Principles for Bayfront Development
- Lakeshore and harbor areas should be public space to attract residents and visitors to the area; urban areas are revitalized when they generate foot traffic.
- Development of the Duluth Bayfront should emphasize the things that are unique to this area and not provide attractions that can be placed or found almost anywhere else in the country; when we invest in attractions that "can be found anywhere" we will be forced into continued investment to be "bigger & better" than our competition-the Duluth harbor cannot be outdone.
- A connection for pedestrians should be established between the downtown areas and the bayfront; people will be more likely to live in the downtown area if there are ways for them to be connected to each other and the harbor area.
- There should be a balance of commercial and non-commercial activities to attract residents well as visitors and young families as well as retirees.
- Increased traffic, especially pedestrian traffic, makes areas safer; if high pedestrian traffic can be maintained over a greater part of the day, the area will be a safer place to live, work and play.
- Bayfront planning should promote development of a "green connection" between the Lake Walk, Canal Park, and the Munger Trail that can serve as a visual and functional connection between "ends" of the city.
- Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) and The Economy of Cities (1969)) and Christopher Alexander (A Pattern Language (1977) , A Timeless Way of Building (1979), A New Theory of Urban Design (1987), etc.) are two, of many, researchers and authors who have demonstrated the principles suggested in the above statements.
Reasons for a Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- Cities all across America have invested millions of dollars reclaiming riverfronts and waterfronts for public access that have been lost to commercial and private ownership; why should Duluth "waste" money reclaiming what it already has?
- Duluth attracts people because of its lake, harbor, and natural environment; many cities have capitalized on their natural environments in attracting businesses, and Duluth can as well.
- A conservatory will attract visitors particularly in the winter period; outside gardens associated with a conservatory will encourage visits all year around.
- A conservatory can attract visitors who might also visit the Great Lakes Aquarium and visa versa, especially if the conservatory and aquarium are convenient to each other.
- A conservatory is more likely to be "affordable" for residents and visitors.
- A conservatory can provide another site and attraction for convention attendees.
- Conservatories in other cities have had a positive cultural and financial impact on surrounding areas; Duluth has models for how to develop a successful attraction. (See www.bayfrontvisions.com for just a few examples).
- A conservatory on the Duluth bayfront can provide educational and meeting opportunities not found elsewhere in the city.
- Commercial development and environmental preservation in Duluth do not have to be in conflict with each other; solutions will require more thinking and analysis, but solutions can usually be found.
For more information write us at
Bayfront Visions
PO 3334
Duluth, MN 55803
or email us
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