Minneapolis is gearing up for a series of projects that could reshape downtown’s Nicollet Mall and the long‑blocked stretch of Nicollet Avenue near the former Kmart site, a development that residents say will boost activity, commerce and community life.
According to CBS News, fifteen design prototypes created by University of Minnesota architecture students will take over Nicollet Mall on Monday. The installations, part of the “Nicollet Next” initiative, feature creative seating, games, greenery and public art, building on existing attractions such as the musical sculptures by Brit’s Pub and the football‑shaped benches on South Eighth Street. The public is invited to submit their own prototypes, with a submission deadline of Dec. 8, and the designs are intended to feed into the Nicollet Next Festival planned for next year.
At the same time, the city is moving forward with plans to reconnect Nicollet Avenue at the former Kmart location on Lake Street. CBS News reported that a fire in November accelerated demolition, and city officials are now presenting several design options for the site, which has been a barrier since the 1970s. Renderings include a plaza and recreation courts along the Midtown Greenway, a linear recreational corridor lining the new Nicollet Avenue, and a diagonal promenade with a corner park between Nicollet and First Avenue South. Smaller details such as parking, sidewalks, bike lanes and green space are also under review.
The city hopes the redevelopment will create a commercial and cultural crossroads, offering public spaces, affordable housing and opportunities for local businesses. Construction of the new Nicollet Avenue road and bridge is slated to begin in 2025. An open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Abyssinia Cultural Center on Lake Street, where the mayor and city council will seek final input before approving a plan.
In addition to the physical upgrades, the Minneapolis City Council approved an extra $45,000 for promotion of the Nicollet Mall revamp, bringing the total public‑relations budget to $95,000, CBS News reported. The funds are intended to address unexpected media coverage of renovation challenges, including store and restaurant closures, and to promote new art installations. Signs along the mall indicate the project will be “substantially complete” in November, and the reopened roadway connecting Nicollet and West Lake Street is scheduled to open to cars on Nov. 24, ending a nearly 50‑year blockage caused by the former Kmart.
What’s next: Residents can view the student prototypes on Nicollet Mall starting Monday, submit their own ideas by Dec. 8, and attend the open house Thursday at the Abyssinia Cultural Center. The city plans to begin road and bridge construction in 2025, with the reopened Nicollet‑West Lake Street corridor opening to traffic on Nov. 24.
Sources: cbsnews.com, cbsnews.com, cbsnews.com
