What dissuades citizens from experiencing a sense of
community in Northfield?
Major Retailers
Half of the business owners and many citizens asserted that
the new development on Highway 3 was a distraction from Northfield citizens experiencing
a sense of community. The majority of people believed this to be true because
major retailers take away valuable business from the stores and restaurants in
downtown Northfield. Downtown business owners did not directly state that the
major retail stores were taking away business from their own businesses.
However, these respondents focused on the overall negative impact that the presence
of these stores have on the Northfield community. This development has been
a very controversial issue in Northfield. If you are interested in the role
that the Northfield News has played concerning development issues, please
link to Emily Hestness's project.
Economical Concerns
There is a sense of deep divide between people's opinions on what dissuades
them from experiencing a sense of community in Northfield. A couple
of respondents stated that they were "not going to support local businesses
in Northfield out of nostalgia” (Northfield citizen). For these individuals,
the most important component of their sense of community is their economical concerns.
These respondents also addressed that the stores downtown are too expensive.
They asserted that the downtown businesses need to be more competitive.
These stores should not remain in business simply because they are the only business
of their kind in Northfield. These individuals are placing more value on the lower
costs available outside of downtown than the sense of community that can be gained
in the downtown. However, it is possible that these individuals are experiencing
a sense of community though other means.
Hwy. 3 congestion
A few people addressed their concerns about the difficulty of crossing
over Highway 3. This road creates a physical barrier for pedestrians between
the downtown area and the neighborhoods west of Highway 3. It can be a time-consuming
and an unpleasant experience to cross over Highway 3. The speed limit on
this portion of Hwy. 3 is only 30 mph, which is an important factor for creating
a pedestrian friendly atmosphere. It has been noted that many cars do not
slow down on this section of Highway 3. The heavy level of traffic on this
section of Highway 3 has created the need to construct additional turning lanes
at the intersection of Highway 3 and First Ave. Both the high speeds and heavy
volume of traffic on Highway 3 are a deterrence for some people experiencing a
sense of community in this area of Northfield.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes or assumptions about certain groups of people distract from many
people's sense of community. Over the past few years, these stereotypes have been
developing about teenagers that hang out in Bridge Square, Central Park and other
locations outside on the streets in Northfield. One downtown business owner
stated, “In terms of a sense of community, it is key for teenagers to have
a place to hang out.” However, another downtown business owner stated that
she really doesn't feel safe around these teenagers.
Biking and walking paths are not connected
A couple of respondents broadened
their view of a sense of community to include areas of concern outside of the
downtown area. These people addressed the inconvenience of the biking paths
and trails that are not connected to each other. Research has proven that
pedestrian trails need to be connected to each other in a system that makes pedestrian
travel quick, effective and relatively scenic for people. Pedestrian trails
that are easily accessible and attractive will be used more frequently (Talen,
2000). There are three examples of pedestrian trails in Northfield that
are not connected: The River Walk along the Cannon River starts and stops
many times, the sidewalk ends on Highway 19 after it reaches Malt O Meal and there
is only a sidewalk present on Highway 3 from the intersection of St. Olaf Ave
to the intersection where the Northfield Movie Theater is located.
Does the parking situation promote or dissuade from people's
sense of community in Northfield?
Some respondents felt that the parking situation in downtown
Northfield was a distraction from people shopping or spending time in Northfield.
They believed that any factor that distracts from people shopping or spending
time downtown is a distraction from people experiencing a sense of community.
One non-downtown business owner stated, "I'm not going to shop downtown if it
means I have to walk a couple of blocks to where I want to go." Even business
owners downtown stated that there was not a substantial enough amount of parking
downtown to support the surge of cars. In contrast, other respondents asserted
that the parking situation in downtown promotes a sense of community.
People are forced to park their cars a particular distance from the store, restaurant,
office or any other destination they are going to in downtown Northfield, get
out of their cars and walk to where they want to go. By walking, people
have the opportunity to socialize with the people they meet on the street.
One downtown business owner commented on how valuable these types of interactions
are to her. She said, "Northfield is the kind of place where you greet and make
eye contact with every person that you meet on the street."
One of the three public parking lots in Northfield.
