The project is a one-half mile long stretch of 4th Street SE public right of way between Malcolm Ave SE and 25th Ave SE which will feature complete street design strategies, placemaking features, transit connections, pedestrian-oriented amenities, and will become the highlight Towerside’s public green space network showcasing the latest sustainable and livable TOD principles realized at a district scale.

This District system is a sustainable approach by the MWMO and four participating private landowners that lowered the cost of stormwater treatment and created more opportunities for stormwater re-use projects in the District. Each participating property owner contributes funds equal to or less than it would cost them to treat their storm water on site to achieve the management practices that equate to a 50% credit on their city stormwater utility fees and agrees to easements for the shared system on their property.

An expanded District Stormwater and Minneapolis Parks system would manage an estimated 47 million gallons of stormwater runoff from over 21 acres of private land in the Malcolm Yards development. This initial system concept manages a 100 year storm event while simultaneously expanding habitat benefits, reducing heat island effect, builds a direct connection for residents to engage with water, and transforms stormwater into an asset.

Visit the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's East of the River Park Masterplan site to learn more about the new Towerside Park and the Bridal Veil Regional Trail projects as well as exciting plans for both Tower Hill Park and Luxton Park.

The purpose of this document is to establish a shared framework for the Towerside Innovation District that is consistent with the goals and plans for the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood in Saint Paul, the Prospect Park neighborhood in Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. The first application of the framework is to inform the 2040 Comprehensive Plans for the Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

The Planning and Implementation Framework Version 2.0 identifies the key regulatory changes, plans, and infrastructure projects needed to achieve the Towerside vision with all of its economic, environmental and social benefits. It also addresses what the cities and other implementing agencies need to do to help realize this shared the vision between funding, regulatory changes, capital project prioritization, and economic development support. Towerside and the Minnesota Design Center will present key findings from this work and the recommendations for implementation in three categories:

1. Innovation District Regulatory Framework
2. Integrated Green Infrastructure Plan
3. Capital Improvement Project Priorities

Towerside Framework For Planning And Implementation V2 180802

To ultimately serve the needs of the district, the district energy approach needs to create stable and affordable rates for users, keeping in mind the diversity of residents and businesses that will rely on the system. This solution also needs to promote efficiency, create opportunities to use local and renewable resources, and establish a showcase for smart and sustainable community energy systems. After several years of analyzing the options for this community, the technical team recommended a low-temperature district heating and cooling system, using recovered energy from the local wastewater system as its primary source. When compared to the least-cost, stand-alone system options for buildings, this approach would be less expensive and produce at least 19% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The longer-term energy vision for the area includes the addition of other renewable solutions, thermal storage, and energy efficiency options, including solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies.

How It Works
The district energy approach relies on 4 key components: 1) cost-effective design for building efficiency; 2) shared distribution system; 3) renewable energy from the wastewater system; and 4) a flexible framework for future integration. To move this forward, an underground distribution system must be installed during re-development in this area, which is time sensitive. Additionally, an energy transfer station will be constructed to capture energy from the wastewater system.

The Engineering
The wastewater flowing through the system in this area can retain an immense amount of latent energy, which can be withdrawn from the wastewater system and transferred into a low-temperature district energy system. This energy is then carried through the low-temperature district energy system to the end users where the water temperature is raised or lowered to be used for heating or cooling. The system design maximizes the use of this renewable source, but will also depend on backup systems to fortify the heating and cooling needs. Future incorporation of renewables will enhance the economic and environmental benefits of the system.

The Future
Implementation of a low-temperature district energy system in the Towerside Innovation District is the first step toward achieving the energy vision for the District, and creating a sustainability showcase. The initial system will provide economic benefits to developers, building owners, and tenants, while establishing a platform for leveraging future renewable and efficient sources of energy, including solar and combined heat and power. Ultimately, this has the potential to serve as a living lab and a model for other communities interested in energy as an economic development tool and shared social asset.

