With the impending relocation of the Mississippi River Bridge linking Sauk Rapids to St. Cloud, the City of Sauk Rapids recognized an opportunity to redevelop its downtown. A new downtown framework on which to base their decisions was created. Bonestroo facilitated a public process to make recommendations for how future redevelopment might occur.
The Downtown Framework Plan improves connections to the Mississippi River, preserves historic neighborhoods, frames Benton Drive, and anticipates development opportunities associated with the Northstar Commuter line.
The new bridge and associated improvements to downtown streets required condemning several properties. Using federal funding programs, the City relocated the affected merchants into new downtown buildings.