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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Stillwater Comprehensive Plan 1918PLAN OF STILLWATER Prepared under the direction of THE PARK BOARD MCMXVIII y g MORELL & NICHOLS Landscape Architects & Engineers Minneapolis, Minnesota MORELL & NICHOLS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS PALACE BUILDING ANTHONY U. MORELL ARTHUR R, NICHOLS TELEPHONE MAIN 1BOB MINNEAPOLIS July 1st, 1915 To the Honorable City Council and Park Board, City of Stillwater, Minnesota. Gentlemen: We have the honor to submit to your honorable bodies the result of our studies on general civic betterment for Stillwater. These studies, together with maps and other illustrations, while from necessity of general character, show the opportunities which Stillwater pos- sesses to make it an ideal and prosperous community. While the aesthetic part of the proposed improvements play the principal role in our studies, other matters of economical nature so essential to the development of any community are not overlooked. In proposing the various civic improvements for Stillwater we have kept in mind not the Stillwater of today but the Stillwater of the future, as we keenly realize that such large improvements cannot well be carried out in a few years without hardship to the community. Our principal aim now is to present the general problems to the people of Stillwater in order to have a general program formulated and to have the various civic better- ments carried out intelligently and gradually. This general outline may look big at present, but knowing the spirit of Stillwater in doing the right thing for its community —which spirit is fully exemplified by the many civic accomplishments during the last few years —we are safe in express- ing our firm belief that large as the program may appear it will be taken up with the greatest enthusiasm and the entire program carried out suc- cessfully to make Stillwater what it was destined to be. With the very best wishes for the successful carrying out of these civic betterments and with every confidence in their fulfillment, we beg to remain, Yours very truly, MORELL & NICHOLS. CIVIC ORGANIZATION STILLWATER 1918 CITY COUNCIL Mayor J. R. KOLLINER��.e H -A r— ,FLL � L A A S L. � N, M. L. MURPHY IL-R-.-W9ER-Z A Afl Ian W. H. BEAN T. H. CURLEY J. J. EICHTEN C. E. MOSIER SCHOOL BOARD Chairman CARL BRENNER WATER BOARD Chairman R. S. DAVIS A. J. HOLM JOHN OGREN 0. H. OLSEN PARK BOARD Chairman F. T. WILSON T. R. CONVERSE INDEX Page Foreword--- --- -- - - - - - - - -- ---------- --- ------------------ - - - - -- - -- ---- - - - - -- --- --..... 9 Stillwater's Civic Problems ------------------------ _--------- ...----------- --- . 14 Parks, Playgrounds and Boulevards --------------- ------------------ 1.5 Public Buildings ---- - - - - -- ------------------------------------- - - ---- --- - - - - -- - - - -- 22 Main Street and Highway System --- .------ ...--------------------------- 27 'transportation ---------- - - - - -- ------------ - - - - -- -- - - - - -- --------------- 32 Waterfront and River Development __ - - -- - ------ --------- _- 36 St. Croix Valley and Inter -State Park ----- .------ .--------------------- 39 Zoningthe City ---------------------------------- - -------- - ---------------- - - - - -- 40 Conclusion.. - - -------- - - - - -- ------- - ------------------------- - --------- __- - - - - - - 43 FIT PLAN OF STILLWATER F171 FOREWORD ON THE bluffs of the beautiful St. Croix River, the natural dividing line between the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and whose scenic beauty rivals that of the Rhine and the Hudson, is located the town of Stillwater. From a small camp established by lumber men from Maine in about 1843, eighteen miles northeast from St. Paul, Still- water has gradually developed into a thrifty community of about 12,000 in- habitants. Stillwater derives its name from the "still water" which'begins here, the turbulent river with its succession of falls and rapids above finding a more level bed. It is the County seat of Washington County and the metropolis of the St. Croix Valley. Few people, indeed, in this broad country are sufficiently familiar with the beautiful location of Stillwater. While words of description and pictures may illustrate the beauty of this location to some degree, to appreciate the exact facts one must see this spot for himself. The view from the resi- dence districts along the bluffs is that of romantic. beauty. Stretching out below lies the glistening silver of the lake, while on the Wisconsin side, its high and abrupt hills covered with timber and interspersed with clearings and handsome homes, opens a panorama beautiful in summer and extremely lovely in autumn when the landscape is dotted with the variegated foliage. The richly forested banks of the St. Croix have furnished