“The Bridges” — What are the alternatives?

What are the alternatives?

What kind of river corridor development does Friends of the Mississippi River support?

Friends of the Mississippi River believes in development that capitalizes on the rivers place in our community while respecting neighborhoods, the environment and a balance of public and private interests. In general, we support development that:

• Provides for public access. The river is a vibrant corridor through much of Minneapolis and St. Paul because of the extensive parkland that brings walkers, runners, bicyclists, families, and tourists into public space.
• Does not degrade, and when possible, enhances the rivers ecological functions. Such development uses low-impact and cost-efficient development techniques to help store floodwaters, recharge groundwater, and support habitat.
• Protects cultural and historic resources.
• Protects views. The vista of the Mississippi River, its banks and its bluffs is a treasure belonging to the public. Development that protects this resource is appropriate development.

What kind of development do local citizens and businesses want to see along the river on the West Side Flats?

The West Side Citizens Organization conducted a two-year, citizen-driven process that resulted in the detailed West Side Flats Master Plan. The developer who has proposed the Bridges of Saint Paul project signed a development agreement with the City of Saint Paul to follow the communitys plan, but to date has failed to do so.

The Master Plan presents a view of West Side Flats development that is far different from the mega-development model envisioned by the Bridges of Saint Paul project. The Master Plan is anchored in four principles:

Accessibility

pedestrian-centered, year-round, and affordable activities.

Connectedness

aesthetically consistent with neighborhood character, linked to a variety of transportation options, and respectful of West Side culture.

Opportunity

to support local business development, offer viable employment and provide reinvestment resources.

Quality

counters nuisance potential, maintains community security, includes appropriate infrastructure development, and enhances visual connections.

The development strategy envisioned in the West Side Flats Master Plan calls for new open spaces and pedestrian connections, visual and physical access to the river, re-establishment of the historic street grid with trees and plantings, improved building facades and public spaces, and diversifying land use and business.

But the Bridges of Saint Paul stresses:

Vehicle access rather than pedestrian access.

The developer hopes to attract shoppers and tourists from across the metropolis, creating potentially huge traffic problems.

A scale of development that is inconsistent with adjacent structures and the river.

Rather than the 4- to 6-story buildings recommended by planners, the Bridges proposal stresses towers up to 32 stories high.

Business development that has little or nothing to do with existing local business.

Private over public space.

View the West Side Flats Master Plan executive summary (3.8 MB PDF)

West Side Flats development provides a positive example

In late 2006, ground was broken for the West Side Flats, a development which incorporates the communitys vision into its design. This PDF shows how the West Side Flats integrates itself into the West Side community:

How does the Bridges proposal Relate to the Citys Mississippi River Corridor Plan?

In many ways the Bridges proposal does not conform to the plan. Adopted in 2002 by the Saint Paul City Council, the plan is part of the citys comprehensive plan and embraces the following principles:

• Protect the river as a unique urban ecosystem.
• Sustain the economic resources of the working river.
• Enhance the citys quality of life by reconnecting to the river.
• Use urban design to enhance the river corridors built environment.

Unfortunately, the Bridges proposal is inconsistent with these goals of the corridor plan:

• This development would not have a relationship to the river, a need for a river location, or the capability to enhance the river environment.
• This development would interfere with the views afforded by magnificent bluffs in Saint Paul‘s river corridor.
• This development would not create new neighborhoods [as] part of creating connections to the river.
• This development would eliminate traditional street and block patterns [that] enable people to experience the river through visual and physical connections.
• This development would not leave primary view corridors…open and unobstructed. As the plan says, the scale of new buildings in the river corridor should relate to topography, and should preserve critical public views.

Saint Pauls Mississippi River Corridor Plan (1.4 MB PDF)