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

The Duluth Creative Corridor Recommendations:
“Duluth is sometimes called the ‘San
‣ Arts and Economic Development – Treat arts (visual and Francisco of the Midwest’ because of
performance) as a retail and entertainment anchor; create places its dramatic topography, proximity to
Lake Superior, and abundance of
where artists can live and work and, in the process, liven up the
historic architecture in its downtown
street. Cluster arts and synergistic residences, retail, and educational
and surrounding neighborhoods. This,
facilities in nodes to maximize the economic spinoff, and use combined with its location in the northern
public art and signage to connect nodes. Partner with area institutions
(UMD is a good place to start) to add to the arts mix.
alpine wilderness, gives it a distinctive
character among small U.S. cities. The
charrette team was inspired by Duluth’s
‣ Housing – Add more market-rate housing and get the word
stunning geographic setting juxtaposed
with the traditional urban fabric imposed
out about the fun and sophisticated living options in and near
on the landscape.”
the downtown. Duluth’s economic and downtown development
groups all need to help tell the story in addition to investing in
The 2005 Duluth Knight Program in
Community Building Charrette Report
making the Duluth Creative Corridor work even better as a regional
economic engine. The city and its partners should set quantifiable
goals, provide the incentives to achieve them, and document
successes.
Core Elements of the Duluth
Creative Corridor
‣ Institutional Partnerships – Capitalize on the presence of the
• Arts and Economic
Development
anchor institutions, including hospitals, colleges, and universities, • Housing
• Institutional Partnerships
that provide two of the essential amenities (access to good health • Marketing
care and education) and are always top drivers in the “best place • Planning, Urban Design, and
Connectivity (the design details of the
to live” studies and reports. Four critical “to dos” are (1) create
Duluth Creative Corridor)
joint campus/neighborhood-friendly plans; (2) provide incentives
for employees to live near where they work (a household moneysaver);
• Leadership
(3) encourage students to volunteer and live in the corridor; and (4) invest in improving the off-campus
environment in partnership with the city, Duluth LISC, GDC, and others.
‣ Marketing – Strengthen and tell the Duluth story, but not just in the Midwest. Duluth is ready to compete
with great urban places like Boulder and Asheville that are meccas for young creatives and outdoor enthusiasts.
The identification and study of peer communities such as those and others can inform Duluth’s efforts
and provide valuable insights into how communities of similar size and resources capitalize on their unique
assets and strengths to compete. With its spectacular shoreline, dramatic topography, the Canal Park area, connections
to northern vacation destinations, and burgeoning downtown nightlife and arts scene, Duluth has the
natural and urban livability assets to become a national destination.
‣ Planning, Urban Design, and Connectivity – Adapt existing codes and adopt new regulations and review
procedures that support and actively facilitate the realization of the Duluth Creative Corridor (treating street
design in a context-based manner, for example). Great cities are defined by great streets. Connect the Hillside
campuses physically, visually, psychologically, and through branding efforts to the downtown and waterfront
as one seamless, walkable urban living area and invest in making Superior Street a cultural hot spot and a great
street of urban stature.
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