Lyndale Avenue is one of Bloomington’s original and oldest commercial corridors. It serves the entire City; but also functions as a neighborhood “main street” to many residents, businesses, and employers. Lyndale Avenue continues to thrive, although it is aging and is not realizing its full potential. Revitalization will help Lyndale Avenue to meet changing community needs and ensure future economic sustainability.

The City of Bloomington, in partnership with Hennepin County and Stantec Consulting Services, has been working to define a clear vision and strategy to attract reinvestment and new development in the Lyndale Corridor (generally I-494 to 98th Street). The goal is to transform this auto-oriented street into a walkable and multi-use corridor. This will take time and involve continued input from the community and neighborhood property and business owners. The Lyndale Avenue Retrofit strategy will build on the corridor’s main assets: jobs, adjacent residential neighborhoods, and the existing mix of businesses.

The strategy identifies opportunities for public and private investment, providing a variety of housing and mobility options, attractive and accessible public spaces, and active commercial areas to serve residents, employees, and visitors.

Public engagement has been an essential part of the process. Early in the study, area business owners, artists, residents, and City officials provided input, and guidance to shape the plan. Interactive workshops and events held at schools and locations around the area gave youth and other community members a chance to offer ideas. This input helped define a vision for the future of the Lyndale Avenue Corridor.