Post Office and Falls District

The recent closure of Minneapolis’ Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam has changed the character of the Mississippi River in this central location, from an active barge shipping facility to a closed "pool" above St. Anthony Falls, which has prompted us to consider new uses.  The reuse of the adjacent downtown Post Office offers an opportunity to support this new public life along Minneapolis’ Central Mississippi Riverfront, which will be a delightful destination that reconnects the city to the Mississippi River.  MDC is supporting this vision in two ways.  First, we prepared the Downtown Minneapolis Post Office Revitalization Preliminary Research report in 2016 that looked at post office reuse precedents across the country, the Central Riverfront Framework, and specific site characteristics.  Second, through the College of Design, I will teach a graduate Urban Design Studio fall semester 2017 that will explore possibilities for the river district’s new public life, and the various ways the historic Post Office can support that program.  The work generated by the Studio will be displayed publicly and used to promote and inform the broader community about one of Minneapolis’ great places.  Tim Griffin