We recently attended the 2018 Downtown Minneapolis Development Summit, which we attend each year to keep up with what is happening in downtown Minneapolis. There has been a continuing surge in development, with downtown construction permits topping $1 billion for 6 consecutive years. With a successful Super Bowl behind us, the drive for developing the waterfront and adding density by building out surface parking lots continues. We now even have a Trader Joe’s downtown on Washington Avenue.
Minneapolis not only ranks high as one of the most forward thinking cities and most intriguing places to visit, our parks system ranks #1 in the country. Minneapolis is one of only 5 US markets to host not only the Super Bowl but also both the men’s and women’s Final Four. Minneapolis has one of the nation’s largest theater scenes per capita, along with a strong foodie culture with 8 James Beard Award nominees and one winner in just the last 2 years.
But what really caught my attention was when Kjersti Monson, CEO of Duval Companies, talked about The Falls project… the next focus in developing the downtown riverfront after Water Works Park extends the waterfront development by connecting to Mill City Ruins Park. (Photos courtesy of her presentation.)
St. Anthony Falls is the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River, and its lock was once busy with commercial barge traffic. However, the lock was closed to commercial navigation in 2015 and that piece of history is behind us. The goal of The Falls project is to re-purpose the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock to create an iconic, world class destination visitor and interpretive center on the downtown riverfront, the birthplace of Minneapolis.
What got me was when she said they expect The Falls and Minneapolis Central Riverfront to rival Mt. Rushmore as a tourist destination!
Learn more at thefalls.org.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results HomesMSP Team – shensrud@homesmsp.com – 612-419-0560
