We have a choice about how the Twin Cities will grow - either uncontrolled, sprawling development can shape the future, or we can shape development to create a healthy, livable Twin Cities region. The Smart Growth Design Awards (SGDA) identify those development patterns that reflect a positive vision for the future. A vision that includes protection of the environment, principles of social equity and a commitment to sustainable economic growth. 2004 Smart Growth Design Award Winners Announced! The Brainerd Lakes Area is growing. It has become one of the most desirable places for Minnesotans to retire and build their “dream house.” Unfortunately, the current trend is to build large, suburban-style homes (humorously referred to as “starter castles”) that are situated on postage stamp-sized lakeshore lots. Natural vegetation is removed and replaced with highly fertilized, religiously clipped grass turf lawns that run right down to a rip-rapped beach. 1000 Friends has joined forces with other conservation organizations to publicly recognize individuals who have chosen to develop or redevelop their lakeshore properties using ecologically sustainable and sensitive principles. The hope is that through these awards, environmentally friendly development along lakeshore will become the fashionable trend. The future health of the region's lakes depends on it. The awards are sponsored by 1000 Friends of Minnesota, the Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (LARA), the Brainerd Lakes Area Audubon Society, the Minnesota Lakes Association, the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, the DNR Section of Fisheries, and the DNR Division of Waters. 2004 Lake Friendly Development Awards Winners Announced!   What SGDA Winners Receive   Smart Growth Principles   Nominee Requirements   List of 2003 SGDA Winners   Judging Criteria List of 2000 SGDA Winners     2004 Smart Growth Design Award Brochure Available Online Download PDF file        2004 Smart Growth Design Award Winners Announced  Building/Block Scale - Marketplace Lofts, Hopkins This mixed-use project with lofts above and retail below has helped the City achieve its goal of bringing new energy and economic stability back to this suburban main street. The close involvement of local stakeholders ensured that the finished product carried out the goals of the broader community. Careful attention to architectural detail creates a visually interesting streetscape and reinforces the historic nature of the downtown area. By bringing residents to Main Street Hopkins, Marketplace Lofts has brought new life to this suburban downtown and serves as an excellent example of small-scale downtown revitalization. Neighborhood Housing Infill - New Bridge, St. Paul This residential urban infill development employed New Urbanist principles of small lot sizes, front porches, rear garages, sidewalks and narrow streets to increase the density and livability of this neighborhood. The style of the homes compliments that of the surrounding St. Paul neighborhoods and brings the amenities of association-maintained living to the City. The relatively high density of the development kept housing costs down and allowed for much of the adjacent open space to be preserved. Neighborhood Housing and Workplace Infill – Excelsior Tech Center and Regency Development, Hopkins This project renovated the abandoned Alliant Techsystems defense plant into a mixed-business center that includes office space, warehouse/manufacturing space, mini-storage and production space. A neighborhood with rowhomes and detached townhomes was constructed on the surface parking lots bringing additional housing adjacent to this job center. The homes reflect the architectural style of a nearby historic neighborhood with rear garages, front porches and sidewalks connecting the neighborhood to a regional trail system. This creative solution to a difficult problem has brought housing and jobs together and turned a blighted industrial property into a community amenity without the use of public subsidies.     Town Center Redevelopment – Excelsior and Grand, St. Louis Park This extensive redevelopment of Excelsior Boulevard incorporates retail space, mixed income housing, a park, amphitheater, and community gathering space to implement the community’s vision of a walkable town center. By paying careful attention to the needs of all users, Excelsior and Grand has created both a strong public realm for the community and private amenities for its residents. The success of this project demonstrates how a thoughtful integration of uses can transform a blighted, suburban arterial into an active, thriving town center.   Town Center Infill – Woodlake Centre, Richfield The City of Richfield undertook the redevelopment of Woodlake Centre as one step in implementing the City’s town center revitalization plan. Selective infill was used to improve the street presence of the existing buildings at this prominent intersection that was once dominated by surface parking. The construction of a parking ramp on-site created room for an assisted living facility as well as a public plaza and sculpture garden. Townhomes with a mix of market-rate and affordable rents were constructed on an adjacent parcel increasing housing choices in Richfield’s downtown area. Woodlake Centre is an excellent example of using selective infill to transform a low-density, single-use site into a dense, mixed-use urban center. City/Regional Scale – The Phalen Corridor, St. Paul This long-term community vision has engaged public and private partners to bring St. Paul’s East Side back from years of decline. The construction of Phalen Boulevard along a polluted rail corridor has provided access to many brownfield sites that have been redeveloped into productive job centers. Over 1000 jobs have been brought back to the community on land that was previously polluted auto junkyards, scrap yards, and industrial sites. In addition to job creation, 94 housing units have been completed to date with more than 650 to be added in the next three years providing housing at a range of incomes and needs. Recreational opportunities have been provided by expanding two state bike trails; creating a YMCA; building a skate park, climbing wall and playing fields; and restoring four wetlands, one of which was formerly a parking lot. By making the East Side of St. Paul a vital place to live, work and recreate, The Phalen Corridor has had a tremendous impact at both the city and regional scale. 