Commissioned by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region in partnership with the Knight Foundation Donor-Advised Fund, the University Avenue Corridor Study was administered by JLG Architects in 2019 and 2020.
​
The study was undertaken in an effort to look at ways of improving and enhancing the University Avenue corridor between Columbia Road and downtown Grand Forks. With the ongoing efforts to improve the aesthetics and infrastructure on campus, and the improvements made to downtown, the study looked at ways to improve the physical connection between the two areas.
​

“Embracing our unique partnership with Knight Foundation over the past two decades, the Community Foundation has focused on creating and enhancing connections between the University of North Dakota and downtown Grand Forks, between our students and our community as a whole, “ said Becca Baumbach, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “This corridor may be that physical connection, but, through a shared commitment from our community, it also presents exciting opportunities for engagement, retention, and innovation."

The results of this collaboration are a vision document, meant to encourage the community to think differently about what the corridor could be. This is different than a traditional master plan document which outlines direct initiatives with a detailed implementation plan for each item. The Foundation hopes that the community can rally around the possibilities on the corridor and work together to implement improvements over time. The results have been presented to different community groups and will be available to the public to use as inspiration and motivation to work together to build a dynamic, safe, inviting connection between the campus and downtown areas.
 
The study was built on a foundation of engaging the community for their feedback and ideas. It began with a community-wide online survey and was followed by two public engagement events. The final opportunity for public input was at The Longest Table event, which was held on University Avenue in September 2019. In addition to public engagement, the study was guided by a steering committee, comprised of people from throughout the community representing different organizations, in addition to residents that live along the corridor. The study findings are broken down into four categories that were identified during the process: Enhancing Corridor Safety, Integrating All Forms of Transportation, Boosting Corridor Activity, and Celebrating Neighborhood Identity.
​

“Throughout the public engagement process, a few things became quite clear”, said Mike McLean, Senior Project Manager and Grand Forks Market Leader for JLG Architects. “This corridor in itself is a historic and unique neighborhood that represents an important part of Grand Forks. It was important to us to be sure that we gave the neighborhood its due respect and took a thoughtful approach as we discussed potential changes and enhancements to University Avenue."

Download the University Avenue Corridor Study

ENHANCE CORRIDOR SAFETY

This section provides recommendations focused on improving lighting, intersections, streets, and sidewalks. There are a few nearby schools along the corridor, which means that there are many children who walk and bike along and across University Avenue daily. During the study process, we engaged with numerous stakeholders wishing to improve safety along the street, including the Grand Forks Public Schools, Safe Kids Grand Forks, and the University of North Dakota. Our recommendations will help to ensure University Avenue is a safe street to walk, bike, and drive throughout the year.

INTEGRATE ALL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION

This section provides recommendations geared towards improving and implementing bicycle infrastructure, improving and enhancing public transportation stops and overall ridership, and considerations for future multi-modal opportunities. As evidenced by the results of the online survey, citizens from throughout the community felt making the corridor safer for cyclists was a priority. Our recommendations provide opportunities to pilot new infrastructure and consider long-term, permanent enhancements for bicyclists and public transportation users.

BOOST CORRIDOR ACTIVITY

This section provides recommendations ranging from policy and regulation updates and changes, to emphasizing community events, to real estate and business development opportunities. During our public forums and engagement events, we challenged the community to think of ways to incorporate commercial activity along the corridor while preserving the qualities of the historic neighborhood. Our recommendations are ways that can accomplish just that. In this section, we’ve identified opportunity lots for future development, as well as challenges and barriers that must be overcome to accomplish smart growth. Overall, the citizens of Grand Forks really liked the idea of a house becoming a coffee shop, or an ice cream parlor, or another type of unique public space. Our recommendations encourage ways to make that happen by putting the right policies in place to spur new development.

CELEBRATE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY

This section provides recommendations that enhance and celebrate all of the existing great things about the corridor, and also, reengage some things that have begun to lose momentum as the neighborhood has changed over the past few decades. Throughout the public process, we heard from the residents of the corridor that they are very proud of their street and neighborhood. This pride also came with concerns that any significant changes would be at the expense of the existing charm of the district. It became clear to us that preserving that charm, and highlighting it, was important. This section also recommends the preservation and celebration of University Park, Grand Forks’ greatest and most used public park.