The Complete List
A Report Team of citizen volunteers spent weeks sifting through the hundreds of ideas submitted in each Envision category, then used an affinity analysis process to organize the ideas into related groupings - 44 in all. This is the complete list of Development ideas. For the Vision Guide, the Report Team combined and restated the groupings, and selected ideas that inspired interest and action (see also Current Problems and Other Issues).
- Retain unique style of GV [2]
- Maintain historical characteristics of Golden Valley.
- Preserve Golden Valley's identity.
Green Space
- Save and increase green spaces, parks and trails. [18]
- Environmental sensibility in re-new development [2]
- Guard against overdevelopment and protect green space.
- Further development should be green, clean, and safe.
Architecture
- Develop city standards for building quality, aesthetics and integration of art with other structures. [5]
- Create public spaces that encourage public life and gatherings. [2]
- City stresses quality in its development
- New business construction should provide public space.
- Encourage energy efficient buildings.
- More upscale development
- Make better use of land.
- Enhance appearance of light industrial space.
Landscaping
- Make city neighborhoods more visually attractive, through city landscaping. [5]
- Enhance use of Bassett Creek. [2]
- Encourage beautification.
- Develop public art, fountains, and gardens.
- Develop a walk-through flower garden.
- More plantings, flowers in parks and along trails
- Main streets should be boulevards
Office / Retail / Industrial
- Non-chain neighborhood restaurants [12]
- Seek to retain and help expand Golden Valley business through incentives. [6]
- Independent businesses, like antiques [6]
- Encourage development of balanced services, including auto service station and grocery store. [3]
- Encourage more non-chain store businesses retail [2]
- Zoning for shops with apartments above (mixed use communal/residential) [2]
- Encourage entrepreneurial business creation.
- Encourage more unique businesses (no more franchises).
- No big box businesses
- More neighborhood commercial development with small retail [3]
- Develop outdoor market.
- Develop winter farmers market.
- Redevelop Spring Gate.
- Spruce up Byerlys area with better use of parking lot (2)
- Redevelop Highway 55 and Shaper.
- Limit industrial growth
- Redevelop Homesteader area.
Employment
- Incentive for small businesses to locate in GV [4]
- Develop small businesses, help businesses expand [2]
- Focus on small independently-owned businesses [2]
- Promote more small businesses [2]
- Incentives, resources for small businesses [2]
- Encourage home based businesses that use high tech ideas [2]
Main Street Center
- Cluster services and businesses (decentralize around town) [3]
- More walker-friendly clustered businesses
- Make Golden Valley feel like a town, not a generic suburb.
Arts & Entertainment
- GV center for the arts [9]
- Develop a small cinema. [3]
- City Center as community gathering point with entertainment area [3]
- Distinctive downtown with emphasis on arts, etc [3]
- Develop entertainment sector downtown or along I-394. [2]
- Encourage more arts development.
- Encourage more entertainment options.
- Establish unique restaurant/theater/cinema entertainment complex.
- Encourage development of playhouse/concert hall.
Main Street Center / Commercial / Residential
- Upgrade Golden Valley Shopping Center. [19]
- Develop small town downtown GV. [7]
- Make Golden Valley a place where people will spend the day (with attractions like 50th and France). [6]
- Expand and strengthen downtown. [2]
- Maintain useful and locally owned shops in GV shopping center. [2]
- Create a main street for downtown.
- Add housing to downtown.
- GV Destination with all four corners of 55/Winnetka
- Reconfigure 55/Winnetka to make connected downtown space (easier to get from business to business).
- Develop Southwest 55/Winnetka (or is it SE?).
- Leave Southwest corner of 55/Winnetka (or is it SE?).
- More density in downtown area to allow seniors to remain in GV
- Mixed-use retail space/office space downtown
- Reroute Winnetka through/around downtown.
- Encourage more small shops and restaurants in downtown.
- City center with park, shops to attract families
- Better defined downtown area
Sidewalks & Trails
- Develop more sidewalks and bike paths.
- Develop trails and bike paths throughout the city.
- Encourage biking and walking throughout Golden Valley.
- Create river walk along Bassett Creek, with bike trails and shops.
- Develop biking and walking connection across highways.
- Encourage development of walkable neighborhoods.
Technology
- Enhance technology infrastructure. [7]
- Develop a Wi-Fi hotspot in Golden Valley Commons. [3]
- The City should provide Internet access and basic cable. [2]
- Make Golden Valley a wireless city.
- Housing options for all ages and incomes [17]
- More development for seniors [7]
- Encourage single family housing (low density). [4]
- Encourage higher density housing with architectural appeal. [3]
- Develop multi-purpose environments (business/housing/bike paths/nature). [3]
- Prepare for higher density (due to closeness to downtown Minneapolis). [3]
- Remain a bedroom community. [3]
- Provide the means for seniors to stay in and maintain their homes.
- Respect neighborhoods.
- Recognize and provide for new density needs in Golden Valley (people, cars, and businesses).
- Develop multi-dwelling housing in appropriate areas.
- Delineate potential redevelopment areas and plan for higher densities.
- Limit high-density housing.