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

• For all places (Superior and Michigan Streets and Lake Place
Park), support continued investment and attention to creating
a 24-hour sense of security that allows pedestrians of all kinds
to move freely without fearing that they will be approached,
solicited, or intimidated. Successful urbanism means no one
person or single group can get away with claiming “ownership”
of a sidewalk or a park where all people belong at any time,
if they are behaving. Longer-term improvement should focus
on continuing city efforts to attract new building investments
and activate storefronts that feature a diversity of businesses.
Creating that 24-hour sense of security should also be part of
the design and configuration of public spaces and the connecti
between them.
The recommendation for the Superior Street Art Node was to
prepare an aggressive urban design and implementation plan that
would establish a more clear and commanding relationship and
connection (discussed in the section on connectivity below) between
the street and the lake. The view of the lake is unnecessarily
obstructed at too many points, and there are way too few (and too
timid) places where the street opens up prominently to the lake
(also true for Canal Park).
Credit: thecycler.net
New York City’s High Line (above) is transforming an
abandoned elevated railroad trestle into green connecting paths.
A Duluth plan developed by LHB, Inc., (illustrated below)
would provide greater connectivity between Superior Street and
the lake by filling in a vacant lot in order to improve the Lake
Avenue overpass.
Connectivity
The Duluth Creative Corridor is all about connectivity for all
modes – walking, biking, driving, or using transit. All modes should enjoy seamless connections between
downtown to the lake, downtown to the campuses, and students to the downtown and on to the lake. Those
same connections are required to and between the arts nodes. Other important connections are regional ones,
calling attention to the importance of the proposed passenger rail service, the Northern Lights Express (NLX
for short), between Duluth and the Twin Cities. That link could also spur revitalization around the Union Depot.
The panel gave particular attention to creating greater connectivity between Superior Street and the lake. They
developed recommendations for both short- and long-term strategies.
Short-Term: Strengthen the physical and visual connections to the Lake, DECC, and Lake Place Park.
• Replace tall vegetation and evergreen trees that obstruct viewsheds with lower, more appropriate landscaping
to improve views of the lake and improve visibility and eyes on the park.
• Take advantage of backs of buildings in creating an appealing urban experience along the Lakewalk. The
High Line in New York City represents a good model for creating an attractive
“green” pedestrian experience along a former elevated rail line that backs up to urban buildings.
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