To view all the details of what went into creating the Imagine Downtown Plan, please view the “about” link. This plan is now in the active phase and it includes 4 working groups that all focus on specific objectives in the plan:

Housing

  • Fill area vacant buildings with residential units when possible

  • Develop more affordable housing options Downtown

  • Reduce barriers to housing development

  • Reduce barriers to home ownership

  • Create an additional 1,500 units of housing

Economic Development

  • Activate ground floors and vacant building spaces

  • Develop a Downtown Business attraction and Retention strategy

  • Reduce barriers to opening a business downtown

  • Develop business incubation initiatives

  • Support local area business owners to help them grow and expand

Public Space Improvements & Activation

  • Activate Downtowns public spaces

  • Improve walking and biking downtown

  • Create better wayfinding & Branding

  • Encourage locals and tourist to explore downtown

  • Promote community gathering and connection

Quality of Life & Safety

  • Expand resources for the unhoused & those with addiction

  • Expand the Clean & safe team

  • Free public classes on NARCAN, safety and helping those with mental health issues

  • Create a clear list of resources that are available (so the public knows who to call for what and what to do)

  • Improve a sense of safety downtown

These working groups are filled with community members, city employees, small business owners, foundations, property owners, organizations and area non-profits that are all working together collaboratively to move this plan forward. Each group will actively push the objectives forward with a goal of seeing sufficient progress in the next 3 years. Within each group, there are initiatives that can use more community support (like helping organize local events, classes, and public space activation), and if that sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, please reach out to JL Herbert (Imagine Downtown Project Manager) at jherbert@downtownduluth.com

We hope to show what can be accomplished when we all work together to create the downtown we want! Please also consider becoming a Downtown Ambassador to further support this community work.

Working Groups

This process involved thousands of Duluth community members-including residents, business owners, workers, and visitors-shared their priorities, concerns, and aspirations for the future of Downtown. The most commonly heard themes mentioned that Downtown should be:

  • A welcoming place for everyone.

  • Connected, walkable, and engaging place serving multiple interests.

  • Active and thriving place that is a social connection hub.

  • A place that highlights and celebrates Duluth’s distinct culture, history, and progress.

Interested in becoming a Project Ambassador?

As an Imagine Downtown Ambassador, you support and share the vision within your network and be part of change in our Downtown.

Email our Ambassador Coordinator, Christie Erickson.