State of North Minneapolis Report

Abstract

The history of North Minneapolis has influenced its current state of development and as it continues moving forward, members of the community and local stakeholders need a shared understanding of the current status of economic development in North Minneapolis. Destination Northside Coalition, a group of organizations committed to the long-term economic prosperity of North Minneapolis, empowered the capstone team to create a report that will serve as a resource to inform residents of North Minneapolis and visitors to the area that may not be aware of what economic development activity is in progress and planned within the community. The State of North Minneapolis Report explores ongoing and planned economic development projects and initiatives in North Minneapolis and identifies and evaluates what barriers are limiting further development in the area. These projects and initiatives were assessed through interviews, observation, and secondary research to determine how they align or conflict with comprehensive economic development strategies for North Minneapolis, specifically the Minneapolis 2040 Plan and the Northside Forward Plan. The degree of alignment and key barriers are captured in themes on economic development strategy, residential landscape changes, financial and economic constraints, and political and community-level challenges. The culmination of this work is presented in recommendations that focus on supporting local developers, mitigating the negative impacts of large-scale development projects, bridging the gap between resident and business needs with planning visions, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.