Delivering on Decades of Planning at Upper Harbor

The Upper Harbor is a 52-acre redevelopment reconnecting North Minneapolis to the Mississippi River with places to live and work, a regional riverfront park, and a community performing arts center. Many agencies and the public are collaborating on this effort.

The Upper Harbor site has a layered history from Dakota homeland to sawmilling to barge terminal. The federal closure of the locks and dams created an opportunity to reimagine this place and reconnect North Minneapolis residents to the riverfront. Initiated by the City of Minneapolis, the project has evolved into a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) and a private developer. It will result in a mixed-use development with a 20-acre public park, entertainment venue, and more, including affordable housing and commercial opportunities. Working across agencies is inherently complex navigating multiple perspectives, priorities, and regulations. Actively engaging the community was a necessity and therefore prioritized. As new information was gained and obstacles emerged, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the team pivoted and revised the approach and called on technical experts as needed.

This unique redevelopment is the culmination of decades of planning, informed by context and engagement with nearby residents. Exemplifying a public ownership model, it will create sustainable revenue streams that will be invested back into the North Minneapolis community; provide housing, business, and recreation opportunities; improve multi-modal access to and within the site; restore natural environment; and repair environmental injustices.

During the multi-year, community-driven planning and engagement process, the team partnered with community organizations to center Northside residents and leveraged culturally accessible communication methods. Formal advisory committees were supplemented by informal learning table discussions, individual touchpoints, and community open houses. Grappling with Minneapolis’ racial reckoning advanced conversations and project direction.