One of the consequences of the collapse of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul is the rise of “suburban downtowns” elsewhere.
The Star Tribune reports:
The concept of a “suburban downtown” may seem oxymoronic, but it’s gaining traction across the Twin Cities area. Blaine is pouring $750 million into a new sports and entertainment hub. Brooklyn Center hopes to transform an 80-acre parcel into a “gathering place” packed with housing. And Chanhassen is working hard to attract new development to an established downtown.
Burnsville’s Heart of the City project, which started taking shape around 25 years ago, in many ways provided a blueprint for subsequent suburban makeovers. And while the pandemic halted some long-planned projects, the concept appears to be experiencing a revival, with city leaders saying suburbanites are craving neighborhoods that foster connection.
The report goes on:
The suburban downtown boom is getting a boost not just from city officials, but the development community, with some saying it’s easier to do business beyond the Twin Cities.
“Minneapolis and St. Paul are much more difficult to deal [with] on all levels,” said Joshua Howe of Optimistic Partners, a developer who has built suburban apartments and Twin Cities restaurants. “Starting with planning and zoning, continuing all the way to public safety.”
Some suburbs have sought to foster a business-friendly atmosphere in hopes of attracting new establishments. Hopkins, which already had a historic downtown with a variety of restaurants, changed its liquor licenses rules a few years ago to make it easier for certain businesses to serve alcohol, Planning and Development Director Kersten Elverum said.
“We try to be really flexible and create opportunities by removing barriers,” she said.
The Twin Cities metro might turn into a sort of giant economic donut, with increasing activity surrounding an increasingly decrepit core. The “suburban downtowns” are building themselves on public safety and deregulation. Can the urban downturns learn a lesson?
