2019 North Loop Neighborhood Association Accomplishments
Neighborhood Highlight
- Worked with MNDOT, Hennepin County and the City to have a left turn signal installed at the intersection of I-394 and Washington Avenue. Efforts continue to assure development of a long-term plan for improving this intersection for traffic as well as pedestrian safety
Community Engagement
- Held numerous neighborhood events throughout the year that promoted engagement and community spirit:
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- Annual Meeting at MUSE
- Annual Candy Grab
- Annual Food Truck Fair
- National Night Out at Target Field Station
- Trick or Treat with North Loop Style
- Holiday movie at Target Field Station
- Installed a third Little Free Library
- Created a neighborhood garden in the North Loop
Streets & Pedestrian Safety
- New pavement and sidewalks on 3rd St, 5th, 7th and 8th Avenues – including completion the restoration of Historic Pavers
- Pedestrian improvements including sidewalk crossing bump-outs
- Continued efforts working with the City to improve pedestrian safety
- Placed pedestrian crosswalk signs on key intersections
Neighborhood Safety
- Established a security email blast with most North Loop business owners
Parks & Beautification
- Received City and property owner approval to assume management of the dog park on 3rd Street/8th Avenue – park improvements to begin early 2020
- Maintained the Welcome Park at I-394 and Washington Avenue (2018 NLNA clean-up and landscaping initiative)
- Volunteers cleared underbrush and branches at James Rice Park to open up views of the Mississippi River (more in 2020)
- Continued monthly neighborhood clean-up events
- Continued neighborhood tree watering program for new trees
Business Community Partnership
- Held listening session with North Loop businesses and MPD to discuss neighborhood crime concerns and measures to improve safety
- Provided videos to neighborhood businesses to promote neighborhood shopping events in spring, fall and holidays
Planning & Zoning
- Held monthly meetings of Planning+Zoning Committee to review numerous proposed development projects, providing feedback and recommendations
Historic Preservation & Public Art
- Called for proposals for a NL Welcome Park monument and received neighborhood feedback; winner selected by external committee of art experts
- Raised $65,000 from neighborhood businesses to fund the monument
- Sculpture to be installed in early March
- Inaugurated ArtCrossing in Tower Loft Tunnel as part of the ongoing North Loop public art initiative
- Produced eight videos (so far) highlighting historic NL buildings and events
- Competed research on historical signage project; prepared to place signs on significant North Loop buildings
Civic Engagement
- Registered voters and provided voter registration information at North Loop community events
- Hosted event on elections and election security with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon
- Added 2020 voter information resource to the website
Online Presence
- Website traffic doubled from 2018 (9.973 average monthly visits to northloop.org)
- Doubled Instagram followers and saw significant increase in Facebook engagement
- Upgraded website to new WordPress version and made structural site changes
- Added new Historic North Loop section to the website
- Established a North Loop news bureau with lots of original content