Unsafe streets are bad for business

Hennepin Avenue’s unsafe design has not been good for business over the years. Let’s take a look back.

Picture of damages to Osman Cleaners from 2015
2500 Hennepin Avenue (2015 crash at Osman Cleaners)
Driver of van crashed into Sudz Salon from 2005
2400 Hennepin Avenue (2005 crash at Sudz Salon)
Early Sunday morning, March 13, 2005 a van crashed into the Sudz Salon at 2400 Hennepin. The crash caused the building to partially collapse. Although the driver of the van was hospitalized, the building was vacant and there were no other injuries. Paper Source, a neighboring business, has been forced to close temporarily. Sudz owner Howard Kleyman has reopened in a temporary location at 1300 Lagoon Avenue. Photo by Fred Rosenberg.
Full story from the March 14, 2005 Star Tribune: A van crashed into a hair salon at 24th St and Hennepin Ave S in Minneapolis on Sunday morning, leaving a gaping hole in the storefront and causing the second floor to partly collapse.

Creating frequent traffic hazards and crashes isn’t good for business. Being among the city’s most dangerous streets (classified as “high injury”), that’s not good for business either.