Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

Trying to cross Highway 3 to grab a burger at the Quarterback Club can be more of an adventure than you might like for lunch, although I think the customers would attest that it’s well worth the trip. Dan Bergeson brings up a good point about the need for light at that 3rd Street intersection.

…and speaking of key intersections, one block away, at 2nd Street and Highway 3, we have one of the most essential connections between the east side and west side of our community. It is where the majority of pedestrians and bicyclists cross to get to the other side of town.

It is also the “gateway” to Northfield if you’re coming south on Highway 3. It therefore gives that first impression of our town if you’re a new visitor.

Have you taken a close look at the four corners of that intersection lately?

Northfield.org carried an announcement this morning that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDot) has decided to make the intersection of Jefferson Parkway and south Division Street (in the middle of the complex of public schools on the southern edge of town) a four-way stop. The decision to do this (or not) is entirely MnDots call since this stretch of road is also a state highway (246). This is terrific news for everyone.

Another change that would immediately benefit
pedestrians,downtown Northfield businesses, and drivers on West Third Street would be the installation of stoplights at the intersection of HWY 3 and West Third. On numerous occasions weve suggested to City staff and City Councillors that they pressure MnDot to include this in the HWY 3 improvement project scheduled to take place during 2005 and 2006.

The plans for that intersection call for electrical wiring to be stubbed in for possible future use, but not to install lights because there arent enough east-west warrants (vehicle trips) at the intersection. Our contention is that West Third is a major entrance to downtown Northfield that should be strengthened and made more secure. At the present time its impossible for pedestrians or cyclists to cross at this intersection. There are those brave souls who try and its only a matter of time before someone is tragically injured at this unsafe crossing.

With the news of MnDots change of heart on HWY 246, maybe theres hope for HWY 3. Why not share your feelings with them if you support this idea?

A Brief History of the Block Head Organizing Project

There had been talk of organizing the downtown owners going back to the summer of 03. A comparison was made to urban neighborhoods, where folks formed Block Clubs to keep each other informed about important challenges and opportunities in the community.

Then in January 04, we had a big snow. There was much discussion about working together to get the snow cleared so that the downtown district could be as well shoveled and plowed as Target. The concept was captured by a comparison to a townhome ASSOCIATION, where everyone chips in a little and the snow is removed from everyones property.
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