Will making Nicollet Mall pedestrianized bring more people downtown?

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – When Mary Tyler Moore tossed her hat in the air over Nicollet Mall in the opening credits of her show in the ’70s, the mall was in its heyday as a regional mall.

Now city leaders believe that the revival of the shopping center will be a key factor in recovery downtown Minneapolis.

Proposed plans for Nicollet Mall

“A place of pedestrian activity where you walk down the street and there are thousands of different tastes and smells and sounds and all the people are gathered in one block,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Freyduring a news conference Monday to announce a new downtown action plan.

Among other things, the Downtown Action Plan calls for making Nicollet Mall pedestrianized and for Metro Transit to reroute buses off the street.

Some city boosters also want to remove the U.S. Post Office building along the Mississippi River so the city can connect the mall to the riverfront.

“So the US Post Office, I’m going to take it upon myself to convince them of the wisdom of removing that ugly rear parking ramp that’s going to block the river from Nicollet Mall. I’m sure we can find a compromise,” said a member of the Minneapolis City Council. Michael Rainville at the same press conference.

Over the past decade, the city has spent $50 million adding LED lighting, 250 trees and new paving to a 12-block stretch of downtown.
Will another renovation to Nicollet Mall really encourage more people to visit it?

What they say

“It’s interesting. The idea of ​​creating a pedestrian zone has existed for several years. Now I believe it when I see it,” said Brit’s Pub General Manager Shane Higgins.

Higgins says making Nicollet Mall pedestrian-only would benefit businesses in the mall if there are programs like farmers markets or food trucks, as well as a strong police presence to make patrons feel safe.

“So parades, concerts, any activity where you can bring people to your attention to humiliate people,” Higgins said.