fertile fields for the lumber industry for about three - quarters of a century. Now that man has about finished his work of exploiting the forests the last sawmill has ceased its work and the lumber industry is now a thing of the past in the city of Stillwater, other natural resources are being exploited and it is to these resources that Stillwater must look for its growth to insure its healthy development. It is well for Stillwater that a splendid beginning was made in this direction. With the gradual diminishing of the lumber enterprise, other industrial developments have been started, such as foundries, machine shops, cloth- ing, shoe and button factories, flour mills, box, sash and door:: factories, etc. Another notable factor in the Stillwater industrial development is the state industrial plant embodied in the State Prison. Here is one of r, F° PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 uminiomnuuumuuauunwuuuuoummmuuuuuwmwuuumimnmmuiinmuumwminuwiuuuiuiimmmimmumuummuuumooiouminomuoi000�unuuummuwumuuuuuuuoumuuuuuuouumuuuunuuw The St. Croix River, the Rhine or Hudson of the Northwest the greatest institutions in the world engaged in the manufacture of farm machinery and binding twine, together with the conduct of a great farm of 600 acres. The State Prison is no longer a penal institution but a place where men may gain a new outlook upon life and acquire the experience which will make them honest and law - abiding citizens. Splendid as was the beginning of the industrial development of Stillwater, there are untold possibilities for expansion of the present industries and for establishing new ones. The large available industrial sites along the river front with facilities for dockage, water and rail transportation and abundance of labor supply, without question will give great impulse for their industrial growth. The rich agricultural lands tributary to Stillwater are another part of Stillwater's natural resources. The Community Market of Stillwater, established some ten years ago through the efforts of the Civic Club, is a unique institution of its kind. Here the farmer finds market for all his farm produce, such as dairy, grain, feed, etc., where he can sell for ready cash anything he raises. The nearness of such a market to agricultural lands offers many benefits. The comparatively short hauls to this market 10 ❑0 PLAN OF STILLWATER 0❑ II111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIItIIWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII11111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII111111111I1I1111111411iI11fIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlI1111111111111101111111 are great time savers for the farmers, and it not only stimulates the better development of agricultural lands but also increases the mutual good will be- tween town and country. The natural scenic beauty of Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley for some 75 miles up and down the river is without doubt one of the greatest assets to Stillwater. The already large flow of tourists seeking ,enjoyment in the natural scenic beauties of the St. Croix Valley will without doubt increase gradually. With the growth of country life ideas the beautiful high banks and cliffs along the St. Croix will be dotted with attractive country homes. All of this will greatly contribute to the prosperity of Stillwater. The ideal housing conditions, however, which Stillwater offers — especially for a working people and people of small means where they can live ideally within their means among heautiful and healthful sur- roundings —will contribute greatly to the growth of the entire community. As can be readily seen from the above enumerated natural advantages of Stillwater, while nature has been bountiful in her gifts and the zeal of her captains of industry has done much for Stillwater, her greatest asset is the spirit of her citizens. In the day of the Civil War Stillwater furnished the famous Company B, of the First Minnesota, which won imperishable 11 F❑ PLAN OF STILLWATER ❑❑ renown at Gettysburg. For the past 30 years Stillwater has made an en- viable record of community achievement. In 1887 it built and equipped a modern high school building with appliances, library, picture projection equipment, surpassing any other city in the state. At this time it also equipped all of its buildings with mechanical ventilation. It installed man- ual training which has been in continuous existence in the Stillwater schools since then. A city hospital and public library both of which recognized as splendid public institutions, grew out of the untiring efforts of the women of Stillwater. After fire destroyed its beautiful opera house, a splen- did auditorium, one of the best of its kind in the Northwest, was built through the joint efforts of 300 of its citizens. The municipally conducted water plant is another