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

espond to some approaches, and vacationing families to others. It
will be important to identify those market niches and design a distinct
marketing approach for each. A strong place identity (whether
one or several) can be marketed in distinctive, fine-tuned ads targeting
each of those market segments and other market niches.
Planning, Urban Design, and Connectivity
Like its observations on progress, the panel’s comments about
obstacles and potential opportunities are organized around the
focus of its recommendations: promoting urban living, a creative
culture, and greater connectivity from the Hillside campuses to the
downtown and waterfront area. Challenges related to planning and
urban design include the need to:
Strategies for Lake Place Plaza should address the big hole
between it and Superior Street (above). They also need to
address the trees that obstruct views of the park (top image
below) and change its out-of-date design that attracts vagrants
and illicit activity (bottom image below).
Address the amount of surface parking in Canal Park: The dominant
land use in Canal Park is surface parking, and that is limiting its
full potential as a destination. Parking is a fundamental necessity;
surface parking lots are not. A parking management plan and longterm
strategy to convert surface lots to structured parking concealed
within blocks and introduce centralized valet systems can
unlock a much greater development potential for Canal Park that
will build on and enhance the existing assets.
Refine the form-based districts in the Unified Development Code and advance
Complete Streets plans: The form-based districts in the Unified Development
Code need refinements (discussed in Recommendations),
and new developments that visually demonstrate the code’s benefits
will help communicate new opportunities. That will take courage
and political will. Also important is advancing the Complete
Streets policy, which seems to have slowed down.
Pay attention to the design of the Downtown Multi-Modal Transportation
Terminal and passenger rail links: To ensure its future success, the terminal design should be more clearly articulated
and the focus of rigorous planning. Multi-modal centers can be great urban assets, but they often suffer
from inadequate urban design due in part to overcompensating traffic infrastructure to service the flow of
automobiles in and out of the center rather than emphasizing the seamless connection for pedestrians between
the center and transit. The terminal should incorporate elements of the urban architecture and urban design
features from the best examples of multi-modal centers. Complementary to the terminal is implementing a viable
passenger rail link to the Twin Cities that will help attract more residents, businesses, visitors, and students.
Activate empty storefronts: Vacant or uninteresting storefronts significantly reduce the walkability of a number
of pedestrian pathways. While traditional retail may not return in the short term, other solutions are needed
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