IRVING AND FAIRMOUNT BROWNFIELDS REVITALIZATION PLAN October 2017 Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents i Transportation Networks 23 Connectivity 27 Acknowledgements iii Walkability 28 Natural Systems and Open Space 29 Executive Summary v Health Indicators 30 Introduction 1 Master Plan Recommendations 32 Background 1 Analytical Framework 32 US EPA Brownfields Planning Framework 2 Streets and Roads 34 Plan Purpose 4 Trails and On-Street Bike Facilities 39 Related Planning 4 Parks, Open Space, and Gardens 41 Previous Planning 6 Catalyst Sites 46 Vision 7 Implementation Plan 53 Goals and Objectives 7 Table of Actions 53 Community Engagement /Planning Process 8 Strategic Considerations 55 Project Management Team 8 Implementation 56 Project Advisory Team 8 Highlighted Actions 66 Stakeholders Group 9 Catalyst Site #5 – DW&P Site 66 Public Meetings 10 Catalyst Site #4 – MN Steel Fabricators Site 68 Targeted Outreach 13 Catalyst Site #1 – 57th Avenue Underpass Improvements 69 Conditions Analysis 14 Appendices Neighborhood Context 14 A. Market and Economic Analysis Report Market and Economy 18 B. Transportation Analysis Report Infrastructure and Environmental Review 21 C. Waseca Industrial Road and Grand Avenue Memo D. Infrastructure Analysis and Environmental Review Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota i TABLE CONTENTS E. Health Indicators Maps F. Stakeholder Group Meeting #1 – Vision Statements G. Stakeholder Group Survey Results H. Public Meeting #1 – Comments and Meeting Notes I. Stakeholder Group Meeting #2 – Comments and Notes J. Stakeholder Group Meeting #3/Public Meeting #2 – Comments and Notes K. Implementation Workshop Notes ii Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This plan was funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Project Advisory Team Agency’s Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Program. Rosita Clarke, EPA Katie Williams, EPA Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota Deb DeLuca, Duluth Superior Port Authority Emily Larson Pam Kramer, Duluth LISC Josh Gorman, St. Louis County Health Department City of Duluth City Council Kris Eilers, St. Louis River Alliance Zack Filipovich Martha Faust, Minnesota Brownfields Jay Fosle Natalie Brown, Minnesota Brownfields Howie Hanson Barb Russ Stakeholders Group Joel Sipress, Council President Kathy Resberg, Irving Community Club Elissa Hansen Jack Paquetta, Irving Neighborhood Resident Noah Hobbs Jeanne Koneczny, Irving Recreation and Events Association Gary Anderson Susan Coen, West Duluth Business Club Em Westerlund David Knight/Shanna Schmitt, MPCA Charlie Stauduhar, Spirit Lake Development Project Management Team Denette Lynch, Irving Neighborhood Advocate Heidi Timm-Bijold, City of Duluth, Co-Project Manager James Gittemeier, Metropolitan Interstate Council Adam Fulton, City of Duluth, Co-Project Manager Dan Moline, Moline Machinery Josh MacInnes, City of Duluth Greg Benson, Loll Designs Ben VanTassel, City of Duluth Mike Casey, Friends of West Duluth Parks and Trails John Kelley, City of Duluth Jim Heilig/Sophia Parr, Duluth Transit Authority Lisa Luokkala, City of Duluth Genny Hinnenkamp, Irving Community Club Cari Pedersen, City of Duluth Rose Hanson, Irving Neighborhood Resident Judy Gibbs, City of Duluth Larry Sampson, Superior Hiking Trail Association Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jodi Slick, Ecolibrium3 Consultants John Lindgren, MN DNR Jay Demma, Perkins+Will, Project Manager Anna Tanski, Visit Duluth John Slack, Perkins+Will Guy Priley, Verso Bridget Ayers-Looby, Perkins+Will Jeff Urbaniak, Irving Recreation and Events Association Hannah Pritchard, Toole Design Group Hansi Johnson, MN Land Trust Tom Leighton, Tangible Consulting Services Terry Olson, Asbury Church Matt Bolf, SEH, Inc. Jamie Bodette, Raleigh Edison Charter School Rachel Thapa, Lincoln Park Middle School Emily Richey, Dulujth Community Garden David Tomporowski, MN DOT Jill Keppers, Duluth HRA Special thanks to the following groups, organizations, and individuals that lent their time and input in supporting the development of this plan: MN DOT Duluth EDA Technical Advisory Committee Follmer Real Estate ASP HDPE IPS Cranes Hallett Dock Company Raleigh Edison PAC Valley Youth Center Diane Dyste Andrew Michaelson Joe Kleiman Greg Wegler Ron Johnson Fred Strom iv Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overview local community, and assets and barriers intervals to review draft plans and assist to brownfield redevelopment. The program with community engagement. In addition, The Irving and Fairmount Brownfields encourages community-based involvement numerous outreach