Duluth's East Downtown, Hillside and Waterfront Charrette Report and Plan

Duluth’s East Downtown, Hillside and Waterfront Charrette Report and Plan A Study Prepared for the City of Duluth, Minnesota Based on the July 2005 Charrette by the Knight Program inCommunity Building, University of Miami School of Architecture 1 Charrette Team and Sponsors University of Miami University of Minnesota Contributors School of Students for the Duluth-Superior Area Architecture Faculty New Urbanism Community Foundation Charles C. Bohl Mike Janicki FI Salter Company Joanna Lombard Mike Lau Mercury Investment Company Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk Minnesota Power Knight Program Consultants North Shore Bank of Commerce Knight Program Staff Architecture, Design, and Coding Andrea Gollin Robert Claybaugh Northland Foundation Kim Pou Peter Harmatuck Carolyn Sundquist Susan Manns Sherman Associates Knight Program Fellows US Bank Tom Cotruvo Peter Musty Jim Epstein Dan Parolek In-kind Lisa Hogan Jeff Schommer A&L Properties Michelle Jones Traffic Engineer American Institute of Architects, Yon Lambert Fred Dock North Minnesota Chapter Jeremy Liu Urban Planning Area Partnership for Andrew Miller and Report Writing Economic Expansion Jessica Cogan Millman Stuart Sirota Arrowhead Regional Dan Parolek Health Industry Development Commission Veronica Rosales Dougal Hewitt Duluth Economic Will Selman Bon Secours Richmond Development Authority Ken Stapleton Health System Duluth Entertainment Kendra Wills Photography Convention Center Charles C. Bohl Duluth Public Arts Commission University of Miami Jim Epstein Greater Downtown Council Suburb and Town Design Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Graduate Students Stuart Sirota Alex Adams Sandy Sorlien Downtown Waterfront Alissa Escobar LHB Sponsors Justin Falango North Shore Scenic Railroad City of Duluth Susan Manns On the Limit Duluth News Tribune Juan Mullerat Visit Duluth Knight Program in Community Canan Mutlu Building, University of Miami Joachim Perez School of Architecture Thanks to the John S. and James L. Vance Robinson Local Initiatives Support Knight Foundation for its support Jason Soifer Corporation of Knight Program initiatives. Matthew Trussoni The Knight Foundation promotes Mayra Verdezoto excellence in journalism worldwide Patrick Weber and invests in the vitality of 26 US communities. Table of Contents 2 1. Executive Summary 3 2. Introduction 5 2.1. Background 6 2.2. Goals and objectives 7 2.3. The charrette process 8 3. Existing Conditions Assessment 10 3.1. Regional context 11 3.2. The built and natural environments 12 3.3. Economic development 20 3.4. Social environment 23 3.5. Regulatory framework 29 4. Master Plan 30 4.1 Guiding principles 31 4.2 Charrette recommendations 33 4.3 Policy recommendations 34 4.4 Design recommendations 38 4.5 Management recommendations 54 4.6 Lower Chester form-based code 55 4.7 Implementation strategy 66 5. Appendices 67 5.1 Previous Duluth plans and studies 68 5.2 Additional charrette documents 69 Executive Summary 1 Duluth’s East Downtown, Hillside and Waterfront Charrette Report and Plan Executive Summary 4 n early 2005, Duluth was selected by the Knight The intent of the charrette process was to create a • Design ideas for creating a better pedestrian envi- Program in Community Building at the University set of overarching principles for redevelopment of ronment through innovative enhancements to the Iof Miami School of Architecture to be the site of the study area, and to identify specific design, poli- skywalk system and to the Lake Avenue overpass its annual charrette effort for 2005. The purpose cy, and management recommendations for creating • A historic preservation strategy for the endan- of the charrette, an intensive week-long public a critical mass of positive transformation. The prin- gered block of Superior, just east of Lake design workshop, was to develop a vision and plan ciples and recommendations provide a blueprint for to help facilitate the revitalization of the east preserving what citizens love most about their city’s • Creating a new hierarchy of street types designed downtown and adjacent Hillside/Waterfront areas character and its past, while enabling new develop- to be “context sensitive” and help calm traffic of Duluth. Duluth was selected as the charrette site ment to sensitively blend in and enhance the com- • A pilot “form-based” code for the Lower through a highly competitive process. The charrette munity’s character and sense of place. Chester Creek area as a replacement to the was held from July 13–18, 2005, and co-sponsored After an opening presentation and visioning exer- existing zoning code by the City of Duluth and Duluth Local Initiatives cise involving more than 300 participants, part of Support Corporation (Duluth LISC). • A new, streamlined planning review process the