Dupont Avenue to Blaisdell Avenue Planning
«Click here to see the latest proposed construction (3.8mb PDF)»
Planning for the reconstruction of Lake Street has been underway for several years. Over three years of Community Participation have been part of the planning process. The main forum for community participation has been the Project Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC consists of 30 neighborhood, business and community development organizations, city council wards and members of the design team. This committee has met monthly since January 2003 to provide input on various aspects of the roadway construction as well as the streetscape elements. Subcommittees were formed to concentrate on the individual segments of Lake Street and the types of streetscape and special assessments associated with those elements selected for the streetscape.
Numerous public open houses have been held over the past three years, as well as presentations at the various neighborhood Community Development Organizations that are within the Lake Street reconstruction project limits - four distinct neighborhoods fall within this segment alone of Lake Street: CARAG, Lowry Hill East, Lyndale, and Whittier. On June 21, 2006 the Minneapolis City Council approved the propodes layout. Click here to see the proposed layout (3.8mb PDF file).
Planning for construction continued as construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2007. Meeting attendees expressed a desire for a “base level” of streetscaping that includes decorative lighting, tree plantings, scored sidewalks, trash receptacles, benches and bike racks.
Property owners also agreed to pursue city approval for an enhanced streetscape for the length of this segment. These enhancements include screen fencing at all surface parking lots facing Lake Street as well as additional shrub and perennial plantings.
The reconstruction of Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue includes the replacement of the street, curb and gutter, and sidewalks within the corridor, as well as the replacement of traffic signals, lighting and crosswalks. In addition to roadway and sidewalk reconstruction, several other significant utilities are being reconstructed/repaired as well. The water-main will be cleaned and lined on both Lake Street and Lyndale Avenue within the construction limits, coincidental with roadway construction. During the replacement and cleaning and lining process, temporary water service will be provided to all properties within the corridor at all times. The lateral storm sewer system will also be reconstructed, and connections to the system from buildings that are in need of storm sewer improvements will occur at this time. Building owners are urged to determine how water drains from their building’s roof. If the roof’s drainage piping does not drain onto the ground, it is likely it drains directly into the sanitary sewer. Such connections are no longer permitted, so the building owner must modify the drains during the reconstruction of Lake Street.
Building owners are urged to contact Arvella Greenway of the City of Minneapolis at 612-673-5899 if they have any questions or know their building’s roof drain system needs to be modified.
- For more information about rainleader disconnects: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cso/rainleader-ordinance/
- For questions about combined sewer issues: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cso
Concerns with your basement: areaways
Property owners should also determine whether their basement extends under the sidewalk on Lake Street. If it does, they may be responsible for removing or modifying this "areaway" to accommodate construction.
Since an areaway is part of the building it serves, it is the building owner’s responsibility to make sure it is structurally sound and can be altered to allow sidewalk construction or it is abandoned. If your building has an areaway, or you believe it might, please contact Jenifer Loritz of the City of Minneapolis at 612-673-3625. Areaway Fact Sheet (PDF) »