Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
1. Bikes/Pedestrians (roadway; connectivity)
Walking, biking, safety
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Walkability and biking are very important; most people will walk or bike
to the station
Walkable community
Make Penn Avenue greener and more pedestrian-friendly
Pedestrian and bicyclist safety
Pedestrian crossings need improvement
Putting in bike lanes is good, but would rather have a sidewalk.
Improved biking and walking facilities/environment
Streets dedicated to bike traffic only; through the corridor
Bike lanes
Need biking lockers
Bike and car sharing expanded
Bike boulevard on adjacent street
Bike trails; stronger pedestrian pathway
Bike-pedestrian pathways
Bikes
Bikes make room!
Make Penn a non-car-oriented street
Transportation that is efficient, diverse (bike, car, walk, public)
Path connections, Nice Ride
Lack of bike facilities on Penn (e.g., Nice Ride only on Plymouth Avenue;
community had to fight for it)
Pedestrians and street activity
Make Penn more pedestrian-friendly and bring neighborhoods together
Safety issue for disabled and elderly; ADA concerns
Complete streets
Bike lane on Penn Ave. 1 on Emerson Ave. but that is on the far east
side of N. Mpls. The parkway is close, but not good for commuters.
Paint crosswalks at Penn and Cedar Lake road
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
Connectivity
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Poor connections
Better bike/walk connections to parks and other amenities
Lack of sidewalks (cemetery and 44th)
Poor bike/walk connections to parks (Theodore Wirth)
No sidewalks existing along the Cemetery
Crossing street is such a concern at 44th, need to make it more
walkable.
Missing at 44th & Osseo Road at the curve, west side from 44th to
Parkway there is no sidewalk.
East West connections are poor
Hwy 55/Olson Hwy is a significant barrier; Concerns for people crossing
Olson Memorial Highway.
Luce Line trail connections.
Olson highway bike trail/connections
People in Harrison don’t walk to Theodore Wirth; opportunity to make a
more walkable, attractive bike/ped connection; Theodore Wirth “feels
like it doesn’t belong to us”
2. Community, community building,
placemaking
Community pride, diversity, families/youth
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Cultural diversity
Sense of community and community pride
 Positive image of North
Minneapolis from those who live
here
Make Penn welcoming,
 Strong local schools
green, and friendly
 Residents and businesses invest in
the community
Page 1
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 Community is engaged in the process
Strong presence of youth and families
Address low expectations and negative perception of North Minneapolis
Deal with vacant properties and blight
Ensure that what gets built reflects the community and creates value for
the community
Engage youth: “won’t tear down what you help build”
More community support and activities for youth like the Boys and Girls
Club
Creative placemaking --art crawl
I like the multicultural feel of my neighborhood
More community celebrations!
Its not up to the city, its up to the community!
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Healthy food, gardens, urban
agriculture
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Honor and celebrate history
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Built environment should honor and celebrate the history
Honor Jewish street and history here. SW businesses were razed in 1967
and the street just never came back. It used to be bustling.
 Who was “Lowry”? Neat idea to for each stop to have some history
about the cross street and why/how it got its name.
 Incorporate an oral history project
 Celebrate the history of North Minneapolis and Penn Avenue, and the
African American culture and history specifically
 Honor this African American cultural corridor through public art and
design
 Oldest African American community
in Minneapolis
Celebrate the African
 North Minneapolis was historically a
American culture by
strong Jewish community
making this an African
 Recognize Floyd B. Olson
American cultural
corridor
through public
Vibrancy, entertainment,
art and design
gathering places
 More places and activities for
children, teens, families
 More places to convene and meet neighbors
 Pedestrians/street activity
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
More people out and about
More parks, community centers and places to meet my neighbors
Activity centers
More teen places
Public spaces should be clean, safe and well-maintained
Community education classes
(pottery class, knitting)
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Make Penn more like it
was: A neighborhood
street with commercial
nodes…like pearls on a
string
Healthy food
Community gardens
Community gardens and fruit trees;
vacant Lots could temporarily be
community gardens
Urban agriculture (UROC)
Grocery store with a lot of traffic (yellow shoe!!)