notable experiment which has been successfully carried out by Stillwater. Some eight years ago after 30 ,years of private ownership of the water works, the city took over the water plant for an agreed price of $145,000.00. While the popula- tion of Stillwater has not increased greatly in the last few years, neverthe- less the conduct of the municipally owned plant has been so successful that the price of water to the consumer is just one -half of what it was in the beginning. This surely demonstrates wonderfully that a city can conduct a municipal water plant with the greatest efficiency. The home rule charter is perhaps the most striking of the achievements of Stillwater. As a sequence to the remarkable record of the water board, a home rule charter was adopted by an overwhelming vote of the people, making the government of Stillwater simply that of a modern up -to -date corporation. The City Council is the Board of Directors. It serves without pay. Its members are nominated without political distinction. The experi- ment has produced a record of government second to no other in the whole country. Five of its most successful business men have constituted the first Board of Directors. Their election has been unopposed and the record of their achievement is that which one would .expect from five successful, patriotic business men who are taking pride in community achievement. The experience in Stillwater during the last three years in absolutely eliminating politics from city administration and its achievements in the conduct of its finances is a record that fills with pride every citizen of Stillwater. The history of park development in Stillwater furnishes another rec- ord of its great civic achievements. Some eight years ago the Civic Club proposed to the City Council that it would contribute the same amount of funds to the development of a riverside park that the city was asked to 12 I'M FA ,, ' x"`5"54 A, , Mll FA nm muuiiiiniiimmmimmmminimmuumuwuPLAN uiinmmiOmnuwmii mum mmmimLumLWum mmT mRmuuuuuuuu��iiimuuuumuiiimnuuuuum1 contribute. Under the joint direction of a common committee of the Club and Council the present beautiful Lowell Park of Stillwater was inaugu- rated. When these funds were exhausted and the park improvements were not completed one of the citizens of Stillwater offered to finance the com- pletion of the development provided the direction of planning and super- vision of construction work were placed in the hands of competent land- scape architects. This part of the contribution has often been said to have been of most important value in the development. It not only stimulated great interest in this attractive water front improvement and inspired further liberal gifts, one for example being a gift of 29 acres of Wisconsin bluffs immediately opposite the city, given by the East Side Lumber Com- pany, of which David Bronson is the honored head, and with whom have been associated Robert Slaughter and other citizens, but it also inaugurated a system of intelligent planning which has been followed in the subsequent development of the river front and which has finally led to the preparation of a comprehensive, far - reaching scheme for parks, boulevards, civic center, highways, industrial developments, etc., which although it may require generations to bring into realization will eventually make Stillwater fa- mous all over the country. This new, comprehensive city planning scheme for Stillwater, a magnificent gift to the city by one of its citizens, will without doubt further inspire the people of Stillwater to show their love for their community and will lead to further liberal gifts of land and other contributions to enable the community to carry out this scheme and make Stillwater one of the happiest communities in this broad country and what God destined it to be. Stillwater's Civic Problems STILLWATER seems to be quite a happy community, and if it did not nurse an aspiration and ambition to grow and prosper beyond the imag- ination even of optimistic minds, there would seem to be no great need to take up general city planning and proposing the various civic betterments which quite naturally involve considerable expenditure for their ultimate completion. However, it is generally recognized not only by the well- think- ing people of Stillwater but by many outside prominent business men that present Stillwater has hardly begun to be what destiny intended, and if such is the case and we firmly believe that it is —the people of Stillwater have started the movement of planning for better Stillwater none too soon. 14 R-3] PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHlll1111lllllllllllllllllllflllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllltllllllllllllllilllll111!'; I` JHI! IIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The principal problems confronting the expanding