Planning & Development

Project Overview:

Spirit Valley’s rich history, active community, and existing economic infrastructure provides a solid foundation for a comprehensive visioning and planning process.  This initiative aims to guide public and private investment in the district with a goal of fostering a vibrant and thriving neighborhood center.  Below is a project timeline and map of the study area.

Study Area:

The focus of the plan is Spirit Valley's Core Commercial Area, defined by the triangular junction of Grand Ave, Central Ave, and I-35 (highlighted in green on the map). The surrounding neighborhoods and residential streets constitute the overall Study Area (highlighted in blue on the map).

Study Area Map

Project Timeline:

Project Status:

• City Planning staff are currently in the information gathering stage.
• We are planning community and business input sessions for the fall.
• Take the survey below to give us your thoughts on Spirit Valley.
• Sign up below to be added to our email list for notification about upcoming sessions.
• We’re excited to be working with the residents and businesses to see Spirit Valley become a thriving neighborhood center!

City Planning staff will lead an effort to gather input from community members, work with the plan committee and public to evaluation options, formulate recommended actions into a plan, seek approval of the plan by the public and decision makers, and empower stakeholders to implement the plan.

Spirit Valley Days:

We enjoyed connecting with so many people at the Spirit Valley Days car show and vendor fair Aug. 2 and 3.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking the survey (below).

We hope people enjoyed the West Duluth trivia game and “then-and-now” photos at our booth.

Spirit Valley Strolls:

Have you noticed elements of the Grand Ave. and Central Ave. business districts that need attention?

What are the best parts of the Grand and Central Ave. business districts?

Do you have thoughts about how to make the business districts stronger?

Come to one or both of the Spirit Valley Strolls and share your thoughts with city planners as we walk each of the districts.

• Grand Ave. Business District Stroll – 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, 10/2. Meet at the Veterans Memorial (near Cody St. and Central Ave.).  We’ll walk the sidewalks along Grand Ave. to 59^th W. stopping along the way to make observations and walk back to the starting point (0.8 mi. total).
• Central Ave. Business District Stroll – Noon, Thursday, 10/3. Meet at the Veterans Memorial (near Cody St. and Central Ave.).  We’ll walk the sidewalks along Central Ave. to I-35 stopping along the way to make observations and walk back to the starting point (0.6 mi. total).

For information about the Spirit Valley Strolls email Kyle Deming, Senior Planner, at kdeming@duluthmn.gov or call 218-730-5580.

Can’t attend one of the strolls scheduled above?  You can do a stroll at your convenience and send us your observations using this form.  Snap a photo of the completed handout and email it to kdeming@duluthmn.gov or drop it off at 160 City Hall (Planning Department office).