Best downtowns in Minnesota (Red Wing, New Ulm: loft, violent crime, house)

[newcastle]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Don't know.

It'd be great to see Downtown expand eastward ... since it can't expand westward. Or how about upward. Tear down some of the buildings on 1st St. east of Lake and put up higher, denser structures.

Upward would be great. The buildings around Old Central are nasty old boarding houses. Tear them down and get something more useful in there. I think duluth has enough social programs. We need places that are going to expand the tax base.

Right near the government center is a parking lot that looks like the foundations of some old building. Highrises would be a good fit right there. That would mean people would actually have to accept new business coming into town first!

[spearman]

East Grand Forks' downtown is unique. Since the flood it has been transformed. Cabellas has located a store on the Red River within a downtown state Park of 1500 acres with a campground next to a 5 restuarant boardwalk, 12 screen theater, new library, domed city hall, high school, 60 mi. bike trail,

[spearman]

Downtown Chaska has 3 small lakes, the Mn. River National Wildlife Refuge, a town square ringed by old mansions, downtown bike trails. All of this surrounded by old rivertown historic homes and the Mn. River bluffs.

[asitshouldbe]

Cambridge has a nice "downtown" area so does St. Charles, Rocheter, Alexandria and St.Cloud. There alot of nice "downtown" areas in small towns. There are so many I can't remember them all. We usually stumble upon a new one during the fall when we are out looking at leaves or going to apple orchards or pumpkin patches. Now if the weather would cooporate we could be out this weekend.

[nateduluthnative]

Originally Posted by newcastle

A company called Vonjaro (i'm not sure of the spelling) is supposed to build a 9 story office tower downtown duluth sometime soon. Anyone here if the tower is still planned?

It is on hold. DEDA approved the skywalk expansion a few months back, but the City still has to approve it. With the budget crisis, who knows how long that will take.

[LaceyEx]

Alex has a unique and growing downtown. Great boutiques, antique shops and restaurants.

Must be something going on as they're building another bank! Think it's over 10 now.

[MplsTodd]

My favorite Minnesota Downtowns:

Minneapolis is a national size downtown, while St. Paul has many interesting sections.

Medium Size City:
Duluth: I'd include Canal Park as part of downtown. Great classic older buildings along Superior, nice civic center and a unique setting
St Cloud (since they're pushed renovation of the older buildings near The paramount).
Rochester: The Mayo Clinic makes it feel larger, but it also makes it feel like a one-industry town, the Kahler is a pretty cool hotel
Winona: decent main street, nice proximity to the river

Larger towns:
Willmar
Hutchinson
Waconia
Alexandria
Fergus Falls (some great buildings, though still seemed sleepy when I was there last--several years ago)
Owatonna: nice square, plus the Louis Sullivan (?) bank
Grand Rapids
Albert Lea: nice lake setting

Metro Area Places
Stillwater
Red Wing
Excelsior
Hopkins

Small Town:
Grand Marais
Wabasha

[knke0402]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

My favorite Minnesota Downtowns:

Minneapolis is a national size downtown, while St. Paul has many interesting sections.

Medium Size City:
Duluth: I'd include Canal Park as part of downtown. Great classic older buildings along Superior, nice civic center and a unique setting
St Cloud (since they're pushed renovation of the older buildings near The paramount).
Rochester: The Mayo Clinic makes it feel larger, but it also makes it feel like a one-industry town, the Kahler is a pretty cool hotel
Winona: decent main street, nice proximity to the river

Larger towns:
Willmar
Hutchinson
Waconia
Alexandria
Fergus Falls (some great buildings, though still seemed sleepy when I was there last--several years ago)
Owatonna: nice square, plus the Louis Sullivan (?) bank
Grand Rapids
Albert Lea: nice lake setting

Metro Area Places
Stillwater
Red Wing
Excelsior
Hopkins

Small Town:
Grand Marais
Wabasha

Did I write this? Haha, nice post, I couldn't have put it any better.

[ozzie679]

Take a tour of the new Public Library in downtown St Cloud.

sctimes.com | St. Cloud LIBRARYINTERACTIVE | St. Cloud Times

[ozzie679]

knke0402,
Were you involved in the planning of the new library? How much did it cost to use copper for some of the siding? It looks incredible....but copper is spendy$$