Stillwater seen-; to be those of acquiring lands for parks, parkways and playgrounds and the planning for their development; acquiring sites for future public buildings; improving the system of main streets and highways within and outside the city limits in co- operation with the County authorities; developing natural resources; improving the water front for industrial development; improv- ing transportation facilities by land, water and air; zoning the city into various districts in order to insure each district of right development; linn- iting height of buildings in order to protect the city from unnecessarily high commercial structures, and lastly, providing adequate and ideal hous- ing facilities for all classes of citizens which is one of the greatest obliga- tions of each community under modern codes of life. In order that the ground may be sufficiency covered, these various problems will be dealt with separately. Parks, Playgrounds and Boulevards IT IS a well - established fact that a city, besides its valuable sites for com- mercial and industrial purposes, can have no greater asset than a well - planned system of public parks, boulevards and playgrounds where its peo- ple can enjoy the beauty of nature and gain the recreation which is to be found only among trees and flowers. Besides the great pleasure afforded the inhabitants of the city by providing them with sufficiently large and well - planned parks, boulevards and playgrounds, the fame of such civic improvements spreads rapidly throughout the country and attaches a good name to the community. It may also be mentioned that outside of these tremendous assets such improvements also represent a well - paying invest- ment. The improvements made by laying out parks and boulevards in- creases the value of land around such improvements and not only will the expense of these improvements be sooner paid because of the increase of taxes, but the source of taxes coming from such an increase in the valua- tion will be a permanent source of revenue to the city. The splendid beginning made by Stillwater in improving the water front on both sides of Chestnut Street, which was transformed from the former dumping grounds into a veritable beauty spot and which is so greatly enjoyed not only by the people of Stillwater, but by many visitors coming to the city, demonstrates well what can be accomplished in a com- munity where good will and progressive ideas exist. If such remarkable 15 PLAN O LA F Fuuuuun muu� muiIuuiLuuiLuuuuWuimAuiuTuuumRmuumuumiuuiuuuumluu���um�u�uii�u�uu 71 results were achieved in a place most unsuitable for successful adornment and where sheer will was needed, one can easily picture what could be C c- complished, with a small amount of energy and comparatively small ex- pense, in zthe way of beautifying Stillwater with additional parks and boulevards in locations where nature has already prepared the way for making them beautiful. The high bluffs from which the most wonderful panoramic views can be enjoyed will offer most ideal condition-, for laying scenic drives which, in their superb beauty, will rival those of Palisades on the Hudson River. The beautiful Lily and McKusick Lakes, Brown's Creek Ravine, Fairy Falls and the park of 29 acres along the east banks of the river, as well as the lands along the bluffs and ravines, as generally outlined, after being properly developed, will make a truly grandiose sys- tem of natural parks covering an area of approximately 400 acres rarely surpassed in splendor anywhere. All of the area outlined in the general plan for proposed parks which will form one great system, upon being acquired by gift or city purchase: should be surveyed and separate detail plans worked out for improving each park. As practically every proposed park possesses individual char- acteristics, they should furnish basic ideas for individual development and this should be taken advantage of in the detail planning. The park area south of McKusick Lake, for example, adapts itself splendidly for the laying out of municipal golf links for which there is now felt a great need in Still- water. Both McKusick and Lily Lakes, besides being surrounded by at- tractive drives and trails, will furnish ideal bathing and canoeing facilities. The former, especially, will satisfy the' people's long -felt need of outdoor bathing in clear water. The swampy land east of Lily Lake and .Greeley Street could, with comparatively little dredging, be transformed into a very attractive stretch of water, and connecting same by a lagoon with Lily Lake, it would enlarge this lake considerably. Such development would not only do away with the present unsightly swampy land but would also enhance the value of the surrounding lands. Other park areas, especially those along the bluffs, like the old stone quarry north of the old State Prison, and quarries along Main Street