Downtown Development Strategy

Praised the downtown strategy's bold ideas but asked the city to incorporate its Climate Action Work Plan into it.

Representing Downtown Duluth, she applauded the strategy and the UDC changes, citing 298 new downtown housing units since 2024 and support from the Imagine Downtown housing work group.

A foundation representative argued downtown is the city's tax muscle and urged support for building housing, citing Gary, Indiana as a cautionary tale.

Urged the council to include the Climate Action Plan in the downtown strategy and asked why the sustainability officer position remains unfilled.

Warned the strategy's Main Street/form district zoning has no cap on vacation dwelling units, calling it a possible 'Trojan horse' for short-term rentals instead of resident housing; also flagged a lack of public toilets downtown.

President of Downtown Duluth, voiced strong support, praising the strategy for uniting the comp plan, Imagined Downtown, and medical district plans; echoed restroom concerns.

Leads Boreal Waters Community Foundation, which co-funded Imagined Downtown; pledged up to 25% of the endowment to local place-based investment and urged adoption — 'capital follows cohesion.'