Project Overview
Imagine Downtown is a vision for Duluth’s downtown. We imagine a welcoming, vibrant, and prosperous district, where everyone feels at home. By 2030, we envision downtown neighborhoods filled with opportunities, community connections, and housing for students, young people, and families of all shapes. This plan intends to bring energy and life to downtown through public space improvements, mixed-use development, and exciting, home-grown activations to bring community downtown for fun, work, and community building.
Here are the main goals we’re working toward:
- Improve Safety:
Address homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance abuse while enhancing public safety.
- Enhance Coordination and Collaboration:
Connect key districts like the Historic Arts and Theatre District and Canal Park with walkable, well-designed spaces that unify downtown and make it accessible to all.
- Duluthin’ It Up!
Establish a unique brand that captures Duluth’s character. Improve wayfinding so residents and visitors can easily discover downtown’s local businesses, events, and attractions.
- Activate Public Spaces:
Invigorate public spaces with year-round programming, including winter activities at Gichi-ode’ Akiing Park, the Lake Superior Plaza, and commercial clusters.
- Identify Redevelopment Opportunities:
Revitalize underutilized buildings and spaces, turning them into housing and mixed-use developments that add vibrancy to the area and help address housing shortages.
About MIG Consulting Group
The nationally recognized consulting team, MIG, is guiding our work. MIG is comprised of planners, designers, urban strategists, and storytellers who have helped revitalize downtowns across the country.
Background and Context
Imagine Downtown brings together years of Duluthians’ committed community input, feedback from local businesses, and ideas from past plans. With that foundation, we will shape a downtown that reflects what our community wants and needs. This project builds on work from several recent planning efforts and studies and downtown initiatives, making sure that the pieces fit together to become a plan that can guide real progress.
- Imagine Duluth 2035 (Comprehensive Plan)
- Imagine Canal Park
- 2023 Duluth Housing Study
- 2014 Duluth Workforce Housing Needs Study
- 2017 Housing Demand Assessment: Downtown District of Duluth Report
- 2021 Action Plan – Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Mayor’s Downtown Task Force Report
- Visit Duluth and Destination Duluth
- Vision Northland Strategic Reuse Plans
- Northern Lights Express Passenger Rail Plans
- Duluth Public Library Redevelopment
- Stepping On Up Initiative (3 Phase Plan Addressing Homelessness)
- MNDot Projects (I35, Blatnik Bridge)
- Lot D Plans
- University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School (Planned for Downtown)
- 2005 East Downtown, Hillside, and Waterfront Charrette Report and Plan
Each of these plans identified opportunities, challenges, and ideas that are still relevant today. Imagine Downtown Duluth ties them together, building on what’s worked and addressing what still needs to be done, all with the community’s voice at the center.
Thank you to the following organizations who have committed time and resources to help us Imagine Downtown
Major Funders & Sponsors
Steering Committee Representatives
Laura Krollman
Rachel Johnson
Theresa Hannu
John Cole
John Dukich
Kristi Stokes
Matt Baumgartner
Shaun Floerke
Tonya Loken
Jason Hollinday
Kim Chick
Sumair Sheikh
Annie Harala
Christie Erickson
Tony Cuneo
