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RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DESIGN AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FOR LAKE AVENUE PLAZA WEST LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF LAKE AVENUE SOUTH AND SUPERIOR STREET.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, on May 30, 1985, the city of Duluth, Minnesota Power, a division of Allete, formerly known as Minnesota Power & Light Company, a Minnesota corporation (“MP”), and the Lake Superior Plaza Company entered into the Lake Avenue Plaza Development Agreement, which, among other things, provided for the development of a plaza adjacent to the MP headquarters building to the west of Lake Avenue, depicted in Exhibit A (the “Plaza”); and
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2020, the city council of the city of Duluth approved a First Amendment to the Lake Avenue Plaza Development Agreement (“First Amendment”), establishing cooperative parameters for continued use, improvement, and maintenance of the Plaza, and modifying certain rights and responsibilities set forth in the original Lake Avenue Plaza Development Agreement (“Original Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the First Amendment includes Article VIII, Section A, and the Original Agreement includes Article VIII, which require City Council approval prior to any modifications of the Plaza, to include plans and specifications and a statement of proposed maintenance obligations for the proposed improvements and modifications; and
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2020, MP provided to the city of Duluth a letter and plans indicating an intent to modify the Plaza, attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Modification Plans”); and
WHEREAS, the Modification Plans included a proposed design for the plaza, a timeline for its reconstruction, and a commitment by MP that MP would fund the proposed improvements and maintain the modified plaza consistent with the Original Agreement and the recently adopted First Amendment; and
WHEREAS, a design process for considering design options, potential plaza improvements, and potential plaza amenities was conducted by MP and an MP design consultant prior to completing the design and providing the Modification Plans to the city of Duluth, which included stakeholders such as the city of Duluth, the Greater Downtown Council, and other downtown property owners and plaza user groups; and
WHEREAS, the Modification Plans provide for safety improvements for plaza users at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Superior Street, improved pedestrian connectivity between downtown and Canal Park, options for bicycle parking, and maintain options for continued programming, such as the seasonal downtown Farmer’s Market and holiday celebrations; and
WHEREAS, the Modification Plans include details regarding the proposed improvements to the Plaza, which may be constructed in phases, and are attached hereto into Exhibit B.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Modification Plans as submitted by MP and attached hereto as Exhibit B, for the area of the Plaza as depicted in Exhibit A, are hereby approved.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to approve the design and proposed improvements to the Plaza, described and depicted in the attachments. The city council approved the First Amendment to the plaza agreements on April 27, 2020. Consistent with dialogue at that time, MP has continued with its design process in the intent to make initial plaza improvements concurrent with the work taking place to restore Superior Street in front the MP headquarters building between Lake Avenue and 1st Avenue West.
The proposed design, included following the MP letter in Exhibit B, was developed by MP consultant LHB, Inc. as part of a design process that included stakeholder engagement and evaluation of technical specifications for the plaza space. The plaza functions as an important community space, but is also the roof to a parking garage located directly below.
Proposed improvements to the plaza will result in a safer environment for plaza users, particularly at the plaza spaces closest to the adjacent intersection. Improved sight lines will allow for better visibility within the plaza. The improvements will also permit greater use by the public for recreation, access between downtown and Canal Park, and serve as a revitalized space for major community events and regular informal gatherings.