Northfield Downtown Development Corporation

More than a few people have suggested to me that maybe I should get a life. The energy and enthusiasm I devote to things like bike racks and way-finding signage strikes them as a bit over the edge. They’ll be recommending that I seek professional help after reading this latest post.

It’s about freshly painted crosswalks and parking spaces. A few years ago, the NDDC’s E R Team made a request to the then City Engineer, Heidi Hamilton, that the annual “spring cleaning”, including repainting the crosswalks and parking spaces, be performed at the beginning of our season of visitors. She turned to newly-hired staff person (and now Director of Public Services) Joel Walinski and he said, without hesitation, “We can do that”.

Well, Joel did it. And he continues, with his team, to get it done, every year, before the visitors arrive. Pictured is the corner of Washington and 4th, about 7 am this morning, May 21st, with a fresh coat of paint. St. Olaf’s Celebration Weekend is May 23rd through 25th, Northfield High School’s Graduation is May 31st, and Carleton’s Commencement Weekend is June 14th.

So, here’s a Big Downtown Northfield Thanks to Joel Walinski and his team at the City of Northfield. Working together we’ll sustain our vibrant and vital downtown.

As many of you know, I have a great fondness, some might say obsession, for artistic business signs, or, as I call them, sculptural signs. Therefore, I celebrate each new example of this art form that is installed in downtown.

This morning I noticed a new one. It’s for Monarch, at 405 Division Street. I think it’s really beautiful and, at the very least, quite colorful.

Not only is the main sign over the store sculptural, with a three-dimensional butterfly, but there’s another addition to our commercial streetscape. They’ve included a smaller sign that hangs perpendicular to the building that you’ll notice in the lower left of the photograph. I really love this type of sign; in my mind, they signal economic vitality from a block away.

So come on down(town) and check out Monarch’s new sign. Maybe stop on in and thank them for adding to the aesthetic appeal of our authentic shopping district.

Grateful customers, friends, neighbors, and citizens will gather in the Lansing Hardware parking lot to help Lee and David lock their doors for the last time. There will be grilling, greeting, jokes and music, as well as a brief ceremony this Wednesday evening, April 30, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, to celebrate their years of good service to Northfielders.

Lansing opened in their first downtown location in 1974. After a couple of moves, they ended up in their present location, renovating the building in 1982, and creating an attractive, long-time anchor to the southern end of downtown Northfield.

Lee talked about adapting to the economic changes over the years, selling shotguns and appliances when they first opened and eventually settling into hardware and garden supplies. At their peak, they employed 30 to 35 people and served about 200,000 customers per year. At least one of their employees has been with them for over thirty years.

David spoke fondly of their connection to youth, both through employment and supporting activities and events in the community. Over the years he figures that about 650 local youth have worked at Lansing, usually for two or three years, and, in a few cases, more than one generation of a family.

So come on down(town) and help Lee and David close down the hardware store one last time. See your friends and neighbors, have a bite to eat, a little fun, and recognize the Lansing Family’s many contributions to the community.

This Thursday, May 1st, students from both St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges will be coming downtown.

It’s the annual Spring Walk, a recognition that the end of the school year is quickly approaching.

The students will be taking in the sights and enjoying the offerings of downtown businesses from 5 to 11 pm.

So roll out some extra pizzas.

Almost two dozen downtown stakeholders attended a quickly assembled Special Block Head Gathering this morning at the Rueb-N-Stein. The topics could be categorized as relating to quality of life and included cleanliness, respect, safety, and friendliness.

The meeting was called by City Councilor Jim Pokorney and NDDC VP Joe Grundhoefer in response to recent experiences of graffiti and vandalism in downtown. Captain Mark Taylor of the Northfield Police Department was on hand as a resource and advisor. The examples brought up included rowdiness, noise, security, and mischief. Potential causes touched on inadequate lighting, insufficient patrols, poor visibility, and cheap beer. Current solutions shared mentioned calling the police dispatcher, calling the college deans, working with The Key, and the Police Department’s planned increase in foot and bike patrols.

We then moved on to possible additional steps to be taken. Joe Grundhoefer and Norman Butler are going to talk with other pub owners about tried and true ideas that they’ve developed over the years. Mark Taylor will be implementing the stepped-up patrols as early as this weekend. Jim Pokorney and Mark Taylor are going to work together on additional lighting and, potentially, surveillance cameras. Jim Pokorney is also going to check on extending the hours that key lights are kept on in priority areas. Josh Hinnenkamp and Judy Code are going to work together on intergenerational investments in infrastructure, believing that good activity drives out bad activity. Roger Kelm, Jim Pokorney and Mark Taylor are going to explore the “Citizens On Patrol” concept; Dean Kjerland, Norman Butler and Victor Summa offered to help. Mary Rossing urged everyone to share their stories about the costs of vandalism and advocated that all of us should work to form constructive relationships with the many different type of people that visit downtown. Finally, Jim Pokorney and I will develop and introduce a Code of Conduct for downtown…and the rest of the community.

It was great to have that many people show up on such short notice to discuss these issues. It will be even better to begin implementing some of the ideas raised.