Better Bloomington Home

Neighborhood Email Notification
(Sign up to Stay Informed about upcoming news and developments)

Transportation and Traffic Calming ^Hot!
 Neighborhood Traffic Calming, and more

THE BRIDGE
Planned Bridge/Interchange at 84th & Normandale

Send a Comment or Contact your City Council

Voting History

To stay informed via email, please use this  online form

NW Bloomington News:
952-960-0110

NW Bloomington Neighborhood Group

Bloomington Web  Links

Bloomington Web Cafe community discussion forum

This site may move a bit slowly at times, but please stay with us!

November, 2003. Walser Automotive has submitted a new development proposal for the former Grandma's restaurant site that includes an expanded auto dealership, small office building and a parking ramp. 

The Planning Commission Staff Report recommends denial of the proposal, but conditions of approval are included should the Commission and Council choose to support the development proposal, which includes a comprehensive plan change "Community Commercial" to from to "Regional Commercial".   -More-

84th & Normandale Proposed Bridge/Interchange
Yes, this one is still very much alive as of October, 2003

Steve Elkins is the only 2003 candidate who has publicly taken a position in opposition to the proposed bridge/interchange at 84th and Normandale. -Click Here-

To facilitate traffic flow,  plans have been drawn up for an freeway-type interchange at 84th & Normandale, where Normandale Boulevard will be elevated between Bridge Road on the north and the pedestrian underpass on the south, allowing for a free flow of traffic on north and south Normandale over 84th Street.  84th Street will pass under the proposed Normandale Blvd bridge, and a single-point interchange will provide for traffic movement from 84th Street to north and south Normandale boulevard.  

More information on "The Bridge" issue is HERE

Duke-Weeks Realty has submitted an application to the City for rezoning to a planned development for the Norman Pointe Office Park. Plans are moving forward to build more new office towers near 84th & Normandale to include: Two new 9-story office towers a new 10-story office tower an existing 7-story office tower. A 9-story parking ramp for 4700+ cars!  That's about 10,000 more vehicle trips per day in the area!   The developments were APPROVED by the City Council on July 16th, 2001. City Council APPROVES 84th & Normandale developments on 5-2, 4-3 votes. -Details- The City is also actively seeking funding to build a bridge (freeway style interchange interchange) at 84th and Normandale. Talk about this issue in the Bloomington discussion forum. May 24, 2001 -- Bloomington Planning Commission votes 6-1 to DENY request.  See "voting history" for more information. Two documents regarding these developments are  available on the City of Bloomington web site.  They are the staff report to the planning commission and the project narrative.    Click Here To Stay Informed About this Issue

>>Click HERE to send a comment to the City Council and the Mayor.<<

Background
In the early morning of December 18, 2000, the Bloomington City Council unanimously approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Norman Pointe office development.  Not unexpected.

But what is disturbing to many residents is the relative indifference of most Council members to neighborhood concerns about the proposed bridge/interchange, neighborhood traffic and other issues.  

With the exception of some comments by Council member Dave Abrams prior to the vote, there was very little discussion by the council of substantive mitigation or alternatives to the bridge concept.

By 8:15 pm, the Council room was pretty much full, and an overflow group of residents was in the hallway outside the Council meeting room.  After presentations from staff and the developer (beginning at 8:55pm) supporting the developments, and patiently waiting until late into the evening (10:35pm) for the opportunity to be heard, those residents who were able to stay finally had an opportunity to be speak.  Even after the second speaker was "scolded" by Council member Alisa Ornat, some other residents did come to the podium to speak their opinions.

A citizen requested of the Council that residents within 3/4 mile be notified in the traditional manner (via letter) when hearings about the next stage of the development and the planned bridge move forward.  That request was met by a cool response.

>> Click HERE<< to express your opinion via email to the City Council and the Mayor.

Use the following link to send us your contact information so we can keep you informed:  Click Here to Stay Informed about this Northwest Bloomington / 84th & Normandale topic.

This view looking West on 84th Street from Stanley is likely to change.  There are plans to build a  freeway-type interchange at 84th and Normandale.

Under the proposal, Normandale will be elevated over  84th Street and a single-point interchange will help move traffic in and out of the area.  Increased  noise and traffic could be an issue for nearby residents.

<<

Above is the first building of the Norman Pointe office development and only a small fraction of the 1.2 million square feet of proposed additional development.  This project is the focus of the Environmental Review Process.

The office tower (above) at 84th and Normandale is still under construction.  It is not a part of the Norman Pointe development or included in the 1.2 million square feet figure.

Massive above-ground parking ramps accommodate thousands of single-occupancy trips per day in these automobile-oriented developments.

The interchange (left) at Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis appears to be similar to what is proposed for 84th and Normandale.

Because this picture does not fully communicate the scale and impact of this  bridge, we strongly recommend that you visit this area in person to view the bridge and pedestrian crossings.

|| Home ||
||  Neighborhood Email Notification |  About NW Bloomington | Traffic and Transportation ||
||  Contact City Officials |  Email Us ||

Formerly Better Bloomington / www.betterbloomington.com