August 26th marked the 50th anniversary of the Minneapolis Skyway System, and Lindeke gives readers a history lesson of the skyway design, going all the way back to the 1880's and the first elevated sidewalks and pedestrian bridges.
Lindeke traces Minneapolis's system to the genesis of the city's planning department in the late 1950s, and their vision for "preserviong the future of downtown." In a 1959 plan, "second-level walks" are introduced as a means to improve transportation and reduce congestion. According to Lindeke, "the 1959 plan is sanguine about skyways. Not only would they move faster, they'd lead healthier lives. As the plan states, 'persons in the central area will gain a more relaxed attitude which will presumably add to their efficiency and improve their general well-being and attitude toward life. Since there are so many of them, this could have a salutary effect on the whole city.' Second-level walks were the urban equivalent of Prozac."
These skyways have since become a staple design in the city, from the initial span crossing Marquette Avenue in 1962, through the 80's building boom and into present day. But Lindeke offers sharp criticism, begging the question of whether skyways are "one of the main things casting a dark shadow on a potential downtown renaissance."
Lindeke touts his belief that although the design was intended to improve the downtown core, it's actually hurting itself. "The density and diversity of a downtown sidewalk is pretty much what defines a city, and Minneapolis is missing out."
