of one-way and two-way streets, bus lanes and bike lanes.
Participants: DMNA, Downtown Council, Public Works, Planning Department,
Private Property Owners, TMO
Resources: No NRP funding
Other Funds:
·
125,000 City of
· 15,000 Businesses
Goal 2: Create a distinct, cohesive downtown residential neighborhood.
Objective 1: Formulate and implement comprehensive strategies for Downtown Minneapolis development planning with an emphasis on the residential environment.
Strategy 1:
(First Step)
· Work with the Minneapolis Planning Department to consolidate existing planning documents and plans (including for example Downtown 2010) into a Master Plan creating a comprehensive vision and guide for downtown neighborhood development.
· Develop and detail plan elements that are missing and/or unattended in previous plans including streetscape enhancements and neighborhood development objectives.
· Create a plan that defines, develops, preserves and enhances the downtown residential environment.
· Develop design guidelines, review and approval processes and a design review board (Patterned after the SEMI Master Plan review process)
· Develop implementation strat3egies such as capital improvement, marketing and financing plans for critical Master Plan elements.
Participants: DMNA, Planning Department, Public Works, MCDA, Downtown
Council, City Council Representatives, Additional Stakeholders
NRP
Resources: 1999- $60,000
1999-$(25,000)
re-directed in Plan Modification #1
1999-$(35,000) re-direct to Downtown
Development
Strategy 3.2.2.1, Affordable Housing Fund.
Purpose: Master Plan
Contract
Manager: Planning Department
Outcome: DMNA voted to re-direct $25,000 of these funds in Plan Modification #1 dated September 2001. These funds were re-directed to Police Buy-Back Beat and Mounted Patrols.
$35,000 is being re-directed through this plan to Downtown Development Strategy 3.2.2.1. Affordable Housing Fund.
Objective 2: Increase opportunities for affordable housing in the downtown area.
Strategy 1: Develop an affordable housing fund to provide gap funding to projects in the downtown area. Eligible projects can include:
·
Housing projects that are mixed use with at
least 20% affordable units. Funds must be applied to the affordable units.
·
Housing projects that contain 100% affordable
units.
·
Rents in affordable units must be 50% of Metro
Median Income or less.
·
Single Room Occupancy Housing developments
·
Shelter Care, Supportive Housing, and
Transitional Care facilities.
DMNA will work with MCDA to develop a Request for Proposal to solicit porposals from developers of affordable housing projects in the downtown area.
Participants: DMNA,
MCDA, Non-Profit and For- Profit developers,
Planning Department, City Councilmembers
Resources: 1999 - $
40,000
2002 - $385,447
2003 - $450,000
Purpose: Pre-Development Costs or Construction Costs.
Contract
Manager: MCDA
Section 4:
Implementation
Goal 1: Increase capacity of the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood through the NRP process.
Objective 1: Provide staff and administrative support to implement all components of the DMNA NRP Neighborhood Action Plan.
Strategy 1: Hire a DMNA NRP Implementation Coordinator and
provide
(First Step) administrative support to:
(+Full Plan)
· Assist in coordinating theater workshops for school age children
· Coordinate the “Explore the Warehouse District” program tours and promotional campaign.
· Coordinate the Word Mural signage project by researching buildings and facilitating the development of signs.
· Assist in developing and coordinating the Downtown Ambassador Program.
· Work with DMNA, MPD, CCP/SAFE to foster the greatest benefit from the downtown buy-back programs.
· Work with CCP/SAFE to promote positive images of downtown to the media.
· Carry out the administrative and organizational tasks necessary to implement the DMNA NRP Neighborhood Action Plan.
Participants: DMNA, NRP Implementation Coordinator
NRP
Resources: 1999 -
$51,000
1999 –$25,500(DMNA is redirecting $25,500 from
4.1.1.2 Housing Coordinator to this
strategy)
2002 - $ 27,000
2003 - $ 27,000
Purpose: Staff and Operating Expenses
Contract
Manager: NRP
Outcome: DMNA employed an NRP Coordinator to implement the First Step
Projects. DMNA has new office space and continues to work on
First Step implementation projects and Phase I planning efforts.
DMNA will continue its administrative efforts by redirecting the
Remaining funds from this strategy to Implementation Strategy 4.1.1.3. Neighborhood Action Plan Adminstration.
Strategy 2: Hire a DMNA NRP Housing Coordinator and provide administrative
(First Step) support to:
· Research existing housing programs and promote them to downtown neighborhood residents.
·
Provide a downtown
· Work with the downtown residents, local government and additional stakeholders to develop potential housing programs that meet the unique downtown housing needs.
Participants: DMNA, Housing Coordinator, MCDA, Planning Department
NRP
Resources: 1999 –
25,500
1999 –($25,500)
(DMNA will redirect $25,500 to
Implementation
Strategy 4.1.1.1,
Implementation
Coordinator)
Purpose: Housing Issues
Contract
Manager: NRP
Outcome: All funds in this strategy will be re-directed.