near Willard Street, besides afford- ing opportunities for attractive trails, will adapt themselves to outdoor playgrounds, among them outdoor amphitheaters where theatrical plays and other .forms of amusement could be held for the benefit of the entire community. Brown's Creek Ravine, Fairy Falls and the park along the east side of the river, besides possessing attractiveness for natural parks, would also furnish Stillwater with adequate picnic grounds. The ravine 16 17 a 0 d r 4 ^y O 3 � a E o E E4 C7 � 0 O bn G ed w �❑ PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 111111111111171 IiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIfIIII I II I I I IIiII: IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIII I IIIIII1IIIIiIIIIIIIIII I II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIL' IIIIIIIRIII ItIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII[IIII east of Owens Street, leading to Fifth street; the bluff between Mulberry Street, Fifth Street and Myrtle Street; the ravine beginning at Myrtle Street and leading up to Greeley Street, together with triangles, such as the one between Broadway and Sixth Avenue South, and other small available areas, will make attractive neighborhood parks. The proposed small park surrounded by Fourth Street, Juniper Street, Second Street and Sycamore Street; with the high knoll from which a most magnificent panoramic view may be had of the river and valley for miles in both directions, will be a very desirable addition to the park system. The undeveloped portion of the river front between Myrtle Street and Mul- berry Point, at present occupied by the Stillwater Boat Club, offers great opportunities for developing boating facilities along this stretch of water front in a practical and attractive way. The broad expanse of still water in this vicinity is most ideally suited for boating and other aquatic sports, such as regattas, Venetian festivals, etc., which would attain not only local but national character. The above - mentioned opportunities of Stillwater for creating a magni- ficent park and playground system can not be fully taken advantage of if various parks forming the general park system are not connected with boulevards or parkways for which ideal conditions exist. Taking par - tial advantage of existing city streets— which, by additional widening, could easily be transformed into attractive parkways —and by planning additional stretches of boulevards along the bluffs and along stretches of high land in the unplatted portion of the city, a magnificent, continuous stretch of boulevard and parkway of approximately 15 miles length could feasibly be obtained. For example, beginning at the corner of Third Street and Pine Street, surrounded by court house, high school and Lincoln School buildings, an attractive parkway will lead to Broadway and northerly to an outlook at the head of the .existing stairway, from which location a wonder- ful panoramic view may be had over the lower portion of the city and the valley. Following Broadway southerly to the northern end of Sixth Ave - nue, thence diagonally to the northern end of Fourth Avenue and Douglas Street, thence diagonally to Orleans Street, a beautiful stretch of scenic boulevard will be obtained. Continuing the parkway along Orleans Street, j it will lead to Fairview Cemetery and to Lily Lake. At the northwest corner of the cemetery the parkway branches out northerly and westerly and will encircle Lily Lake. Taking advantage of the easy grade of Brick Street, a feasible connection can be made by laying out a parkway along this street and will lead northwesterly and northeasterly through the pro- W s � i r•, ��. � C .o \.. 13 4 ' '..:... SOS ",�� sEVZSTH sr ? ,< r•, ��. � C .o \.. 13 Illustrating Attractive Treatment of the Bank Providing Convenient Passage Between Upper and Lower Willard Street 19 4 ' '..:... SOS ",�� i I ITY Oi" 3TILLWATEP "\\ I'll TIME SOTA- scxrn sr 5KFKi FOR STAfPWAY— APPROACH O]Y- WILLARD STREET MOZLLL L NICHOLS osenve nlTCCTS s cne.n eeae 20 i0 O i 0 So pas nI n n[ nooLls -Minn e S OT q 1918 Illustrating Attractive Treatment of the Bank Providing Convenient Passage Between Upper and Lower Willard Street 19 [o] PLAN OF STILLWATER R II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 llllllll I I II11111111111111111111III 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 IIIIIfllll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l lVlll 1 1 1 1 1 ll 1 1 1 1 11111 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 II IIII II V I I I VIII II I I I IIII; II II I I I I VIII I I I I III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VIII I I I II III I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II II 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VIII V I I I IIII IIi 1111 1 1 1 1 1 ll 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II I II