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

Provide for a Variety of Housing Types and Goals
• Set some aggressive and quantifiable new housing goals for the Duluth Creative Corridor, and align civic
investments to accomplish those goals. That should include income diversity goals. Currently there are very
limited middle- and upper- middle-income products and residents; changing that should be a primary focus,
especially for new construction.
• Identify niche markets. For example, universities need to think about housing that can serve increasing
numbers of tourists in the summer. Student populations are also composed of niche markets: including
families who might invest in a property while their son or daughter attends school, graduate students,
medical students, married students, international students with different cultural and religious backgrounds,
and professional and graduate students (all of whom have different budgets, housing needs, and preferred
amenities). Also consider kiddie condos as a unique offering – they can be rented to tourists in the summer,
provide significant value through second home tax breaks, and create equity growth during the holding
period. Properly structured, the approach can also help make higher education more affordable. Recruit the
current student housing developer to create a new urban-style student housing node closer to the downtown;
extending the bus shuttle system to include the new housing (provide incentives if necessary) should
be a part of the package.
• Recognize the typical evolution of downtown housing in smaller Midwest cities – young men and students
(and sometimes artists/creative class types) in the first wave followed by young couples followed by young
women followed by empty nesters. Renting condominium units for at least five years and then putting them
up for sale can also be a good product for that market if the units are designed accordingly.Recognize that
housing initiatives led by affordable housing agencies are often perceived as “low income” even when they
are not, and that will impact market interest and absorption. The Creative Corridor concept will require a
mix of housing types and market niches that can deliver a variety of options for the market-rate housing
that is currently lacking and can blend with affordable and workforce housing.
Recognize and Capitalize on the Advantage of “Location, Location”
• Being able to touch the water, conveniently go boating,
walk to interesting places, and people-watch a
diverse group of neighbors every day is a significant
amenity that accompanies living in the corridor.
• Make sure new housing projects have great views,
even if that occasionally means removing a few trees
(you can transplant those trees or plant new ones in
alternative locations that do not impact viewsheds).
Views from the hillsides of the shipping and boating
activities are particularly important. A “room with a
view” is in demand year-round, through all seasons.
Views of the lake are an asset that should be emphasized when promoting living
in Duluth – and a signature feature of new housing developments.
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