A case study in how New Urbanist principles helped transform the neighborhood around the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Chris Iverson begins a post describing the success of New Urbanism in Minneapolis by noting auto-oriented state of the neighborhoods around the University of Minnesota in 2006, when he first visited the area and noted the ability to drive through campus in a rental car while some 100 students waited to cross the street.
Iverson writes, however, of a new dynamic:
"Oh, how the times have changed for the better, especially around Minnesota’s Big Ten college. And even more specifically, how they have changed for Stadium Village & the Washington Avenue strip, a previously vehicle-torched, heavily overlooked faux-entertainment district into the poster child of New Urbanist principles within the entire state of Minnesota."
The article breaks down the evolution into periods of time, starting before 2009 with investments in retail offerings along Washington Avenue and the planning process for the Central Corridor (Green Line) light rail line to campus. Next, Iverson describes "the boom" of 2009-2014, when TCF Bank Stadium opened, mixed-use student housing opened at a brisk pace, and construction began on the Green Line. Iverson describes 2014-present as "New Urbanism Realized," with pedestrian, bike, and transit modes now safe and popular options and light rail ridership exceeding expectations.
The article concludes with a plea for more partnerships between the private, public, and institutional sectors to effect more changes such as those illustrated in the article in other parts of the city and state.
FULL STORY: Stadium Village is Minnesota’s Best New Urbanism
Better Streets Include Transit
Dan Reed examines the Green Line in Minneapolis near the campus of the University of Minnesota as a case study of how transit can improve streets.
Twin Cities Light Rail Cuts Overnight Service, Displaces Hundreds of Homeless Riders
Homeless and working class riders won't have the shelter and mobility offered by Green Line trains in the Twin Cities, as Metro Transit cuts overnight service.
Overnight Light-Rail Service on the Chopping Block Between the Twin Cities
Since 2014, it's been possible to catch a train every hour between 2 am and 4 am on the Green Line connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul. A proposal under consideration at Metro Transit would end late night service,
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Mapping Sidewalks for Improved Connectivity
A new tool uses aerial image recognition to map a city’s sidewalks and crosswalks. Its developers hope it will aid in creating a more comprehensive understanding of pedestrian networks and where improvements are needed.
Long Beach Residents Oppose Proposed Homeless Services Hub Near Rail Terminus
L.A. Metro’s “end-of-the-line” policy forces people experiencing homeless off transit every night at the same time and location. A proposed hub would provide services a few stops before the end of the line in Long Beach.
The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement
Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