efforts were targeted to Revitalization Plan (previously named the in site assessment, cleanup, and reuse community groups that are often difficult to Western Port Area Neighborhood Plan) is planning, as well as overall neighborhood reach through traditional engagement an area-wide planning effort focusing on revitalization. T activities. the Fairmount and Irving neighborhoods in western Duluth. hrough a brownfields area-wide planning approach, the community identifies a These neighborhoods have many specific project area that is affected by one amenities that include residential areas, or multiple brownfields, then works with commercial districts, parks, trails and residents and other stakeholders to access to the St. Louis River. The area develop reuse plans for catalyst, high also has unique opportunities for better priority brownfield sites and their connection to the Spirit Valley commercial surroundings. area, increased walkability, redevelopment of post-industrial sites, and infrastructure improvements. Planning Process The U.S. Environmental Protection The planning process began in earnest Agency’s Brownfields Area-Wide Planning during summer 2016. Day-to-day project program funded this work. The Area-Wide activities were guided by a collaboration Planning (AWP) program is designed to between City of Duluth departmental staff help communities confront local and a consultant team led by the firm Recognizing the importance of integrating environmental and public health challenges Perkins+Will. A project advisory team health equity and resiliency into the plan, related to brownfields and benefit consisting of several Duluth area agencies an innovative health assessment tool underserved or economically provided technical input and oversight developed by MN Brownfields and the disadvantaged communities. throughout the planning process. Minnesota Department of Health was A stakeholders group consisting of incorporated into and throughout the The Brownfields AWP program employs a businesses, neighborhood advocates, and planning process to ensure how well each place-based planning strategy that is a broader group of local, regional, and plan recommendation contributes to the inclusive of surrounding conditions, the state agencies, was convened at strategic health, safety, and economic conditions of Irving and Fairmount Brownfields Revitalization Plan Duluth, Minnesota v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY neighborhood residents, workers, and coordinated with activities associated with visitors. Imagine Duluth 2035 (the City’s comprehensive plan update), the St. Louis Goals and Objectives River/Interlake/Duluth Tar (SLRIDT) superfund redevelopment initiative, and the Extensive community engagement resulted Kingsbury Bay Habitat Restoration Health in the identification of key goals and Impact Assessment. objectives that guided the creation of the plan, which are as follows: Background Studies Increase economic activity (e.g., Roadway more employment, more In addition to building on the work of Recommendations businesses, etc.) previous plans for the Irving and Fairmount neighborhoods, several new studies were Increase housing choices conducted in order to understand current Improve health outcomes of conditions and establish a starting point residents, workers, and visitors from which to identify needed change. (e.g., safer conditions, cleaned-up These studies included a market and polluted sites, more physical economic analysis, a transportation activity, healthier foods, etc.) analysis, an infrastructure analysis, an Improve multi-modal connections environmental review, an urban design and (e.g., safer truck route to Grand connectivity analysis, and a health Avenue, better sidewalk access to indicators analysis. Spirit Valley stores, more connections to parks and trails) Master Plan Make Grand Avenue more inviting Bicycle Facilities Recommendations Recommendations Provide opportunities for The cornerstone of the plan is a vision for community gardens and other revitalizing and/or redeveloping brownfields community gathering spaces in the Irving and Fairmount neighborhoods. However, brownfields are a byproduct not Coordination with Other only of their former use but also their Planning Activities context within the community. Therefore, as an area-wide plan, it was also important Recognizing the importance and to assess these broader systems, such as significance of other parallel planning roads, trails, and green spaces, to processes, the Irving and Fairmount determine a more holistic vision that is Brownfields Revitalization Plan was resilient and sustainable. Open Space Recommendations