Duluth’s Imagine Downtown Plan is moving into its implementation phase, with community leaders focusing on housing, homelessness, business development and improvements to public spaces as priorities for the city’s downtown.
The plan, developed through community input and working groups, was laid out at a presentation at Greysolon Ballroom the morning of Thursday, Aug. 27. The plan identifies four major areas of focus: housing; economic development and business attraction and retention; public space improvement; and addressing homelessness.
Mayor Roger Reinert told a gathering of downtown stakeholders that the work will require broad community participation — including property and business owners who are committed to improving the downtown.
“We have to have folks that care,” he said, describing downtown as the heart of Duluth and a major economic engine for northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
Reinert said downtown’s importance extends beyond quality of life. Its businesses and properties contribute significantly to the tax base supporting both the city and St. Louis County.
The implementation effort will be led by JL Herbert, a new project manager with a background in community engagement and community development. She said the 64-page plan represents a starting point for the groups now responsible for putting its recommendations into action.
One of the most ambitious goals is housing. The housing working group hopes to create 1,500 new residential units downtown through a mix of housing types and development sites.
Sean Floerke of Boreal Waters Community Foundation said a proposed development corporation could help make that goal possible by assembling “patient capital” and guiding investment toward projects that create neighborhoods rather than simply maximizing the number of units.
The goal, he said, should include ownership and rental housing across a range of price points, as well as senior housing and developments designed around walkability, green space and a sense of community.
“Build, build, build across the spectrum,” he said.
Housing advocates also outlined a major restructuring of homeless services downtown through a collaboration among Union Gospel Mission, Damiano Center and CHUM.
Katie Hagglund, Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission but speaking for the Pathway Forward collaboration, said homelessness in the local community has increased 41% in the past decade, while chronic homelessness has increased 157%. Affordable housing vacancy is about 1.1%, while 5% is the norm, she said.
The three organizations are planning a coordinated system designed to make it easier for people experiencing homelessness to access shelter, outreach, medical services and ultimately housing.
Under the planned changes, CHUM would offer seven private or semiprivate bedrooms designed for people transitioning toward permanent housing. Damiano Center would operate 120 congregate shelter beds, while Union Gospel Mission would eventually become a downtown triage and warming-center location.
The business development group, meanwhile, is surveying downtown businesses to determine what support they need. Leaders also hope to revive downtown business pop-ups and identify spaces that could serve as business incubators.
The public-space group is working on sidewalk improvements, activation of First Street, public art, events, Christmas lighting and a downtown rebranding and wayfinding project.
Together, the initiatives represent the next phase of Imagine Downtown: turning a community vision into a coordinated effort to make downtown Duluth a stronger place to live, work, visit and invest.
Read more about the project and how you can get involved at imaginedowntownduluth.com.
