Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

Bike racks, trash receptacles, street striping…how low can I go on the civic investment “to-do” list?

Don’t ever underestimate me.

Try to imagine my unbridled joy when I saw City of Northfield crews filling potholes in downtown the other morning. Let me help to stimulate your imagination.

Personally, I believe that unaddressed potholes are the harbingers of the decline and fall of civilization as we know it. Seeing these guys fill the potholes renewed my sense of hope in our community’s future.

Thanks again to Joel Walinski and his team at the City of Northfield.

One of the most exciting things that the Northfield Garden Club announced (as part of their Northfield In Bloom initiative) at the NDDC’s April Forum was their plan to place flower boxes on the Pedestrian Bridge. I thought it would be a symbolic, but vibrantly visual, uniting of the east and west sides of the river.

Well, they’ve done it. Not that anyone who has met with these folks would think that they move slowly. However, it was a real treat as we were walking around Bridge Square this morning, planning placement for elements of the Taste of Northfield, to see the flowers down river.

It’s only the beginning…of all the beautification projects and celebratory events planned for Downtown Northfield this summer. So come on down(town) and share in the visual treats and fun activities. Everyone is not only welcome but appreciated…

…in Downtown Northfield.

Six more bike racks were installed in Downtown yesterday. It was perfect timing as the sunny skies beckoned fair-weather bike commuters (like myself) to take the two-wheel option to work.

The racks have actually been in Northfield since last year but scheduling challenges delayed their installation. Additional bike racks are to arrive this year, which is a really good thing as at least a half dozen building and business owners were requesting them yesterday afternoon. With two colleges, many green-thinking citizens, and the rising price of gas, more bike racks are definitely appreciated.

I’ve worked hard to tame my obsession with bike racks. I just think that they’re necessary for much of our citizenry, greatly contribute to “managing” the bike parking in downtown, and, with the particular type that Northfield selected, aesthetically pleasing.

Many thanks to the City of Northfield’s Public Services Director, Joel Walinski, and his excellent crew. It’s just one of the many things they do to help make downtown a great place to work, live and play.

The recently completed 3rd Street and Highway 3 project, also known as the Horseshoe Parking Lot Screening, is a sign of bigger things to come. The proposed 5th and Water Street Reconstruction Project could be ten times as large.

Both projects are just more recent examples of the on-going Streetscape Plan, work financed by residuals generated by the Downtown TIF District. According to state law, money generated in the district must be spent in the district. The City worked with a variety of consultants and gathered input from local stakeholders in a year-long process to develop an overall plan for this substantial program.

Learn more about the 5th and Water Street Reconstruction Project and future Streetscape Plans at the upcoming Forum.

City of Northfield in co-operation with

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation will hold a

Informational Workshop to discuss

the 5^th and Water Street Reconstruction Project on:

Tuesday November 6^th, 2007 from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM during the

NDDC Meeting at the Archer House

As always, coffee and cookies will be served.

The first in what is scheduled to be a series of wayfinding signs in Northfield has arrived. It was installed on 4th Street, just up the hill from Division Street, on the south side of the First National Bank building.

A little over four years ago, the NDDC’s Action Squad made a presentation to the City Council on recommendations for public investments that would stimulate economic vitality. One of the suggestions was wayfinding signage. Many of these ideas were incorporated into the city’s Streetscape Plan. As NDDC President Dan Bergeson stated at yesterday’s annual planning retreat, this type of work requires great patience.

This morning there was an ad hoc review and discussion of the new sign, in the alley officially known as Grastvedt Lane, between Councilor Jim Pokorney, NDDC Treasurer Dave Shumway and myself. We were thinking that this might not be the final sign but rather an experimental prototype. Jim suggested that there will be another one going up at the “horseshoe parking lot” at the corner of 3rd Street and Highway 3. Both signs are intended to stimulate feedback before the series is completed.

So check out the sign, or signs, and offer feedback. You can call Joel Walinski at the City of Northfield, catch Jim Pokorney behind Blue Monday, or comment on this website. All of us are interested and will continue to discuss the sign. I’ll admit that I’m pretty excited about it.

By the way, bike racks and benches are coming soon!