II. ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT UILT ENVIRONMENT ii. AN ECONOMIC HISTORY: HOW TRANSPORTATION HAS SHAPED THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY AVENUE by jillian benson This Chapter’s Questions: 1. How was University Avenue’s economic history shaped by different modes of transportation? 2. What is the current consumer demand for goods on the avenue? 3. How might historical trends explain future effects of the Central Corridor? Chapter Outline: I. Introduction and Overview II. Industry and Rail III. Entertainment, Retail, and Autos IV. Highways and Pornography V. Today’s University VI. The People’s Demands VII. What the Light Rail Could Change I. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW relationships, I will look at the current operating of the transfer yards was a economic climate on the Avenue and large employment opportunity and see what kind of changes have occurred brought in many new laborers to the University Avenue is an extremely since the 1970s. I will specifically be area. Thus, University, like many major looking at the current consumer commercial city streets, started out as a diverse street that connects the two 2 town centers of the Twin Cities. The demand using the Nielsen-Claritas data primarily residential area; with the Avenue stands out as a mark of from 2010 to understand what people increases in labor force, the demand for diversity in the cities–socially, racially, are buying or “demanding” when they housing rose as well. In 1881 the architecturally, and economically, shop on the Avenue. Finally, I will tracks for horse drawn trolleys were among other things. University has speculate on how the construction of laid on the Avenue in St. Paul as far as the Central Corridor will affect Dale Street, making travel up and down seen much change over the past 3 century, experiencing extreme growth development on the street based on the Avenue easier. in the first half of the century, peaking both historical trends and discuss In 1890, the tracks were around the 1950s and 60s, after which possible development projects based on extended to Minneapolis for use with what is currently demanded. electric trolleys, now connecting the time its wealth and popularity started to 4 disappear. What was it that made this two cities via University Avenue. This "grand" avenue grow into such a II. INDUSTRY AND RAIL new electric streetcar line was so hotspot in the cities and then proceed to popular and successful that it forced the lose its luster and economic power? commuter train companies to stop University Avenue was moved to its running their services as often because This chapter seeks to explain how such current location after railroad baron an era of prosperity came to be and the midway line was taking half of the James J. Hill declared that the rail business. Soon the University route why it was followed by such a drastic networks entering the cities needed a 5 downfall by looking at the Avenue’s was dubbed “the Interurban.” The main terminal to greet and organize the rapid growth on the Avenue gave hope economic history. To understand these 1 incoming trains. This led to the to the business community who saw trends, I will examine how these shifts creation of the Minnesota Transfer in economic prosperity and hardships University as an opportunity to build a Yards, which pushed University grand commercial street that would are linked to the changing modes of Avenue north of its original route to its transportation on the Avenue itself as rival the grandeur of the Champs- current path. The Transfer Yards Elysées in Paris, France.6 well as in its surrounding neighbor- marked the beginning of an era for hoods. After exploring these The first electric streetcars used University Avenue. The building and were built by the Thomson-Houston 38 Company.7 These cars were found to that the workers rode for their trams were finally taken off their rails be too lightweight and small, and were commute. for good in 1953 and replaced with bus not sturdy enough to withstand the The Avenue’s commercial lines.14 The initial loss of ridership did harsh weather conditions experienced development began blooming in 1905, not affect University economically; the in the winter. When new streetcars coinciding with the completion of the Avenue was still as prosperous and were brought in from the Northern Car State Capitol, but mainly due to the crowded as before. In fact, it brought Company, they also proved useless success and popularity the streetcars.11 different businesses to the Avenue in against the Minnesota winters.8 This The businesses sprouting up in the the form of car dealerships and led to the creation of the home-built beginning were mostly small grocers, automobile servicing.15 streetcar industry. The first of these bakeries and butchers that met the The cities continued to grow, cars were built at the shops at the needs of the increasing population and not just the inner-city populations, Nicollet Station and were so well along the street. 12 As the Avenue but also the suburban populations. received that the shops produced continued to grow, larger businesses With people further away from the another 275 cars for the line.9 Being started moving to the area, creating a central business districts of the Twin the first streetcar producers, the stable and growing commercial Cities, the convenience of a car became Nicollet Station shops were smaller district.13 the popular way to get between home operations, and proved to be inadequate and work. University was still the main for producing the number of streetcars III. ENTERTAINMENT, RETAIL AND route between St. Paul and Minneapolis necessary to meet the high demand. and benefited from this fact. University AUTOS This prompted the development of the was becoming the place to not only Snelling Streetcar Shops in 1906, purchase your car, but to show it off as located on Snelling Avenue between With the introduction of the well.16 The desire to show off one’s University and St. Anthony avenues.10 automobile, University continued to car was matched with the development The Snelling Shops built the streetcars grow, and traffic on the Avenue of drive-in restaurants, which were that serviced the cities until 1953. This increased, both from streetcars and gaining popularity in the 1940s and 60-acre industrial center provided many automobiles. It was clear, however, that 50s. The most famous and long-living jobs for the citizens of these cities. The the automobile was the preferred means drive-in and carhop on University was yards brought more traffic to of travel by the citizens of the cities Porky’s, which opened up in 1953 and University by bringing workers to the even before WWII. The streetcars had closed on April 3, 2011.17 area as well as producing the vehicles slowly been losing riders to cars after The popularity of the their ridership peaked in 1922, and the automobile also affected retail 39 businesses on the area, not just in terms 1941, the dance floor was reportedly good in 1953 and the rail areas became of car dealerships. The Midway packed with 6,000 dancers, and half as paved road. As the metropolitan area Shopping Center was one of the first many were turned away at the door.22 continued to grow, and more people major developments that catered The Prom often hosted Glenn Miller’s were living outside of the city centers, specifically to the booming car culture. orchestra, as well as many other the need for a more rapid route between It opened in 1954 on the corner of famous bands and artists throughout the the two cities grew also. The Snelling and University, and was years, such as Buddy Holly and Jules construction of Interstate 94 finished in equipped with ample parking space and Herman.23 the late 1960s, and I-94 became the large-scale retailers.18 Another draw to the Avenue most efficient route between At the same time, University was the cinema that opened up in 1912, Minneapolis and St. Paul. The freeway was the entertainment destination of the the Faust Theater.24 Located at the reduced the traffic volume along Twin Cities.19 Aside from drive-in corner of University and Dale, The University considerably.27 I-94 is the joints, University played host to the Faust was a single-screen movie theater factor that had the most pointedly Lexington Park, the Prom Ballroom, that seated nearly 900, and was often detrimental effects on University. It and the Faust Theater. Lexington Park filled with young people.25 The took away the masses of people who was the home of the minor league younger crowds often made for a lively used to frequent the Avenue by car and baseball team, the St. Paul Saints, and audience, and a movie was usually who now instead could bypass the strip for 60 years they packed the park paired with noise and rowdiness from and cut down on travel time between located at the corner of University and the viewers.26 The Faust Theater, along their work in the cites and their new Lexington.20 Up until the early 1950s, with the Prom Ballroom, Lexington homes in the suburbs. Without the high fans would travel to University to Park, and all the drive-in restaurants, volumes of automobile traffic to bring attend games at the park. It wasn’t made University a very exciting place consumers, businesses were forced to until 1956 that the park closed after the to be, and the automobile made it easy close, buildings were left to deteriorate, Saints were moved to their new home for people to get up and down the strip.