The proposed Hub could serve a 30-acre parcel within Towerside and would support 1.4 million square feet of new development. Sited in the basement of a building within the development, it would treat all stormwater collected from the site (11 million gal/yr) and accommodate a 100-year storm event. It would also collect wastewater from a nearby sewer main line and organics from the surrounding area to generate electricity and heat to not only power the stormwater treatment process, but also fulfill the site’s annual energy demands. An IUH to these specifications would cost approximately $21 million. With system updates accounted for in annual operating expenses, the IUH becomes profitable in year 12 and remains profitable ever after. It would never have to find capital, issue new bonds, or face funding gaps.

Each approach takes into consideration a reduction in parking to support active modes of transportation (e.g., walking, biking, transit, and carpooling). Overall, this approach to parking helps reduce the need to build parking facilities for each individual development. In turn, land is utilized for its highest and best use. This Framework is built on existing planning efforts, best practices, precedent examples, and research. The Framework is also designed to serve as a resource for other neighborhoods and Transit Oriented Development districts within the region that may be candidates for a district-wide parking approach.

The planning process was guided by a Technical Advisory Committee, which included representation from the Metropolitan Council, City of Minneapolis, City of Saint Paul, University of Minnesota, and the Prospect North Partnership. Stakeholder interviews were also a contributing factor to the planning process. The report concludes that a district-wide approach provides a wealth of opportunities for planning elements to coalesce with one another, while supporting a vibrant and prosperous environment.

Towerside works with community partners to enhance resident engagement in the District’s projects. Over 300 residents directly participated in the Prospect Park Association comprehensive plan outreach including surveys, walking tours and visioning sessions. Creative Placemaking and community building strategies are also being used to bring people deeper into the work. Nearly 350 people attended the third annual Harvest Festival on the site of the future Minneapolis Signature Green Space where Towerside unveiled a large-scale model of the park project to answer questions and engage residents in imagining what it could and should become. These are the kind of on-the-ground connections that transform a space into a place that has heart and meaning.

The Innovation District’s geography, its unique location and development potential, as well as its visionary partners from multiple sectors make Towerside one of the most compelling and difficult community and economic development growth opportunity the Twin Cities and the Upper Midwest will have for generations.

Fundamental to Towerside’s vision is a district developed & built as a fully diverse and equitable place to live, work & play for the full range of residents in our community. However, investment in the Innovation District has already begun. Thousands of housing units are underway and the beginnings of integrated infrastructure systems are in place, with more development on the way. If this work is guided by a district approach to development, the outcomes and impact of these investments can achieve key equity outcomes for the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

For Towerside, equity is not just the right thing to do; equity is what the district needs to be successful. As PolicyLink demonstrates, “equity is the superior growth model.” This is not only true for the country as a whole, but also for Towerside specifically. Furthermore, equity is not a separate “add-on” to the Towerside vision. Rather, equity is part and parcel of the success of every other part of the vision, from arts and culture to research and innovation and economic competitiveness. By carrying out these components in an equitable, diverse and inclusive way, Towerside will become the innovative community of the future that is envisioned. Towerside leaders are currently working to create procedural and structural equity by expanding and diversifying it’s Board of Directors in order to open the decision-making process and bring more transparency to the work.

To support a broad range of neighborhood and district-scale projects the EcoDistricts Protocol was created. It is a customizable structure underpinned by a rigorous process and is based on seven years of research, pilot projects, and the best thinking from diverse community and technical advisors. The Protocol is grounded in the practice of collective impact, an innovative and structured approach to making collaboration work across government, business, philanthropy, non-profit organizations and citizens to achieve significant and lasting social change.

The Protocol and EcoDistricts Certified are more than a LEED-like checklist standard. EcoDistricts Certified provides a flexible, holistic, and rigorous “how to” framework for organizing and achieving important public policy, sustainability, and investment goals.

EcoDistricts Certified is the formal adoption and application of the Protocol. It is a powerful tool to move projects from vision to reality and create neighborhoods for all. In every city, people want better neighborhoods. Getting there is tough. Developers want to implement projects. Community members want a seat at the table. Policymakers want their vision to come to life. Investors want to leverage their resources. EcoDistricts Certified is where they meet.

Through EcoDistricts Certified, neighborhoods and district-scale projects:

1. Commit to equity, resilience and climate protection at the heart of every decision;
2. Form collaborative governance;
3. Create an implementation roadmap to guide projects and programs; and
4. Track and measure impact over time.

Each step is submitted to third-party verifiers to ensure transparency and accountability.