Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District design guidelines update
Overview
History
The City of Minneapolis is updating the 1976 design guidelines for the Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District.
- We received a federal grant and hired Pigeon Consulting and TEN x TEN to:
- Lead community engagement
- Draft new design guidelines
- Design guidelines help ensure that the historic district retains its historic character. They affect changes to:
- Buildings
- Structures
- Landscapes
The district includes:
- Early 20th century buildings designed by master architects
- Minneapolis Institute of Art campus
Period of significance
From 2021 to 2022, a consultant team researched and updated the inventory of properties in the district.
Determinations:
- The district’s period of significance is 1863 to 1939.
- Properties built during this period are contributing.
- Properties built, significantly changed, or moved after this period are non-contributing.
Individual inventory forms are available upon request.
Read about the period of significance and inventory
Design guidelines process
- In the spring of 2023, we asked people to share feedback in community meetings and focus groups. Thank you for taking part in these meetings.
- The consultant team completed a draft in June 2023, and public comments were submitted and reviewed in July.
- Staff reviewed and edited the document and presented it to the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) on November 28, 2023, for discussion.
- The Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office reviewed the draft.
- Staff will bring the final draft to the HPC for adoption in a public hearing on June 18, 2024. Members of the public can give testimony.
View the updated draft design guidelines and a map of the district
Photo: William Washburn’s Fair Oaks Estate, circa 1890, courtesy of Hennepin County Library’s Special Collections department.
Community feedback
We held the following focus groups and community meetings in the spring of 2023:
- Focus group #1 on March 6, 2023
- Focus group #2 on March 13, 2023
- Community meeting #1 on March 25, 2023
- Focus group #3 on March 29, 2023
- Community meeting #2 on April 29, 2023
Contact us
John Smoley
Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)
Phone
Address
Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415