The Near Northside/Heritage Park Redevelopment Project is a high-profile undertaking in north Minneapolis. The focus is to redevelop a historically commercial and industrial area into a multifaceted development focusing on mixed-income housing.

Braun Intertec is part of the team chosen to prepare the open space and infrastructure design.

Challenges

Our first step was to develop a comprehensive map of geotechnical and environmental soil conditions throughout the entire project area. Geotechnical information from the construction of Olson Memorial Highway and I-94, and construction of some of the previous housing projects at the site, were pulled from our extensive archives. Our own historical information and research from other sources was augmented with more than 80 additional soil borings through the project area. We also collected environmental field data and conducted chemical analyses of soil and groundwater samples at our analytical chemistry laboratory.

Solutions

The resulting soils and groundwater conditions map and associated findings were important resources for the design team in their efforts to create a master development plan that effectively considered the unique geotechnical and environmental challenges of the area. We also had extensive involvement in design team workshops and in developing information to be used in public focus groups and interviews.

Currently, we are involved in the active redevelopment process that includes ongoing environmental and geotechnical testing and consulting services associated with all earthwork activities. Such services include implementing a Response Action Plan/Construction Contingency Plan to address known and potential environmental impacts encountered during the redevelopment process. We are leading efforts to address environmental impacts associated with previous industrial uses of the site (e.g., soil and groundwater impacts), and the former housing infrastructure (e.g., asbestos-containing materials).

Ongoing and future engineering services include compaction, concrete and source-material testing. Considering the extensive geotechnical and logistical challenges associated with this site, these services are critical to the project’s overall success.