posed golf links and connect with the parkway along the north shore of McKusick Lake. From the northwestern end of McKusick Lake the park- way will lead northerly to White Bear Road and to the bridge over the Northern Pacific Railroad. From that point two parkways lead easterly on both sides of the Northern Pacific Railroad right of way and on high land along Brown's Creek Ravine. The northerly branch will lead to Fairy Falls and connect with Boom Road. The southerly branch of this parkway will lead to Fourth Street and wind southerly along the top of the high land to the southern end of Broadway north of the old State Prison where an- other magnificent view may be had over a large portion of the city and the valley. Using Wilkin Street as a connecting link to Second Street, from Second Street to Mulberry Street and from Mulberry Street down to Mul- berry Point and to Lowell Park, a boulevard ,encircling the city is possible. As a direct connecting parkway between the old stone quarry north of the old prison and McKusick Lake, Wilkin Street would adapt itself splendidly for this purpose. The ravine containing water right of way, possessed by the city, from McKusick Lake down to Fifth Street, offers opportunities for laying out parkways along both sides. Besides the pos- sibilities for laying out parkways along this ravine which will make an at- tractive connecting link between the down -town portion of the city and McKusick Lake, the drives would also bring about more attractive sur- roundings, and this entire stretch of ravine could be transformed from its present unsightly nature into a real beauty spot. The ravine beginning at the corner of Sixth Street and Myrtle Street and leading up to the corner of Greeley and Olive Streets, comprising the old St. Paul stage road, could feasibly be restored to its former character as an easy grade road by lay- ing out a drive at the bottom of the ravine crossing under. William Street through a subway and leading to the plaza on Greeley and Olive Streets. By continuing this parkway from the plaza along Greeley Street to Lily Lake, a very attractive inner circle of parkways could be obtained. Large as the proposed park, playground and boulevard system may appear at present, it is certain that with the gradual growth of the city, which is bound to come, it will be found none too large. The total out- lined area of parks and playgrounds amounts to approximately 10 per cent of the total area within the present city limits, this percentage barely averaging the area in a large number of cities possessing adequate park and playground systems. With the probable extension of the present city limits, especially southerly, in order to incorporate Baytown and South Stillwater, the outlined areas of park and playground system will have to 20 0 PLAN OF STILLWATER F Illllllllllli! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIpIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINfIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111111111111I111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII be greatly enlarged to provide for outdoor recreational needs in those new parts of Stillwater. Example of Residential Street Easily Convertible for Parkway at Stillwater As all of the area outlined in the system represents land either totally or partially unsuitable for residential or industrial development but lends itself for parks and playgrounds, this phase of planning will represent an economic aspect to Stillwater in addition to the civic side. The lands ad- joining the proposed parks and parkways, as any one can readily see, will be greatly benefited in increased value and eventually material benefits to the individual and to the city would more than offset the entire cost of the lands taken for the system and its entire improvement. Although its economic side will be a great factor in the adoption of the outlined program, we are rather inclined to think that Stillwater will look upon this develop- ment more from the civic side which, after all, represents the true life of any community having the welfare of its people at heart. 21 PL. A N OF S..,T„I L L� „W A uTu E R Public Buildings THE ideal arrangement in locating public buildings is to group them in a location as near the heart of the city as possiible where same can form an imposing feature in the community and can easily be reached from any part of the city. Such a grouping of public buildings forms the so- called civic center in which the life of the community centers. As the civic cen- ter should be free and imposing in appearance, it should embrace sufficient area to accommodate convenient locations for the public buildings without crowding same. In order to find a most suitable location for Stillwater's civic center, we have given most earnest attention to this subject and after a most careful survey of the available