Urban agriculture like in Boston (walk by exhibits)
Urban farming
Food production and distribution
There are no stores in my neighborhood that sell healthy foods. An
avocado cost more than a bag of french fries.
Wirth Co op is a priority
Agriculture opportunities at Penn & Lowry, Plymouth, 30th, and
between 16th and 14th.
Museums, art, education
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Children’s Museum
Pan Asian Museum and Chinese
The area needs amenities,
Language Charter School here – Penn
access to fresh food and
& Plymouth. (Asian motif?)
other goods
Performing Arts Center
More public art
Public art/community art trees
More neighborhood welcoming art, like Hwy 55 into Harrison.
Page 2
3. Economic Development, Business, Jobs
Broad priorities
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Untapped resources and spending power; high percentage of resident
disposable income currently goes outside the community; money leaves
North Minneapolis because people need to shop elsewhere to get these
things
We need reasons for people to stop on Penn in our community not just
speed through!
TOD opportunities
Ensure that value accrues to community, not just outside investors
We want the same positive opportunities that non-minority
neighborhoods have
African American cultural corridor
The focus needs to be on infrastructure and a targeted approach to
redevelopment.
Leverage current strengths
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Mix of successful local businesses and opportunities for redevelopment:
44th, Lowry, Broadway (Capri block), Plymouth Road, Golden Valley, 55,
Glenwood, Cedar Lake Road, Proposed or pending
redevelopments: Alliance Housing, The Commons at Penn Avenue,
Broadway Flats, Praxis
Existing plans and current initiatives: West Broadway ALIVE, North First,
Wirth Coop, NAZ, Capri redevelopment, Green Homes North,
NorthPoint expansion, DEED Workforce Center
Anchor institutions and other community assets: NorthPoint, Ripley
Gardens, parks, community centers, Lucy Laney School, Minneapolis
Urban League, UROC, libraries, KMOJ/ Center for Communications and
Development
Character of the built environment: Housing stock, school campuses are
inviting, churches
Planned and potential transit investments: Southwest LRT, Bottineau
LRT, potential for BRT; TOD potential – transit as a catalyst for
development
Community understands development and density
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
Nodes, intersections
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Support strategic investments in key intersections – important to see
something happen
Penn/Glenwood: Enormous potential—cultural/health—connection to
Cedar Lake
Penn/Golden Valley Road: Housing development proposal, economic
development, possible LRT station; address zoning here -- perfect
location primed for increased commerce. 3 of the 4 corners of Penn and
Golden Valley are empty!
Penn/Hwy 55: Coordinate with station
area planning
We need reasons for
Penn/Hwy 55: Consider economic
people to stop on Penn in
development and housing at the
intersection.
our community not just
Penn/Lowry: Land available for
speed through
redevelopment, the transition over
the bridge, should remain commercial
Penn Lowry used to be a place where
all the neighborhood’s needs are met; there’s been attrition of
businesses
Penn/Plymouth: Consider idea of relocating the police station, consider
the Hennepin County HUB project, and the idea of Plymouth as a health
corridor
Penn/W Broadway: Review and reinforce West Broadway ALIVE!;
consider connections and key opportunities and proposals like the Capri
block, DEED Workforce Center, etc.
Agriculture opportunities at Penn & Lowry, Plymouth, 30th, and
between 16th and 14th.
Attract businesses to Penn & 44th, Golden Valley, Plymouth, and Olson
Memorial.
Golden Valley Road-housing focus
Opportunities at Penn Avenue for higher density.
26th Avenue—2 empty corners—affected by the tornado
34th and Penn Avenue could be a good location for more density.
44th/Osseo- (redevelopment potential and small business support)
Celebrate personality of intersections
Broadway/Penn - problem of vacant properties
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Talk to Aeon about Penn/Glenwood
Penn/Hwy 55 - Floyd B. Olson and Penn Station Historical Site Station.
Highlight the life and work of Mr. Olson using the whole name @ this
station. Holds cultural significance.
Retail, destinations, community
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More retail: new developments on vacant lots
More destination businesses along the corridor
Ensure that improvements cultivate a sense of community and
community pride
Lack of entertainment/recreation places
More retail and activity centers
Can Penn be like “Eat Street” on Nicollet
Retail leakage – current situation
Coffee shops
Recruit and support small businesses
What is the incentive for businesses to come to Penn?
