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

Conclusions
Duluth is the right city at the right time. In today’s global knowledge
economy, it’s all about distinctive, walkable urban places
attracting and retaining top talent. And that is exactly what Duluth
has to offer and what its next bold act – creating the Duluth Creative
Corridor – seeks to secure.
The tailwind to capture: Today’s companies want to be where they
can find and retain talented, creative employees, which means that
place-making is an essential component of any economic development
toolbox. And that workforce works where they want to
live and that is in cities that offer an exciting and interesting urban
environment – the connected walkable places where they can live
close to work and have convenient access to education, the arts,
transit, great outdoor spaces, and good shopping, dining, and gathering
places. As economist Chris Leinberger points out in a Brookings
Institution article, “The Next Real Estate Boom,” 1 the next
economic engine is providing the places that consumers coming
out of the recent great recession want: “homes in central cities and
closer-in suburbs where one can walk to stores and mass transit….”
That is exactly the vision for the Duluth Creative Corridor.
“Downtown Duluth has it all. The
exceptional accomplishments over the last
six years are impressive and are creating
an incredibly desirable place to live and
invest in. The creation of the Duluth
Creative Corridor will be that next big
push that makes the difference.”
The Progress Advisory Panel
A remarkable foundation of progress to build on: The creation
of the Duluth Creative Corridor builds on and expands the city’s The Duluth Creative Corridor Vision -- A place where
residents, visitors, and employers want to be: a cohesive,
exceptional accomplishments since the 2005 charrette. Those
walkable urban place that contains and connects an interesting
mix of arts, culture, and entertainment along with great
efforts have advanced the charrette principles that focus on the
public spaces (large and small) and all types of housing (for all
incomes and stages, including students, artists, empty nesters,
uniqueness of place, walkability, connectivity, a mix of housing
recent grads, and seasonal visitors). It is also a place that offers
choices, a great public realm, and protection (and restoration) of
a spectacular view of – and connections to – beautiful Lake
Superior.
the city’s distinctive heritage and urban ecology, its neighborhoods,
corridors, and downtown. Important accomplishments include the adoption of form-based districts in the
new Unified Development Code, progress in building a new spirit of cooperation between UMD and the city,
growing a creative culture, creating a safer public realm during the day, and increasing the demand for close-in
urban living. Most notable, and the underpinning of all the other (past and future) successes, is the strong consistent
leadership and spirit of partnership that was demonstrated in the 2005 charrette and Charrette Stewardship
Group and continues today.
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