| After years of minimal re-investment, the West Calhoun neighborhood has embarked on an ambitious program of redevelopment. The Calhoun Commons development is the first critical step in creating a new village center, a place envisioned by the community where pedestrians and bicycles are welcomed, where traffic is calmed, where park land and open space link to Lake Calhoun and to the Midtown Greenway.
Key to this resurrection is the transformation of Excelsior Boulevard from a commuter's speedway into a street that serves the neighborhood a "Main Street" with shops and pleasant sidewalks containing amenities that encourage pedestrian use. Calhoun Commons, includes new buildings along Excelsior Boulevard that strengthen the streetwall and add community-focused uses such as restaurants and coffee shops to the street.
Overhead power lines have been buried through much of the new commercial district and improved transit stops and landscaping will be added in the future. With ongoing support from the community, the private sector and public agencies, this is a success story with great potential to create an active neighborhood hub and a signature stopping place along Lake Calhoun. | | |