2004 SGDA Finalists Cottages on the Green – Brooklyn Park This suburban infill development created an alternative to the typical townhome model by detaching the units, using rear garages and alleys, including front porches and arranging the units to front a common green. Grain Belt Brewery/Bottineau Public Library – Northeast Minneapolis The creative re-use of this historic Minneapolis landmark has brought both private (office space) and public (library) uses to the same complex creating a neighborhood anchor that is rich in local heritage. The success of the project has catalyzed additional revitalization efforts in the Upper Mississippi River area. Humboldt Greenway – North Minneapolis Hennepin County took the initiative to redevelop Humboldt Avenue into a parkway to improve the amenities in this deteriorating neighborhood and better connect the neighborhood to the river. Blighted housing was removed and replaced with family-oriented single family homes and townhomes that compliment the architectural style of traditional Minneapolis Parkway neighborhoods. Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center – South Minneapolis This site was once slated to become a garbage transfer station, but with neighborhood intervention the site eventually became a state-of-the-art green business/industrial center. Located along the Hiawatha Light Rail Corridor, and the Midtown Greenway bikeway, this site brings good paying jobs to an area highly accessible by multiple modes of transportation.  The innovation in green architecture serves as an inspiring learning laboratory for the latest ecological technologies available in Minnesota. 2004 Lake Friendly Development Awards Winners Announced! The 2004 award for Lake-Friendly Home Construction went to Kevin and Joyce Brick of Sorenson Lake in Crow Wing County. Their log home and the grounds surrounding it were designed to fit in harmony with the natural setting. The home’s gable roof drains stormwater away from the lake, their driveway is pervious sand and soil instead of impervious asphalt, and a buffer zone of natural vegetation was left along the lakeshore to provide screening, reduce erosion, and provide shelter for wildlife. The 2004 award for Lakescaping went to the Roosevelt and Lawrence Area Lake Association in Cass County. With the support of MNDOT and the DNR, grass was removed from a highway right-of-way along State Highway 6, and in its place, native vegetation was planted. The 40-plus native species that were added do not require mowing, as was the case with the grass, and the native plants are better filters for highway runoff that flows into Roosevelt Lake. Over 50 lake association volunteers worked on the project, and it was completed in just two days. A runner-up award for Lakescaping was presented to the Portage-Crooked Lake Improvement Association in Crow Wing County. Under the guidance of Master Gardener Rose Puckett, three lakescaping demonstration sites were established along the lake. Low-maintenance buffer zones of native vegetation have eliminated erosion problems (something rip-rap can't do) and butterfly and bird habitats were created (again, something rip-rap can't do). What do Smart Growth Design Award Winners Receive? Recognition before their peers at a dinner. A plaque to be displayed as a lasting testament to the project's success. Recognition in 1000 Friends of Minnesota’s publications, including our quarterly newsletter and website. Increased public awareness of your good work. Projects are Judged on Five General Attributes: LAND USE -Developments are compatible with and connect to surrounding features, are compatible with the community's vision of its future, protect and/or link to open space and natural features, connect to services and jobs, and are more densely developed to utilize land efficiently. DESIGN - Developments are attractive to potential buyers, provide housing that accommodates a range of incomes and lifestyles, include meaningful open space and outdoor recreational opportunities within their boundaries, offer a mix of uses, and consider resource efficiency. INFRASTRUCTURE - Developments make efficient use of existing infrastructure, minimize contribution to traffic congestion, incorporate connections to transit service, are accessible to pedestrians, and do not overload infrastructure like stormwater, sewer, water, roads, and schools PLANNING PROCESS - Developments are supportive of comprehensive plans. Smart Growth communities encourage public participation in the process of planning and development, and frequently participate in Livable Communities and other community sustainability programs. AFFORDABILITY - Developments include housing that is accessible to a range of household incomes. Because of efficiency and design, Smart Growth developments are better able to provide a variety of housing choices, including affordable housing. Nominee Requirements Must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 1990 and no later than March 1,2004. (This may be applied to the relevant phase of a multi-phased project.) Must have a completed phase. Must be located within the 7-county metro area. The scale of the project can range from a single building to the neighborhood level. Must not convert lands identified as critical natural areas in a County Biological Survey or local plan. The project can include any combination of residential, mixed use, commercial or industrial development. List of 2003 SGDA Winners Residential Category - Brewery Breakthrough, St. Paul The redevelopment of this three-block area located near the Minnesota Landmark Brewing Company resulted in a neighborhood renaissance that brought residents back to this historic neighborhood after years of decline and neglect. The West 7th/Fort Road Federation worked with the City of St. Paul, several partners and many funding sources through a neighborhood planning process that resulted in the creation of 44 units of various housing types at a range of prices. The project included the historic renovation of the Funk Mansion and Dahl House, townhome and single family home construction, Habitat for Humanity homes, the rehabilitation of older homes, and the creation of a park overlooking the river bluff with walking trails. The project’s success resulted in $500,000 of profit from sales, which were returned to the city of St. Paul. Commercial Category - Mississippi Market/St. Paul NEC Offices, St. Paul The redevelopment of this key street corner at