| Lake Street, with its history as a vibrant commercial corridor, grew up along an active streetcar line, supported by rail service adjacent to 29th Street. The more intense development and mix of uses at the major north/south intersections along this corridor is reminiscent of old streetcar crossroads, and is a pattern we still see today.
The crossroads at Bloomington and Lake, with its more intimate and finer-grained scale of existing buildings, is a wonderful example of these significant neighborhood gathering places. A tremendous amount of time, energy and dollars have been invested in this small commercial district, with the fruits of this effort very evident in the success of the new Mercado, Ingebretsen's, Heart of the Beast Theater and many other attractions. The scheduled repavement project along Lake Street and future improvements to Bloomington Avenue will provide an excellent opportunity for further enhancement of the area for pedestrians and bicycles, strengthening the identity and quality of life for the entire district.
There are numerous opportunities for infill housing and other uses along the south side of 29th Street and along the Greenway. Additional housing development, accommodating a mix of incomes and housing types, supports the general objectives for increased activity and diversity within the corridor. Mixed-use development (both adaptive re-use and new infill projects), with commercial uses on the ground floor and office or residential space above, should be encouraged along Lake Street. Development opportunities where Bloomington Avenue crosses the Greenway should also be explored as part of a long-term plan that includes a future LRT route, transit station and potential public green space. | | |
