More than 15,000 people live in neighborhoods along the small stretch of the Hennepin Avenue project area, from Lake Street to Douglas Avenue. It’s not just a business corridor or a thru street, it’s our community. Hennepin is home to many people who live in these lovely old buildings. Hennepin is their front yard. Now is our moment to make big changes to this street for these local residents and our growing Uptown population! Let’s make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! They deserve cleaner air, less pollution, and a break from the noise.
There’s also a school and daycare located on Hennepin Avenue. Students, parents, and teachers deserve safe routes to bike and walk to school. A raised bike path and pedestrian improvements would mean a safer, more pleasant, less chaotic trip to and from school. We have an opportunity to support safe routes to school. Studies show that walking or biking to school improves academic performance, increases health and happiness, makes for more independent kids, helps the environment, and improves safety conditions around schools.
Soon we’ll have even more neighbors at Peris Hill (providing both affordable housing and housing for youth aging out of foster care) and the development underway near the Uptown Transit Station. Our population continues to grow. Now is the time for street improvements, because we won’t have another chance for generations. This area is thriving despite a street designed to be hostile to people. A more vibrant human-centered space will serve neighbors, visitors and businesses for decades to come.
Hennepin means so much to our community and it has the potential to be so much better. A better Hennepin Avenue needs your support. There are those trying to preserve the status quo and prevent the changes we want to see. We need to push as hard as we can for an inclusive and forward looking street design.
Sign our petition and contact your Council Member. We can’t let the status quo win.