the intersection of Selby and Dale has set the tone and encouraged further revitalization efforts in the area. This natural foods grocery store with offices on the second level, has created a variety of employment opportunities and brought over 125 jobs to the community. The St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium worked to ensure that green building techniques, and recycled and locally made materials were used whenever possible to create a model for green building and design. Bicycle racks and a shower were added to encourage employees to bike to work, creating a complete range of transportation options that includes bus, car or bike. A 15 percent reduction in paved surfaces has allowed for increased greenspace and landscaping to make the site more attractive to visitors and pedestrians. Mixed Use Category - East Village, Minneapolis East Village, constructed by Central Community Housing Trust, is a vertical mixed use and mixed income development that added 180 rental housing units and 6,000 square feet of commercial space to a once neglected site. The scale, design and architectural features of this project connect with and enhance the surrounding historic neighborhood while creating shared amenities that include underground parking, retail space, a community room in a coffee shop and a common greenway. Market rate and affordable housing units create a range of housing options for employees in the area, which borders downtown Minneapolis. The design of a quiet lane and a landscaped median create an attractive buffer for residents along a busy one-way street.   Multi Use Category - Wesley Commons/Town Square, Golden Valley The City of Golden Valley redeveloped this 1960's strip mall and grocery store in an effort to revitalize its downtown area. Using recommendations from a citizen task force, this project incorporated a side-by-side mix of uses that includes three different housing styles and a commercial building with retail on the first floor and office space above. The city went to great lengths to maintain the original business owners, creating a buy-in option and offering reduced rental rates to tenants of the pre-existing strip mall. The housing component includes market-rate condominiums and townhomes as well as affordable rental townhomes owned by Common Bond Communities. Five of the rental townhomes are Holman units with rents based on the tenants ability to pay. The use of underground and shared parking minimizes the impact of the automobile. List of 2000 SGDA Winners Suburban New Development - Liberty on the Lake, Stillwater Liberty on the Lake Website Liberty is an innovative subdivision that is connected to the rest of the community in a number of ways. Liberty shows how a community can use design standards to create a very attractive walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. It is innovative for its design with narrower streets that form an interconnected street pattern, sidewalks and pathways that provided access to all parts of the development, homes that are oriented to the street with shorter setbacks, hidden garages, and a variety of lot sizes. Collaboration with the school district resulted in an elementary school that was designed into the project. Stormwater management is integrated into the open space and park system. This upper market residential development has helped demonstrate market acceptance for smart growth design features.   Suburban Redevelopment - The Gables & Crown Ridge, Minnetonka The Gables is a townhouse development and Crown Ridge is a multi-family apartment development. They are integrated into a larger, mixed-use development knows as West Ridge Market that includes a variety of housing types and prices/rents. The Gables provide 24 of its 104 units for first-time homebuyers (deed restrictions ensure affordability for 30 years). Crown Ridge has 64 units with rents affordable for 50 to 60 percent median income and six units are public housing units. The overall project was part of a public-private-nonprofit collaborative with strong community and neighborhood involvement. A stormwater management system creates amenity open space and treats runoff before it enters the adjacent wetlands. A system of sidewalks and pathways connects the housing to a community center, city park, daycare, church, transit hub and retail. Urban Residential - River Station, Minneapolis River Station is a pioneering, large-scale market rate ownership development that can serve as an excellent example of an efficient, higher density smart growth residential development. This former railyard and brownfield redevelopment site provided the spark and scale of development needed to bring a new urban neighborhood forth. The site incorporates below grade parking, a unique on-site stormwater treatment design, and creates an open space area between adjacent buildings. The design compliments the historic character of the area and adds to the overall mix and range of lifecycle housing options available. Mixed-Use (Neighborhood Scale) - Milda's Corner, Minneapolis Milda's Website Milda's Corner exemplifies infill development that compliments the streetscape and the surrounding neighborhood. The activities it houses are important to the neighborhood and the area's "sense of place." Milda's is a private collaborative between faith-based and community groups and interested businesses to reestablish a neighborhood anchor and gathering spot and to provide affordable and transitional housing. The new structure houses a neighborhood café that lost its lease and recreates the front atrium, which in the old Milda's provided a warm, dry, safe place for kids and other people to wait for the bus. The housing upstairs provided affordable housing and places for families who are participating in Habitat for Humanity to live and learn homeownership skills while their "new" residence in the community is rehabbed. Mixed-Use (Community Scale) - River City Center, Shakopee River City Center is a mixed-use project providing a model for urban, suburban and rural communities. It provides affordable and market rate rental senior housing upstairs and commercial services/retail operations at the street level, giving seniors access to a variety of services without having to drive. The building complements the architecture and streetscape of the traditional downtown area. River City Center also incorporates underground parking and provides community facilities and meeting places for the tenants.