Create neighborhood investment in the businesses
Use an equity framework to:
 Attract private investment
 Balance and compromise between competing needs
 Right-scale based on resources
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Funding
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Want economic development - need jobs, growth and development
Low-impact development
Build the market needed to attract customers
Know the economic criteria and how to bridge the gap
Determine what businesses seek in proximity to potential development
sites
“Patient development”
Develop block by block, simultaneously
Business development
Business corridors
Density
Community investment sharing (like northeast)
Better business design supporting communities
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
Look at outside investors—outside landlords/different model for rentals
(management issues).
look at ways to attract private investment
land trust for economic development
Which public, private, nonprofit, philanthropic entities will help create
comprehensive development?
What subsidies are available until the market is stronger?
In what ways can the lead project agencies leverage economic
development in all N Minneapolis corridors (Penn and those that
intersect)?
Capitalize on TOD potential
Attract private investment
Specific new businesses/services
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Economic development
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Businesses that stay open longer
Business development; housing; local economy
Economic development is the driver of livability and mobility – and
livability and mobility are the driver of Economic Development
Economic development, jobs
Newer mixed use buildings
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Neighborhood-serving retail: groceries, restaurants, bakery, post office,
bank, etc.
Healthy food options
Movie theater
Coffee house
Pop up vendors and food trucks
Red box videos
Would like to see Holy Land on Penn and Lowry
Goodwill store.
Michael’s store.
Old fashioned soda store
Free Wi Fi in the area.
Global market (Rhnel Islam)
Wirth Coop
Wi Fi on bus and bus stops.
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Post office
North Coop on Glenwood
Libraries
Dry cleaners
Jobs
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High unemployment and lack of jobs in community
 importance of job linkage programs and hiring local
 improving access to jobs
 recruiting employers to North Minneapolis with companion job
training for residents
Project investments employ North Minneapolis residents
Figure out “chicken and egg” of jobs/income and housing development
Job creation/growth
Per job, forgivable loan
Incentives for businesses to locate in North Minneapolis and hire North
Minneapolis residents
Employment training, pathways
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Prepare people for the jobs (high school graduates, college graduates,
household income)
Education schools, need to include all schools, without education and
teachers/students buy-in and the district really at the table
No education/no growth – low expectations
Path to college for youth
Mentorship program—how to give back to the community
Support for long-term education-to-employment strategies
Prepare people for jobs: Increase the number of high school graduates,
increase the number of college graduates; raise household income
Employment pathways
 Determine what education opportunities exist to prepare residents
for the future economy
 Importance of education to spur growth and high expectations
 Establish internships that enhance career choices and tie into high
school curriculum
 Create high school internships related to this project, such as
construction
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
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Workforce center
Senior program for computer sessions
JACC step up intern
More job training programs
More jobs for people with learning disabilities, senior citizens, single
fathers, single mothers
Host a job fair
MPRB summer recreation program
Workforce training
More job training at workforce center
More job training programs
Business recruitment and business support
Redevelopment of key opportunity sites
4. Housing
Varied, balanced, mixed
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Increasing access to jobs
is important, as is
growing local businesses
Use equity framework:
 Maintain affordable housing
 Avoid dislocation of people
 How can new housing help close ownership gap by race?
Need multiple housing options
Involve minority-owned businesses in local housing construction
Define the housing options for community; define terms i.e. what’s
affordable, workforce, etc.
Balanced housing
Better mix of property
inclusionary affordability 20 percent
important to maintain affordable housing
Look at mixed income housing with transit
Maintain existing affordable housing and increase market-rate housing
Mix of rental and ownership, range of life cycle options
Mixed income and mixed ownership; supportive/affordable housing
(range of housing options)
Mixed income housing
Page 5
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Mixed use housing/retail
The city should provide multiple options for housing/development to
discuss rather than just asking “what type of housing do you want to
see?”
Need good quality affordable housing
No racism, less violence,
and safe rentals
kids in school
We need to make rental a viable
option that works for the
neighborhood(s). Single-family homes
may not be the best model for rental.