charrette team spent the next several days con- to attract quality development During the charrette, the 35-plus member charrette ducting numerous meetings to gain valuable input team worked with business professionals, local and insight from residents, officials, and other • Nearly 70 additional design, policy, and officials, city staff, local organizations, clubs, stakeholders, while other team members analyzed management recommendations groups, churches, and residents from the city and the study area by taking photographs and making The Charrette Stewardship Group was formed by surrounding area. The Duluth community was field observations. All of this resulted in an assess- Mayor Bergson at the end of the charrette to ensure invited to share opinions and ideas for the future ment of as many characteristics of the study area as that the ideas and recommendations developed development of the city. Ideas for new development possible, including physical aspects such as urban during the charrette would be further explored and and for improving existing neighborhoods were form, transportation systems, housing types, and implemented to the extent possible. One of their drawn by the Knight Program team so participants environmental features, as well as economic, social, first orders of business was to prioritize the recom- could review and critique them, refining a commu- cultural, historic, and policy matters. As the char- mendations that the charrette team presented, and nity-driven vision for their neighborhood. rette progressed, ideas began to surface about ways identify responsibilities and timeframes for each. Participants around a table during the opening session of the charrette. in which the study area could be improved through The overall effort was headed by Elizabeth Plater- a series of physical design proposals, as well as Zyberk, dean of the University of Miami School of through policy and management measures. Architecture and principal in the firm Duany Plater- “Pin-up” sessions were held midway through the Zyberk & Co., which has created plans for more charrette, during which residents could see and than 200 communities worldwide. Plater-Zyberk is comment on preliminary ideas the team was one of the founders of the Congress for the New considering. This feedback was distilled and Urbanism, a reform movement based on the culminated in final design ideas that were eventually principles of traditional urbanism that advocates the unveiled at the final presentation. planning and design of great urban neighborhoods that are walkable, diverse, and economically Highlights of the final design, policy, sustainable, with shopping, civic institutions, parks, and management recommendations and jobs within easy access of residents. include the following: The Duluth charrette was the fourth charrette • A set of overarching principles, called conducted by the Knight Program in Community The Duluth Charrette Principles Building; previous charrettes were held in Macon, • Design proposals for both medical Ga., San Jose, Calif., and Coatesville, Pennsylvania. complexes, which were sensitive to the The Knight Program is funded by a grant from surrounding neighborhoods the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation promotes excellence in • A design for better integration of the Fitger’s journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality complex with surrounding areas of 26 U.S. communities. • Expansion of Central Hillside Community Center and surrounding infill development • Design of the area encompassing the Armory and Plaza shopping center Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk leading a pin-up session midway through the charrette. Duluth residents examining one of the charrette • Design proposals for stronger connections proposals before the final presentation at the DECC. between the lakefront, downtown, and Canal Park Introduction 2 Duluth’s East Downtown, Hillside and Waterfront Charrette Report and Plan 2.1 Background 6 n early 2005, Duluth was selected by the Knight New Urbanism, a reform movement based on the Program in Community Building at the University principles of traditional urbanism that advocates the Iof Miami School of Architecture to be the site of planning and design of great urban neighborhoods its annual charrette effort for 2005. The purpose of that are walkable, diverse, and economically sustain- the charrette, an intensive week-long public design able, with shopping, civic institutions, parks, and workshop, was to develop a vision and plan to help jobs within easy access of residents. facilitate the revitalization of the east downtown The Duluth charrette was the fourth charrette and adjacent Hillside/Waterfront areas of Duluth. conducted by the Knight Program in Community Duluth was selected as the charrette

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