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<br />minnesota.uli.org 18 <br />Testing can include the impact of an activated plaza in the commercial center on customer attraction and <br />behavior, and whether that increases interest from developers and businesses in the area. The city can note <br />which activations make the most impact, and determine whether this location is the right place for a <br />permanemnt plaza if these efforts are successful. Wild success would be a highly utilized space that generates <br />new demand for businesses and redevelopment in the surrounding blocks, with future development proposed <br />to orient toward the activated space/plaza in a pedestrianized way. <br />With the upcoming BRT station, the city should create a Station <br />Area Plan, building up the BRT connection and using temporary <br />activation before the route arrives. <br />The panel suggests advocating to move the BRT Station to this <br />site (it can still have its terminus down the road). This would bring <br />more energy and activation, starting to create a Town Center. <br />This is a more logical and visible connection to Little Canada <br />Road and could spur further densification in the immediate area. <br />The panel also suggests adding on-street parking and considering closing Millstone Road to cars. On street <br />parking would slow down traffic and increase the likelihood that future development would include buildings <br />closer to the street, rather than behind parking lots. With successful activation, the surrounding buildings will <br />naturally orient themselves toward the active space. <br /> <br />16 <br />An illustration of an interim use, over the next 2-3 years, with a public plaza for testing program ideas. Suggestions include lawn <br />games, moveable chairs and tables, a market, and food trucks. If Millstone Road is closed to cars, a plaza is created that could <br />feature gateway flags and market stalls, extending the public space and creating a walkable area. <br />The Barbell Mindset <br />One panelist suggests thinking of <br />successfully activated places like a <br />barbell – two active nodes of critical <br />mass with a connection between.