Senior housing; senior housing at Penn and Plymouth; senior condos,
townhouses for independent living
Opportunity for sensitive infill
Intentionally include preservation in this project; determine in advance
the criteria for demolition vs. preservation
Look at housing development not at major commercial nodes
New housing development maintains existing character
Absentee landlords-protecting affordable housing --make sure won't be
displaced
Density
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Higher density to support businesses
Where to put density
Denser housing on corridor
Denser housing should be in character with neighborhoods—double
bungalows \There has to be a respect for character and style.
Density
Establish design standards for new construction
More density
More density to support businesses; need population to support
businesses.
Multi-family housing/density for transit
Too many vacant lots and tax forfeited properties
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
Supports
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Support maintenance/rehab of single family homes. Bryn Mawr area
needs this and would like to keep people in their homes, but improve
structures.
Support programs to help low-income families obtain homeownership,
so they can have a pride of ownership.
Supports for maintenance and rehabilitation
Provide rent subsidies
Housing related programs (tool sharing)—senior support
Need financing tools for rental properties
City out of housing business
5. Open Space/ Environment/ Sustainability
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“Parkway” look, medians, boulevards, etc.
We need more trees!
More parks, trees, green
Provide/protect open space
More parks, community centers and places to meet my neighbors
Innovative stormwater management
More energy efficient opportunities
Connections of Penn Ave to Wirth Parkway
Maintain green space on 55
Public Art & Green Spaces
I want my daughter to grow up in a neighborhood where she feels safe
and experiences the beauty of nature & diversity.
More courts. Bigger parks
Pocket parks
Lack of public gathering space
Lack of maintenance (ex. Planters, parks, bus stops)—why it isn’t part of
the planning process?
Green, music, pocket parks
Green space by West Broadway and Penn. Too cold.
Page 6
6. Parking
8. Safety
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(Also see Streetscaping, Lighting)
 Address perception that area is unsafe
 More police officers
 Handling money at bus stations is a concern; safety concerns about
“fumbling around with your wallet” to purchase ticket… having your
wallet out while on the street is NOT a
good or comfortable idea; look at this
seriously.
I want my daughter to
 Reduce concentration of sex
grow up in a
offenders
neighborhood
where she
 I would like more parking spaces and
more lighting for patients to feel safe
feels safe and
 Cameras at bus stops (to stop crime).
experiences the beauty
 Address safety all along Penn Avenue.
of nature and diversity
Risky area.
 Less violence
 Stronger police presence
 Crime and safety are big concerns at Penn and 55. The area should be
made safer, more lighting, pedestrian friendly, well-maintained, bullet
proof glass in bus shelters
 Willard-Hay North Commons – lots of violence. Willard Hay school has
been vacant. Idea to make it a community center, with supervised
activities for youth.
 Golden Valley Road and Penn--problem area, youth 20-30
 Blue boxes like midtown greenway
 Idea of high quality housing and eyes on the street are important pieces
of where the bus platforms should go
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Traffic calming and parking are issues re: current businesses on Penn
Need for parking
Lack of parking
Lack of business parking
Keep parking on Penn!
LynLake--parking idea
I would give up my parking spot for a park if there were more bus stops.
I would like more parking spaces & more lighting for patients to feel
safe!
Because Penn is narrow, we need to consider street parking options and
lack of parking.
Need easy to get and use parking permits for residents – and their
guests
Concerns with parking taking houses for land.
Need help solving parking issues around Broadway and Penn
7. Roadway
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Address Penn Avenue roadway concerns:
 negative aesthetics
 lack of green
 “thoroughfare with no identity”
 lack of maintenance: snow removal, bus stops
 traffic and speeding
 unmet parking needs
 lack of bike facilities
 poor pedestrian environment
Use traffic calming measures up and down road
Traffic and traffic speeds are concerns
Restore Penn back to a community street with active commercial nodes
Will this project increase traffic speed? Right now traffic speed is an ongoing issue around the gateway areas (off of 394, 100)
Signal timing. Current traffic signal timing makes it nearly impossible to
get across;
Lack of snow clean up on Penn
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
Buses, bus stops
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Bus drivers need to not let problem riders on the bus.
