Final Progress Advisory Panel Report - Knight Program in ...

• The greater acceptance and growing support for
historic preservation as a form of public art. This
includes the creation of the Downtown Historic
District and availability of matching state historic tax
credits, both of which have helped create new interest
in investing in Duluth’s historic buildings.
• Use of space by creative sector businesses in many
buildings downtown (typically space behind and/or
above empty shopfronts). Examples include graphic
design, web, and architectural/engineering firms.
• Robust discussions are under way regarding arts
partnerships with the UMD, and it seems likely that
some UMD programs will begin to become active in
The strong demand for housing is evident in the renovation of Fire House No.
the downtown and the Duluth Creative Corridor. In 1 for housing.
addition, UMD Arts faculty members are actively engaged, and student activities are likely to expand going
forward.
Housing
The past six years have seen a significant increase in the development of housing in and near the downtown
and in the Hillside neighborhoods, demonstrating a strong demand for close-in living. That is especially remarkable
given the state of the economy over the last several years.
One particularly promising area is the market for off-campus student housing. The student population is
showing more interest in living off campus and using transit. That is encouraging given the growth in student
population. According to the City of Duluth’s most recent Housing Indicator Report (released April 24, 2012),
the student population of the three major higher education institutions’ (UMD Duluth, College of Saint Scholastica,
and Lake Superior College) grew by 29 percent since the 2009-2010 school year. As noted in the report,
“The number of students has grown to over 23,000, making this an important demographic for the City of
Duluth.”
Several successful new student housing projects have been developed (although they are outside the study
area), and strong transit ridership by college and university students indicates a desire to live an urban, affordable,
and green/sustainable lifestyle. Transit, biking, walking, and car sharing programs also provide essential
support for downtown lifestyle choices. Car sharing (e.g., “Zipcar”) programs have also been successfully
implemented in downtowns and college campuses around the U.S., including the University of Miami.
Two recent market analyses reached slightly different conclusions about the exact nature of demand for offcampus
student housing. The Danter Company student housing study concluded there is significant demand
for student rental housing in east Hillside locations as part of the Armory Arts and Music Center/Plaza
Mixed-Use District Plan in the East Hillside neighborhood. A more recent study completed as part of the
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