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Looking to the past move other pieces of the puzzle •
<br /> Lake Minnetonka's resort hotel era into place. As the canal reconnects
<br /> of the early 20th century is a rich Mound to Lake Minnetonka, im-
<br /> part of Minnesota history. The provements are planned to attract
<br /> Victorian resort hotels,Big Island boaters. Work is also scheduled for
<br /> Amusement Park, and streetcar transient docks and a fishing pier.
<br /> boats were synonymous with what In addition to rehabilitating Lost
<br /> was the "most famous lake of the Lake, Auditor's Road will become
<br /> Northwest." During this era, the city's main street. County
<br /> "Building
<br /> � Mound was home to a boat canal Road 15, which currently is the
<br /> a community of that extended through a wetland city's traffic-heavy main street, will
<br /> streets,buildings,parks,and now called Lost Lake. The canal be moved in 2000. As Auditor's
<br /> ran from Lake Minnetonka to the Road is relocated, the city will re-
<br /> infrastructure requires heavy
<br /> Great Northern Railroad Depot in move some commercial buildings,
<br /> equipment and a variety of downtown Mound. The Lost Lake which the city hopes will produce
<br /> permits.Building community— Canal ended close to the center of spin-off redevelopment opportuni-
<br /> downtown with a large turn- ties in other parts of downtown.
<br /> the common bond between around where Lake Minnetonka Possible future development
<br /> passenger boats would ermanent local
<br /> people,the feeling that city for destinations like Excelsior, includeoard guests could
<br /> farmer's market,pa bed and break-
<br /> residents aren't just household Wayzata, and Big Island. fast lakeside inn, and a greenway
<br /> units but are part of a larger As the resort hotel era faded, so connecting downtown with Lost
<br /> did the focus on Lost Lake. Lost Lake. All are features that bring
<br /> group,the sense of place— Lake had little importance and in people together and develop a
<br /> that's a different task the 1960s, a large portion of the sense of community.
<br /> wetland was filled to build a Post "Very quietly, we've incorpo-
<br /> altogether." Office as well as a street named rated many of the concepts that •
<br /> Auditor's Road. Today, the canal people view as new urbanism,"
<br /> remains but is barely navigable. said Chamberlain. "A multi-use
<br /> "The historical aspects of district including some housing,
<br /> downtown are very important," growing up rather than out, pedes- "very quietly,we've incorpo-
<br /> said Chamberlain. "We wanted to trian amenities. The components
<br /> use history to our advantage." are in place to create a very lively rated many of the concepts that
<br /> For years, Lost Lake was seen as pedestrian district." people view as new urbanism—
<br /> the best focus for Mound's rede- The six-year (and counting)
<br /> velopment. The group used the process has involved three focus a multi-use district including
<br /> historical precedence, and put to- groups, the Planning Commission, some housing,growing up
<br /> gether a plan that included busi- the Economic Development Corn-
<br /> rather than out,pedestrian
<br /> ness, recreation, and housing. mission, the City Council, and
<br /> They took full advantage of Lake Mound residents. Throughout the amenities,the style of the
<br /> Minnetonka, and worked to give process, Mound Visions brought buildings.The components are
<br /> residents and nonresidents a reason ideas to the public for greater in-
<br /> to come to downtown Mound. put. After each of four open in place to create a very lively
<br /> houses, plans were changed based pedestrian district."
<br /> Moving ahead on residents' suggestions. —Bruce cbamberiain
<br /> The plan moved into full gear Through Mound Visions' efforts coordinator,Mound Visions
<br /> when the project received a federal to enhance downtown as the activ-
<br /> ISTEA grant to rehabilitate the ity center of the community,
<br /> Lost Lake Canal. The project in- people who visit the downtown
<br /> volves dredging the historic canal area will find something to see,
<br /> and boat turnaround areas, stabiliz- something to touch, and, hope-
<br /> ing the shoreline, and making fully, leave with a sense of history
<br /> bridge modifications. In keeping and nostalgia for Lake Minnetonka
<br /> with the area's historical signifi- and Mound. it-
<br /> cance, the plan also calls for the
<br /> creation of a historical story board Written by Tim Busse, communications •
<br /> on the resort era and Lost Lake. manager with the League of Minnesota
<br /> The grant proved to be the Cities. Graphic courtesy of Hoisington
<br /> necessary financial springboard to Koegler Group Inc.
<br /> 1 0 MINNESOTA CITIES JUNE/JULY 1 9 9 7
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