Risky stop. Address safety issues.
Make sure bus stops are safe
Page 7
Safety, Crime
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Penn is dirty-looking and dark, perception is that Penn is not safe; there
has been a recent string of robberies along Penn between 26th and
36th, 1-2 blocks on either side
Lack of good street lighting; even more apparent before the tornado
that took so many trees
Explore more ways to strengthen community connections and
relationships to help reduce crime.
LRT/stations
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Safety is huge; we need truly safe stations in North Minneapolis
Safety on LRT route.
Address safety concerns through lighting and cameras.
Safety/policing
Cameras
Add high intensity pedestrian lighting.
Security cameras that are monitored.
Transit officer in every station.
Places are designed with safety in mind (well-lighted, well-maintained
9. Streetscaping
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Pedestrian/streetscaping throughout the entire length of Penn—there is
currently no shade, and there are sidewalk gaps---Penn needs more
trees.
Pedestrian friendly
No sidewalks along the Cemetery
No boulevards on Penn, lack of green, so snow goes onto sidewalks
Bumpouts and trees are important, maybe bike lanes. Re: bikes, at first
people opposed the bike lanes on Fremont, but people are adjusting,
and many people like them now
Sidewalks are messed up
Innovative storm water management—flooding is a problem when
there is a significant rain
Beautification of streets
Overgrown weeds on sidewalk
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
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Poor walkability
Garbage/trash cans – esp. schools, bus stops
Successful corridors that maintain diversity and added amenities – Eat
Street, Lyndale
Open site lines, consistent, lighting, creative design (environmental
design)
Public art/community art
Green canopy/boulevards
Cohesive streetscape – lighting, etc.
Design continuity
Need to change look/feel, introduce trees and better sidewalks
Cultural art: Lowry, Broadway, Plymouth, Olson, Glenwood
All planning be inclusive of the elderly and physically handicapped
mobility. Curbs, cleaning, curb cuts.
Lighting
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More pedestrian lighting
Lighting (streets are dark at night and so is field)
Lighting throughout.
Pedestrian level lighting
Need appropriate lighting
Lighting – safety, crime deterrent (uniform lighting)
10. Transit/BRT/LRT, including connectivity
Access
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Access is important and need consideration for multiple modes
Access to connecting routes for more transit connections into
downtown
Need access to North Memorial Hospital
Accessibility, not only for the disabled community, but walking distance
accounting for age, weather conditions, etc.
Transit accessible
Transportation connected to jobs
Improved access to jobs
Have circulator transport people to various BRT/LRT nodes to get to jobs
Page 8
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Consider how people are getting to jobs
This is the greatest obstacle, getting people to jobs in the suburbs
Ensure transit access to higher education
Saturday and Sunday bus service on Lowry
Connectivity, interconnections
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Focus on connections, including biking, walking, and transit connections
and access to jobs
Ensure good connections between transit and bike lanes/routes
Easier access to Penn from bikeway (now a dirt path) and change
around stair up to 394 – no bikeway
Tie to Mississippi and other watersheds
Time to connect w/Dowling and Lowry buses
Optimize interactions/interconnections among all transit modes
Connection to E/W density connectors
Connections along intersecting streets
Connections of Penn Avenue to Wirth Parkway
Connectivity is huge!
Connectivity!
Bus stops at cemetery, but no sidewalks there and no crosswalks across
Penn
Consider how LRT connects to bus service
Circulator
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Circulator bus around neighborhood
Circulator transit
Limited transit access/insufficient transit service (need for Northside
circulator service)
Have circulator transport people to various BRT/LRT nodes to get to jobs
Northside circulator
Circulator transit service
Funding
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Make the most of limited federal funding and redundant transit services
(competition for funding)
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
BRT platforms
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Bus stops with heaters for the winter
Cleaner bus stops
Nice bus area for kids from North High
Seating at transit stops
LRT stations
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Suggested station amenities include better lighting, radiant heat, Wi-Fi,
vending machines, seating, and bathrooms.
