Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

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!

Keith Covey, NDDC Board Officer and former Mayor of Northfield, is our member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Downtown Streetscape Projects. There’ve been many questions about the projects scheduled for this year and we’ve been promising an update on our website.

Here’s Keith’s comment to me: “Ross, I don’t know how you can summarize and blog this, but have at it.” Well Keith, I’m not going to try to summarize it, I’ll just blog it. It’s admittedly long, so read on, interested stakeholder, read on.

1. DECORATIVE PARKING LOT BUFFER RAILING (2007): The City will install a sample of proposed “standard” stone screen wall and railing to screen public parking lot at NE corner of 3rd St. and Hwy 3 (pictured). This will also be a location for one of the way-finding signage units. The committee strongly recommended that the wall be real limestone on both sides, not concrete block on the “back,” because there is essentially no “back” at this site.

2. 5TH AND WATER TO BRIDGE SQUARE (2008): The redesign concept has been approved by the council, but everyone recognizes that compromise will be needed because of cost. Construction is scheduled for 2008, coordinated with 5th street rebuild from Water to Washington. At the committee’s urging, staff and consultants agreed to bring to next meeting a broad-brush cost breakdown comparing major elements of this project with a Washington Street parking deck, so we can evaluate the cost and value of each piece and consider what to keep, what to cut and what to postpone to a later phase.

3. WAYFINDING (2007 & 2008): Design looks good. Locations: 5 signs on Hwy 3 at 5th, 3rd and 2nd, scaled to be readable from a moving car; 7 on downtown corners at pedestrian scale. There will be undesignated panels that maybe used to promote businesses. A full scale mock-up will be set up and reviewed before fabrication. If that goes well, at least some of the signs will be installed this summer.

4. PAVER CROSSWALKS (2007): 3rd Street crossing (at the Library Plaza) is scheduled to start inearly July. Some dissatisfaction was expressed about the pavers — they are durable but don’t look “authentic.” (The 2008 5th St project currently includes paver crosswalks at Division and Water.) Staff and consultants agreed to to review the idea and the material with the committee before 2008 projects are engineered.

5. BENCHES, PLANTERS AND (?) CORRALS (2007): Staff agreed to order 5 more benches and 5 bike racks. I’m to send the list of those who already have requested them to Joel. Several of us raised the newspaper dispenser corral question. As I anticipated, this is more complex than it may appear, including the need for an ordinance.

6. DOWNTOWN LIGHTING STUDY (2007?): The committee urged staff and consultants to proceed with this; the current system is wearing out and there are now several styles in the general downtown area. Also see Item 7.

7. STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS (Design-2007): Some standardized design details and specifications for walks, curbs, street trees, landscaping and lighting need to be worked out and approved before engineering is completed for the 5th Street project.

8. RIVERWALK TRAIL CONNECTION (2007): In conjunction with construction of the pedestrian bridge at the future trailhead behind Walgreen’s, the City plans to extend the trail from Riverside Park along the river bank behind River Park Mall, Just Foods and the corner building to Fifth Street. This hasn’t quite cleared DNR yet, but indications are positive. As a result it may not get done until 2008.

9. RIVERWALK PEDESTRIAN RAMP AT “BYZANTINE SITE” (2007?): Design and land acquisition are scheduled for a ramp between the existing riverwalk and the SW bridgehead at 2nd Street.

10.MALT-O-MEAL DAM RE-BUILD (Construction-2008): This is a joint project, with Malt-O-Meal redoing the dam and the City redoing the east headwall and railings. A cantilevered observation platform is currently part of this plan.