By Tyler McLeete, PE , Stantec – North Loop Preservation
Just west of downtown Minneapolis lies the historic North Loop District. In its heyday, the neighborhood was home to a billion-dollar wholesale industry and its associated factories, warehouses, and railyards. Supporting this hub of industry was a network of infrastructure across 23 blocks of streets and alleys that, to this day, retain remnants of original paving materials (brick, cobblestone, and wood paver systems) and industrial infrastructure (loading docks, canopies, and abandoned railroad tracks in the public right-of-way).
However, with the modernization of distribution practices and the economic impact from The Great Depression, this previously thriving industrial neighborhood experienced a decline. In recent years, though, the area has undergone a significant transformation to become a vibrant, walkable urban neighborhood and a destination for entertainment, dining, and shopping, in part, due to the Target Field development attracting activity back to the area.
Pivotal to this revitalization was the ability for infrastructure to serve the area without infringing on its historic character.
Building a framework for success
With this goal in mind, the City of Minneapolis embarked on a comprehensive reconstruction project to improve over a mile of city streets. The success of the Historic North Loop Public Realm Reconstruction project involved thoughtful involvement of stakeholders and a dedicated vision of preserving historic elements and charm while adding modern amenities and accessibility.
The City hired Stantec to work with city planning and engineering staff to reach a preferred design for each heritage street and to outline a possible funding and implementation plan. Building on the Warehouse District Heritage Street Plan guidelines developed by Stantec and the City, Stantec prepared plans to reconstruct deteriorated pavement and improve pedestrian safety, while respecting and enhancing its historic character.
Stantec worked closely with the City to finalize preliminary design, including historic preservation treatments, and delivered a final detailed design package.
Developing consensus
This project involved many stakeholders throughout the development of the Heritage Street Plan and its subsequent street projects, including City engineers and planners, residents, companies with major real estate investments, small businesses, historic preservationists, potential investors, and the City’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Onsite stakeholder tours and meetings helped bring disparate viewpoints to light and then built consensus through those conversations. As a result of this proactive approach, the community was enthusiastic to see its input realized by the time construction was underway.
Enhancing the environment
Because this area had been industrial for so long, it had not supported any greenspace or street trees for over a century.
With input from stakeholders, the City and Stantec learned that residents wanted trees incorporated into the new design for to enhance greenery. In addition to improving neighborhood aesthetics, the decision to include tree planting provided an opportunity to incorporate green infrastructure stormwater management facilities with the tree planting areas.
Tree beds were designed to receive sidewalk drainage to infiltrate the runoff, nourish the trees, and improve the quality of the stormwater that drains into the adjacent Mississippi River. Keeping historic character in mind, tree placement was also carefully planned to not impact loading docks or significant historic facades.
Maximizing authentic resources
In preserving the neighborhood’s historic roots, it was a priority to salvage as many original details as possible as part of the reconstruction project. Preservation included reusing existing materials such as vitrified clay paver bricks and granite curbs that had been installed in the early 1900s.
Because these reused bricks would be imbedded in pavement, the project team took a creative approach to pavement design. This process included determining a strength value for the bricks to ensure the roads would hold up well over time.
Notably, not every paver pulled from the street was salvageable so City staff and Stantec worked together to rate the pavers and determine which were adequate for reuse. In addition, the City’s Public Works Department saved bricks salvaged throughout the city, including those removed by developers working on new developments, those removed from utility projects, and similar bricks found under pavement from other reconstruction projects across the city.
Stantec also tracked down local salvage companies who kept these historic pavers in stock for resale and purchased the additional bricks needed.
The use of even a limited amount of historic material in a street reconstruction is unique, however it was imperative to do so to maintain the character of the neighborhood and keep in step with the Warehouse District Heritage Street Plan. This final product serves to honor this area’s unique past, while establishing a modern infrastructure framework that supports ongoing vitality.
This article was provided by Stantec, one of ASCE-MN’s sponsors. To see other benefits of becoming a sponsor, visit https://ascemn.org/sponsors or email treasurer@ascemn.org.