The Minneapolis plan includes "social districts" with open containers and a pedestrian area

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Visitors in downtown Minneapolis pose with a statue of Mary Tyler Moore, found along Nicollet Mall. (FOX9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – In what they call a “city center action plan,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and a group of nearly two dozen industry leaders are proposing changes in the heart of the city, including converting Nicollet Mall to a pedestrian-only area, streamlining the investment process in vacant buildings and expanding the Warehouse District for sports and entertainment. options – including a “social district” that would allow open containers of alcohol.

What we know

Mayor Frey announced the plan Monday, touting the “unified vision for the future of downtown” as a comprehensive strategy to make downtown Minneapolis a “24/7 destination for residents, visitors and businesses.”

The Downtown Action Council, chaired by Frey and composed of stakeholders from regional business, labor, nonprofits, real estate, arts and sports, will oversee the plan.

“We’re bringing together a group of leaders who know how to run and get things done, and we’ll continue to transform downtown Minneapolis into a place where people – from all walks of life and all places – want are. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement accompanying the plan. “Together we are building the next phase of Minneapolis, and we are doing it well.”

Nicollet Mall, social areas

According to Frey, the plan will aim to “turn ideas into action” while creating a pedestrian mall where the bus-only Nicollet Mall is currently located, bringing outdoor seating, public art exhibits and year-round entertainment are possible, as well as: possible ice skating and more green space.

“Nicollet Mall could be a pedestrian utopia,” Frey said at a media event Monday. “It could be a place where we get people onto the streets as well as buses and traffic off the streets.”

As part of the plan, the group will also look to further invest in the Warehouse District as a prominent location for both nightlife and sports, including adding new signage and billboards, improving lighting and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and improving the entire offering more every year. events and possibly creating ‘social districts’ that allow open alcohol containers, such as Anoka has been doing it for the past few years.

Anoka’s “social district” wants to expand its footprint

This year, a pilot program is expanding that will allow Anoka’s “social district” to allow customers to drink on the street all summer long.

To further encourage investment in the city centre, the plan would also aim to make it easier for businesses to reuse properties, and for investors to convert vacant offices into homes. The plan would aim to expedite the city’s permitting processes while reducing red tape and regulations, and would call for changes to building codes and funding sources.

“Now is the time for all of us – government, private sector, nonprofits and activists – to come together to continue elevating downtown Minneapolis to its full potential,” Minneapolis City Council Member Michael Rainville said in a statement. “By working together, we create a city center that is vibrant, hospitable and accessible to everyone.”

Previously, a Vibrant Downtown Storefronts Workgroup held several listening sessions in 2023 to determine how initiatives to “revitalize downtown” could be expanded and implemented.

According to a press release, Minneapolis has experienced a 45% increase in pedestrian traffic since 2023, with nearly 70% of downtown workers returning to downtown locations at least once a week.