Land Use & Planning

As more cities move to embrace the river and capitalize on its exceptional value, FMR works within metro river communities to advocate for public access, equity, environmental sustainability, and community enjoyment of the river.

Here are the park plans and developments that our river corridor team has its eye on. Learn more about the program, how we evaluate development plans and all the places we work.

Development and land use updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Twitter) and in FMR's Mississippi Messages newsletter.

Join us! Sign up to be a River Guardian to receive email action alerts when we need your help the most, plus invitations to educational happy hours and other events.

POSTS

Locks and dam meetings draw a crowd

by Irene Jones

September 14, 2019

The Army Corps of Engineers is currently considering options to repurpose or maintain the Upper St. Anthony lock. A second part of this same study, beginning next year, will look at removing Lower St. Anthony Falls and the Ford dam. Over 100 people went to the first public input meetings about this study, including us. Missed them? Learn what we learned and weigh in with written comments by October 20. >>

What's it like to walk to the river in North Minneapolis?

by Alicia Uzarek

September 14, 2019

What's it like to walk to the river in Minneapolis? "Inspiring," "harsh" and "beautiful" were all words that neighbors used as we laced up our walking shoes and headed to the river on a warm fall evening. Check out the photos and step-by-step videos to experience what it's like to walk from the North Minneapolis residential area over Dowling and the interstate to Upper Harbor Terminal and the river! >>

Action Alert: Oppose the redevelopment plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal [CLOSED]

September 12, 2019

Minneapolis residents, take action here. >> Read more

Area C: The overlooked Ford site

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

September 8, 2019

Did you know that Ford Motor Company owns a hazardous waste dump right on the river's edge in the middle of St. Paul? FMR has been a longtime advocate to clean up this site. As the process ramps up in the coming months, we'll need you to join us in taking action. >>

Ford Area C updates email list

September 1, 2019

Shrubs and trees, green with summer growth, cover a small walking area that is the Ford Area C dumpsite. High above, the smokestack from the old Ford plant peeks through a break in the canopy.

Can we just talk about this UHT concert stadium?

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

August 28, 2019

Minneapolis city leaders are proceeding as if the concert stadium at Upper Harbor Terminal is a done deal, but it's not. Rather than debating venue names, we need to discuss public subsidies, living-wage jobs, and how the community will benefit from this or any development at this important mile-long riverfront site. >>

Residents say affordable housing critical at Upper Harbor Terminal

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

August 22, 2019

Community members are clear that truly affordable housing should be a key part of the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment. At one point an attendee asked, "How many of you are here because you or someone you care about is affected by the high cost of housing?" Nearly every hand in the room went up. We should expand the timeline to figure out this vital aspect of this riverfront redevelopment. >>

FMR voices concerns around Upper Harbor Terminal process

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

August 19, 2019

As we've watched recent Upper Harbor Terminal community engagement activities unfold, we've seen a rushed, confusing and inadequate process that's failing to center community vision. We've written a letter to the Minneapolis City Council and mayor outlining our concerns. >>

Reconnecting with the river: MPR and North News share North Minneapolis' river stories

by sue rich

August 13, 2019

Recently, two local media projects from MPR and North News highlighted North Minneapolis residents' relationships with water and our Big River.

The MPR stories are a riveting listen, while the stunning North News issue is both a refreshing read and a graceful portrait of a community's multi-faceted relationship to the river. >>

Bold riverfront development plan rises in St. Paul

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

August 12, 2019

In the past, development proposals for the former county jail site in downtown St. Paul have fallen through. It's a challenging area: a bluff, railroad tracks and Shepard Road separate the river's edge from the city. But AECOM's proposed Riversedge project thinks big about how to overcome these challenges — and might ultimately deliver. >>