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Project Overview
Redeveloping the Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) presents transformative opportunities for the site and the Northside community. The site is located on the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis, on land originally inhabited by the Dakota people. To accommodate the transition of the Upper Harbor site from its former use as a barge shipping terminal to a mixed-use development with housing, a music venue, commercial retail, park space, and offices, public realm infrastructure improvements are necessary to support community access to the site and river.
View an information packet (PDF) summarizing the UHT Public Realm Infrastructure project.
- Dowling Ave North, Recommended Layout
- UHT Parkway, Recommended Layout
- 33rd Ave North, Recommended Layout
* Public realm infrastructure graphics are illustrative and meant to show elements that could potentially be included in the Public Realm Infrastructure.
* Public realm infrastructure graphics are illustrative and meant to show elements that could potentially be included in the Public Realm Infrastructure.
Project Design
The concept layouts for Dowling Avenue North, UHT Parkway and 33rd Avenue North were approved by City Council in October 2021, see the Legislative File. The project engineering team will continue forward with further design details and preparation for construction to begin in 2023.
- Dowling Ave North, Recommended Layout
- UHT Parkway, Recommended Layout
- 33rd Ave North, Recommended Layout
Community Engagement
This project provides a significant opportunity to deliver public realm infrastructure improvements that prioritize inclusivity and community ownership for Northside neighborhoods. We will seek stakeholder and community input to understand how to design the “gateway” or community access to the site in order to unite the Mississippi Riverfront with the mobility, jobs, housing, and recreational life of North Minneapolis neighborhoods.
View the video below for a tour of the Upper Harbor Terminal site created by Juxtaposition Arts! And check out the other stops on the full tour here.
Past community engagement
- The second virtual open house was held on August 24th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- The first virtual open house was held on January 26 from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
- Use the interactive map to share how you would travel to the River and future park!
COVID-19 acknowledgement: Public infrastructure must be designed in ways that profoundly integrate it into the fabric of community life. To get there, we want to ensure the project provides inclusive and dynamic ways to involve the community throughout the design process. We acknowledge that COVID-19 presents unique and significant challenges for community engagement and we want to affirm our commitment to ensure safe, meaningful, and inclusive opportunities for the community to share input and participate in the process.
Goals and Objectives
The project will assist the City in envisioning new possibilities for the UHT site in the realms of public infrastructure, multimodal transportation, green infrastructure, aesthetics, and placemaking. We will work with project partners, stakeholders, and residents to bring innovative solutions to all elements of the project. Ultimately, the project will seek to design public infrastructure improvements that support the creation of jobs, housing, community spaces, and recreational opportunities for Minneapolis residents.
What are the objectives of this public realm and infrastructure project?
- Improve the primary community access point (Dowling Ave. North) to the UHT site.
- Design a context sensitive parkway within the site.
- Design facilities to promote safe access for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving to and through the site.
- Design new public realm infrastructure to provide access to new jobs housing and community spaces.
- Design green infrastructure that is innovative and can accommodate a variety of uses.
- Maintain access and mobility for people using all modes of travel, while accommodating freight vehicles and large events through the lens of the City’s Vision Zero and Complete Streets
- Build upon working relationships with community stakeholders, the development team, partner agencies, and internal project partners.
- Build upon the City’s prior concept level design work.
Project Area
The primary corridors of project focus are Dowling Avenue North from Lyndale Avenue to the river, and a new segment of West River Parkway through the northern portion of the UHT site. The design of 33rd Avenue North is also an area of focus for the project. Concept-level designs have been completed and this project will continue to build upon the work already done.
Dowling Avenue North will be the primary access point to the site and will serve as the gateway, or primary entrance, between the site and the greater North Side community. 33rd Avenue North will serve as a secondary access point and provide new access to the riverfront, as well as serve existing businesses and the proposed Phase 1 development.
The City of Minneapolis, in close coordination with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), proposes to reconstruct Dowling Avenue North and construct a new segment of parkway to provide access and circulation to and within the Upper Harbor site. This parkway segment will eventually connect to the rest of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds.
* Public realm infrastructure graphics are illustrative and meant to show elements that could potentially be included in the Public Realm Infrastructure.
Funding
Planned to begin construction in 2023, the project is funded with state bonds, TEDI (Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure) grant funds, federal funds, partner matching dollars, City net debt and special assessment bonds, and the City general fund. Funding may also be provided by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.
Timeline / Schedule
Contact Information
Ahmed Omer, PE, Public Works – Lead Design Engineer (Primary Contact)
Nathan Koster, Public Works - Project Manager
Alexander Kado, Public Works – Lead Transportation and Engagement Planner