Northside Forward

Northside Forward is a 10-year, community-authored revitalization plan designed to guide $1.5 billion in equitable investment across North Minneapolis. Led by the African American Leadership Forum in partnership with Gensler, the plan is shaped by hundreds of local voices, including residents, entrepreneurs, community organizations, and public partners, working together to advance Black prosperity, housing justice, educational opportunity, and neighborhood transformation.

Developed in response to the planned Metro Blue Line Extension and community concerns around gentrification, Northside Forward offers a data-driven framework for inclusive, transit-oriented development. It proposes the addition of more than 3,700 housing units, retail expansion, and strategies to increase Black homeownership and entrepreneurship. Grounded in six pillars — Thriving Corridors, Career Learning, New Jobs, Diverse Housing, Health and Safety, and Accountable Leadership — the plan reflects grassroots, cross-sector collaboration and sets a national precedent for equitable development, showing what’s possible when revitalization efforts are led by the people they are meant to serve.