Mobile Mushrooms
Lepp and Barkley decided to conduct the study to see whether using cellphones — despite their portability —shared the same ties to inactivity as playing traditional video games and watching TV....
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A Bold Vision for a Downtown Park and a More Beautiful City
The great mayor of Charleston, Joe Riley, likes to say “there is no reason to build anything that won’t add to the beauty of the city.” Inspiring words. It behooves the Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T....
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Let’s Get the Urban Details Right in Downtown East
On our way to the ceremony unveiling the plan for the five-block Star Tribune property in Downtown East, my son Shaw and I got off the train at the Downtown East/Metrodome station and I was asked...
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CNU 21 Dispatch 1 – Return to Daybreak
It has been seven years since this urbanist last visited Daybreak. In 2006 I wrote an article for ULI (you may have heard of it). At that time Daybreak was a few hundred homes, a school and the idea of...
View ArticleCNU 21 Dispatch 2 – Tactical (New) Urbanism
Two years ago at CNU 19 in Madison, a couple of guys named Mike Lydon and Andrew Howard presented something called “tactical urbanism.” It sounded good – without necessarily asking for permission, you...
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The Zoning Battle Over Al’s Breakfast – A Form Based Code With a Side of Bacon
“Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?” – Leslie Knope “People are idiots, Leslie.” – Ron Swanson When I heard Al’s might get redeveloped, I thought the end of the bearkfast world...
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Victory in the Battle for the OK Bike Corral
This past Friday, after considerable haggling, some crossed wires and some interesting negotiations with the City of Minneapolis, the Northbound received their encroachment permit and installed their...
View ArticleA Few Questions for Hennepin County About Minnehaha Avenue
After attending last week’s meeting hosted by Hennepin County regarding the reconstruction of Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis, I have a few questions. First question. Designs shown at the meeting...
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How to Improve the Urbanism of the New Vikings Stadium
The Stadium Implementation Committee meets July 18 and several more times in to September to advise on key design decisions related to the new Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis. This post is...
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Accidental Traffic Calming in the Neighborhood
Here’s a riddle. How do you calm traffic legally but without having to go through city hall? You have two options: have a road reconstruction project; or a major storm that knocks trees down and blocks...
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Don’t Overthink Good Urbanism on Nicollet Mall
The City of Minneapolis is promising to spend a lot of money on some critical pieces of downtown infrastructure. The new Vikings Stadium and Downtown East area, Peavey Plaza, Nicollet Mall all are...
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We Have the Plans, Now to Get the Development Right in Downtown East
The winner of the 2013 Urban Land Institute/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition for the downtown east area of Minneapolis has been chosen. But with existing plans in place and potential...
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You Might Be in a Walkable Neighborhood
More apologies to Jeff Foxworthy… …If the restaurants post their menus in the window, you might be in a walkable neighborhood If streets are used for more than cars, you might be in a walkable...
View ArticleBikes and Businesses Must Unite
Like the Streets.mn Voter Guide, the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition has posted answers to bicycling related questions posed to city council and mayoral candidates. Question six asks “when would you vote...
View ArticleWe Need Transit and the Urbanism that Surrounds It
Kate Wolford’s Star Tribune commentary calling for more transit was spot on. Our peer cities (Denver, Portland, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, hell, even St. Louis!) are ahead of us in terms of built rail...
View ArticleDear Hennepin County
Thank you for your response. I’m sure citizens and voters will take these in to consideration and get back to you with additional questions regarding the reconstruction of Minnehaha Avenue. And I see...
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Creating Authenticity – Can it be Done?
How do developers create authenticity and community? It is a big question, and increasingly important, since apartment vacancy won’t remain below 3% forever and apartment developer/owners will have to...
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A Minnehaha Avenue for All
A rebuilt Minnehaha Avenue can be a street that benefits residents and businesses. Another set of public meetings is happening next week, where Hennepin County will present revised designs for the...
View ArticleVote No for Mayor of Minneapolis
I kid, but only sort of. Not a single candidate at the Mayor’s forum yesterday convinced me Minneapolis is ready to move from good to great urban design. The forum, sponsored by AIA Minnesota and ULI...
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An Urban Review of the New Downtown Whole Foods
Walkable urban grocery stores are a critical component of great cities. While Minneapolis has a number of grocery stores in varying degrees of urbanity and walkability, Lunds in northeast Minneapolis...
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