Our Streets is hosting Imagine 6th Avenue North this fall in Near North Minneapolis as part of the campaign to “Bring Back 6th.” The transportation advocacy organization started this event series in 2021 to gather community input on Olson Memorial Highway while celebrating the neighborhood with live music, a small business market, art, and other family-friendly activities.
Imagine 6th Ave North will be on Saturday, October 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Bethune Arts Elementary. The vendor application is live for local businesses, vendors, and organizations to participate in the fun. In addition to the festival programming, attendees will be prompted to identify their priorities on anti-displacement, land-use, placemaking, transit and art.
The Bring Back 6th Coalition, in collaboration with Toole Design, published a report outlining the initial community-led designs for Olson Memorial Highway in the fall of 2025. These design concepts were informed by community members, organizations, and partners through a variety of engagement strategies, including Design Week. The report also demonstrates different uses of the 12 acres of land that will be made available by the proposed changes, emphasizing that these roadway designs are being paired with anti-displacement policies to protect existing and low-income residents. This comes at a crucial time following the continued neglect and disrepair of Heritage Park apartment complex and ensuing displacement.
Both Our Streets and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) received federal funds through the Reconnecting Communities Program for work on Olson Memorial Highway. MnDOT is evaluating options for the corridor’s future in tandem with Our Streets. The agency has committed to incorporating the initial design concepts from Design Week into its process, with plans to share these concepts in 2027.
Additionally, MnDOT will begin a pilot project to incorporate Aesthetic Surface Treatments (ASTs) into the public right-of-way on Olson Memorial Highway. This comes after three years of broad community support and advocacy. The pilot will be located at the intersection of MN Highway 55/Olson Memorial Drive and Van White Memorial Boulevard, with installation planned for spring 2027.
Our Streets is working with the following community partners: Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, Harrison Neighborhood Association, Lao Center of Minnesota, and Green Garden Bakery.