Mpls Downtown Improvement District

A great city for living, working and playing does not spring up overnight. It takes time, planning and a committed business community to lead the way and bring the vision to life.

In 2009, after more than five years of planning and advocacy by the Minneapolis Downtown Council, the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID) was established to make changes and help create a more competitive and thriving downtown.

From street-level cleaning services to patrolling safety ambassadors and a Fusion Center hot line, the DID collaborates with downtown businesses and organizations to identify and create services and programs that enhance the city.

One of the most visible and important DID programs is its greening initiative. All green projects make a difference to the enhancement of downtown Minneapolis, whether it is a boulevard garden, a pair of nicely done pots at a business entry or a full-scale park.

During a Jan. 11 event at the Pohlad Auditorium at the Minneapolis Central Library, the DID reflected on the greening accomplishments of the city, spoke optimistically of 2011 and handed out honors during its first Greening Awards ceremony.

The awards program was developed by the DID’s Greening and Public Realm Committee - spearheaded by committee Chairman David Wilson, a managing partner at Accenture - to celebrate civic associations, businesses, municipalities and community groups who have created and maintained spaces that help to enhance the public realm of downtown Minneapolis.

It is the DID’s hope that, by raising awareness about these contributions to the greening of downtown, others will start to act on the possibilities at their own locations. There is no better demonstration of the value of pride and commitment to a community than when a business or resident takes the lead in molding the city into a place they are proud to call home.

Nine exemplary businesses and organizations were recognized by the DID for their greening projects and contribution to downtown Minneapolis.

The award for Community Involvement went to the Loring Greenway Association for its work in reclaiming and transforming the Loring Greenway. The project demonstrates the impact a neighborhood can make when residents come together. The association was formed in response to the city’s dwindling funds for the maintenance of the Greenway. The landscaping work is now performed by an army of volunteers, led by Marsha Wiedenhammer.

The Best Restoration award was given to the Hines Co. for restoration of the plaza and two reflecting pools at 20 Washington Square, which completes the original Minoru Yamisaki site design.

Other Greening Award recipients included:

• The YWCA of Minneapolis received Best Entryway Greening (Small Scale) for carefully tended planters at the Nicollet Mall entry.
• The Target Corp. was honored with Best Entryway Greening (Large Scale) for the Ben Tre gardens at Target Plaza South, which provides a beautiful sitting area.
• Best Outdoor Café Greening was presented to the Local and its design team, Your Enchanted Florist, for colorful and creative usage of planters to enhance the façade of a building.
• Best Plaza was awarded to WCCO for the Marquette Avenue garden, which hosts public music events and features native plantings.
• Best Park (Small Scale) was given to St. Olaf Church for its gem, Assisi on 9^th Street. The park is maintained through a collaborative effort between St. Olaf and the residents of the housing next door.
• FRM Associates won Best Park (Large Scale) for the Cancer Survivors Park. The contemplative space is a beautiful green oasis in the city.
• Best Parking Lot Greening was presented to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for its simple but effective landscaping work on its surface parking lot on Fifth Avenue. Parking lot greening could be transformative for downtown, if, like Thrivent has done, owners of every surface lot made an effort to soften the gray edges and enhance the pedestrian experience with greening.

The Greening Awards will be juried annually and this year will recognize summer and winter greening achievements.

http://finance-commerce.com/2011/02/honoring-minneapolis-businesses-with-‘green-thumbs/