Over the past several months a number of properties have been bought, sold, spruced up and turned around while several new businesses have sprung up or are in the works. Some of these changes are the result of community action harnessed by the Northeast Investment Cooperative, which purchased two properties on Central. Others have arisen from collaborations between neighborhood organizations and property owners. But most of these changes have come from local businesses and business owners who see the economic opportunities Central Avenue offers. I hope the brief tour of the Avenue inside the newsletter encourages you to check out the many exciting things happening on Central Avenue in person.
I’d also like to remind you about the upcoming community meeting about the proposed Velodrome development on Central Avenue at Shoreham Yards. The meeting is Tuesday, October 8, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., at Columbia Manor, 3300 Central Avenue NE and offers a great opportunity to meet representatives from MN Cycling Center and learn about the facility they would like to bring to Northeast Minneapolis. Their exciting proposal for a world-class velodrome, BMX track, commuter facility, event center and educational programming would not only be a unique community amenity, but would also be a significant step forward in the redevelopment of Central Avenue as a whole.
Lastly, I’d like to point out the innovative new bicycle and pedestrian connection at Stinson and New Brighton Blvds NE. Made possible through a combination of City and Windom Park Citizens in Action (WPCiA) funds, this newly formatted intersection crossing should create a safer environment for both pedestrians and bicyclists by implementing a dedicated crossing with a pedestrian signal and countdown timer. Still to come is a bicycle signal. The improvements to this intersection will be a welcome amenity for bicyclists using the Diagonal Trail and connecting to the rest of Minneapolis’ bicycle infrastructure.
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