Stations should have amenities, be safe and well-maintained
Add vending machines
Station should look like downtown stations – have fare payment
accessibility
Stations need to be clean
Real-time trains/info
Defibrillator units at stations for emergency usage
Traffic safety; general with increased activity in station areas as well as
Hwy 55
Transit officer in every station.
Suggestions for cultural and historic stations include Penn & 26th
(African American), Golden Valley (African American), Oak Park (Asian
American), McNair (African American); Penn & Plymouth (Jewish
history), Lowry, and Olson Memorial (Floyd B. Olson)
Floyd B. Olson and Penn Station Historical Site Station. Highlight the life
and work of Mr. Olson using the whole name at this station. Holds
cultural significance.
Business zoning at this Floyd B. Olson station. Historic info on display,
etc. Food trucks?
African-American art and music at stations
Public art to distinguish stops from one another
Traffic safety; general with increased activity in station areas as well as
Hwy 55.
Route does not promote stopping in community; need to consider the
need for additional stops.
Good place for station. Brings a lot of business. Make place look safe
and attractive with trees and plants. Great for my business (near
Broadway).
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Additional stations needed
Additional stops requested for 40th, 35th, 29th, 21st, 17th, Plymouth,
and Chestnut.
13. Values, Principles, Process
Communications
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11. Urban design, redevelopment (land use,
density, building form)
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Make Penn a destination
Change the area’s image and establish Penn’s identity, including
thoughtful branding and marketing
Continuity of design
Consider interrelationships that make communities great (the
relationship between land use and transportation, density of housing to
support local businesses, design of the built environment and crime,
etc.)
Better urban design supporting TOD, transit, housing, key intersections
and old schools along with services
Address serious problems with flood area 5 39th-30th; Flooding on 35th
(in the CLIC)
Interest in development – housing and businesses
The Commons at Penn – parking is a concern, concentration of lowincome clients is a concern.
Restaurant at Penn and Glenwood
Need to focus on destination creation and placemaking
12. Wayfinding (transit, green space, etc.)
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Encourage use of graphic designers and simple, graphic ways to
communicate information
Cohesive aesthetics theme/identity *Grand Avenue
Designations at nodes
Brand theme for the corridor – create an identity
Celebrate personality of intersections
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
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Communicate clearly with diverse audiences (accessible language, visual
communication, multiple languages)
Set clear expectations
Principles
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Build on the community’s assets and strengths
Celebrate the area’s history and cultural diversity
“Don’t sell the Northside short”
Keep the focus on the people in Penn corridor communities
remember Human side of change
Make sure the process doesn’t get bigger than the people
We need a bold vision for the Northside that connects us to the region
Elimination of scattered site commercial nodes off residential areas
when possible (35th and Penn Ave N) when can build residential
instead.
Coalitions, champions, partnerships
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The idea is that each participating entity directs its authorities,
capabilities, and mutual interests in a coordinated fashion toward the
betterment of the corridor.
Build a coalition of community and policymaker support
Policymakers and community members champion this work
Cultivate a “keeper of the vision”
Avoid turf battles and fragmentation
Community partnership and outreach
Would like to see TLC continue to be involved
Alignment of plans, policies, strategies, and resources
Government agencies exhibit flexibility and streamline where possible
Governmental partners stay involved over the long-term
Project staff, community representatives and other partners plan for
continuity
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Engagement
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Targeted outreach to youth, seniors, transit riders, businesses,
unemployed people, culturally diverse groups, faith communities and
other underrepresented groups
Thorough, inclusive, meaningful engagement sustained throughout the
project
Inclusive placemaking
Go beyond existing networks and “business as usual” meetings
Recognize and resolve barriers to collaboration
 distrust of government
 history of ineffective community engagement
 competing interests
 fear of gentrification/dislocation
Community partners align and support a vision and framework for
implementation
You should use "open source" meeting styles
Youth engagement venues/family oriented
The involvement of artists create new and helpful information to
encourage community involvement
Like a simple cork board, for people to post notices.
Process, learnings
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Take the long-view, but deliver early results
Planning takes a long-term view
Apply lessons learned from other Community Works projects
Explore case studies and models of success
Governmental partners coordinate policies, strategies, and resources to
amplify benefits of investments within the framework
Penn: 2013-early 2014 Community Ideas and Input by Category
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