“Even though there’s a lot of energy, creativity and hard work downtown, we’ve never been more aligned in the direction we’re going,” Duininck said.

To execute its plan, the city is convening a Downtown Action Council, a group made up of representatives from the business, nonprofit and government sectors, including the Minnesota Vikings, Target and the Guthrie Theater.

A top priority for the group from July 2024 to 2026 will be to help transform Nicollet Mall into a long-awaited pedestrian-only corridor. A task force convened by Frey named Downtown Storefront Task Force made that suggestion and others for the thoroughfare in June 2023. The city and its partners will have to determine where to move traffic and bus stops, but Frey said Marquette and Second Avenue are ready for that transition.

The plan would also focus time and resources on downtown’s Warehouse District, which Frey said “has the potential to be an entertainment mecca.” The blocks between the North Loop and the central business district could have a social district that would allow open containers, billboards and lights that help attract visitors from around the country.

“I’m not arguing that the Warehouse District is going to be like Times Square,” Frey said. “But I argue that we can create our own version of it right here in Minneapolis.”

Officials also highlighted efforts to make it easier for developers to convert downtown office buildings to housing and other uses. Frey promoted the city’s Vibrant Store initiative, which connected property owners with vacant storefronts with local artists.