Centennial Commons
The Centennial Commons Initiative is an on-going project of the Elliot Park Neighborhood Master Plan for developing and rehabilitating properties in the under-invested central core of the Elliot Park Neighborhood. It is an urban design and building initiative that explores and expands the development of resources for the economic revitalization of the neighborhood and all of Minneapolis Downtown East. The initiative has been underway for several years and has created working collaborations with the East Downtown Council (EDC) and the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development department (CPED). It has received funding support from the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota Vikings.
The Centennial Commons Initiative began as a community driven mixed-use redevelopment plan for the heart of Elliot Park Neighborhood. The underlying concepts of the project have since been expanded to include all of Elliot Park Neighborhood and Downtown East as a unifying guide for successful development in this vital urban area. Significant progress has been made since the beginning of 2007 when EPNI began consulting and collaborating with a number of agencies and institutions to begin coordinating neighborhood revitalization efforts. A few examples:
1. Collaborated with Minneapolis Public Works and Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department to incorporate additional streetscape improvements into the planned major reconstruction of Chicago Avenue. These enhancements will attract future commercial investment and mixed-use development along this corridor. EPNI advises neighborhood property owners regarding construction updates and provides opportunities for them to be involved in the selection of enhancements and the design process.
2. Consulted with and advised Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) on its expansion plans for a new community clinic as part of their goal to become the “medical provider of choice for the Downtown community”.
3. Established working relationships with the Minnesota Vikings and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission to ensure that the possible development of a new football stadium will serve as the catalyst for redevelopment throughout Elliot Park and Downtown East and have a positive impact on the broader community.
4. Published the Elliot Park Neighborhood Urban Design Guidelines:The Centennial Commons which provides a primer on the basic principles and practices of good urban design for the Elliot Park Neighborhood.
5. Gained the support of Seventh Ward Council Member Lisa Goodman and Minneapolis CPED Director Mike Christenson to specify the Chicago Avenue/Tenth Street corridors and nodes for Commercial Acquisition Revolving Funds programs, Capital Long Range Improvement projects, transit, pedestrian and infrastructure improvements, and for Great Streets Program monies.
EPNI recently collaborated with the East Downtown Council (EDC) to contract for an economic development consultant to work on Centennial Commons Initiative projects. The newly hired consultant is implementing a CPED Great Streets Neighborhood Business Program market analysis and property inventory that will provide the basic data and profiles for land use development and for implementing business recruitment strategies. EPNI is also working with Economic Growth Centers (EGC), a long established community development corporation and business assistance organization, to encourage renewed commercial activity in Elliot Park.
The Centennial Commons Initiative focuses on creating development opportunities that are harmonious with community desires as defined in the Master Plan. It requires careful research and understanding of the development prospects in relation to property disposition, potential markets and financing resources. Much of this can be accomplished in collaboration with EDC and EGC, which increases the probabilities that actual new development can occur as economic conditions improve. With each passing week EPNI is tapping into fresh potential resources and cultivating new relationships that are creating favorable circumstances for successful community development work.
All of the EPNI planning documents can be viewed in the Community Planning section of this website.