sites we have come to the conclusion that the two blocks bounded by Fourth Street, Olive Street, Third Street and Myrtle Street, offer a most ideal location for such civic center. The accompanying general plan of the civic center shows an arrange- ment of unique grouping of three public buildings: the city hall, armory and community hall, for which group great need will soon be felt. The site selected not only offers a location feasibly accessible from the business and residence districts, but it also is unusually attractive on account of its com- manding situation. While this site presents somewhat complicated con - structional problems on account of the great difference in elevation between Third Street and Fourth Street, the difference being about 75 feet, yet on account of its commanding location it possesses a charm hardly surpassed anywhere. The city hall, as located on the plan on the axis of Chestnut Street, could, in order to take full advantage of the high hill, be con - structed in such manner that the first floor would be reached from Third Street, and the second floor from Fourth Street. The armory and com- munity hall could be constructed on the lower level, some 30 feet below the first floor of the city hall and approximately 16 feet above the level of Third Street, which will more or less fit the natural contour of the site. The connecting way between the levels of Fourth Street and Third Street could be made by means of stairways on both sides of the city hall and high terrace fronting same. The central space between the city hall armory and the community hall, laid out with walks, flower beds and fountains, will provide approaches to the various buildings and add adornment to the pic- turesque grouping. As Chestnut Street, the main business street of Stillwater, is not of sufficient width to give the street an imposing character, and to pro- 22 L 77 I L CITY- OF STILLWATER- M INN E SOTA z' E — PLA P A L N C � -0, C � v C - C E N1 T« R nAY 19�b nop'" ' NICHCI-3 The Proposed Grouping of Public Buildings, as shown, will create a City Heart, and with Lowell Park joined by Chestnut Street, will form a Happy Unit. 23 24 4) it ti cl 3 i � 4wo 24 4) it ti cl [-]❑ PLAN OF STILLWATER [❑] IIIII I I IIIIIIII 11 111111 1 1 1 1 11111[III111111IHiWilIMI I I I llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllAl1111111111111111111111! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAII 111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIII IMIIIIIIIII I IIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIII[I 111111111119NIIII I IIIiIiOHNIII 111 I I I III Iwril IIIIIIIII1111111111111HII 11111 vide sufficiently for the large amount of traffic on this street, we are taking the liberty of suggesting the widening of same between the proposed civic center and Lowell Park. This street would then be 100 feet wide between Third and Second Streets, and 80 feet wide between Second Street and Lowell Park. The frontage between Third and Second Streets, now free from any costly improvements, can easily be changed without large cost to the city or hardship to property owners. The frontage between Second Street and Lowell Park could be changed to meet this plan by establishing new building lines, and as the present buildings are replaced this process of widening would naturally be spread over a number of years. Eventually Chestnut Street would be transformed into an attractive and important main thoroughfare. The stretch of Chestnut Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, if adorned with a grass plot in the center and shade trees along the sidewalks, would be a very great attraction for the upper end of this street and would give a very pleasing perspective towards the civic center. In order to provide a practical and attractive approach to the city hall from the residence sections, the existing Chestnut Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets should be widened to 100 feet and diagonal connections with the plaza on the axis of Sixth and Olive Streets made. This approach to the city hall, as outlined, not only would be of pleasing appearance, but also would make it possible to overcome the steep grades now encountered in this vicinity. As in all probability the present high school building will prove in- adequate for advanced educational purposes for the younger generation, it will either have to be enlarged or a new high school building will have to be erected. In studying this problem it came forcibly to us that the most economical solution will be to enlarge the present high school building, and in order to do this an additonal building site will have to be provided. The block bounded by Third, Pine, Fourth and Oak Streets, part of which is oc- cupied by the present high school building, will furnish the needed site and will also provide space for recreational facilities for the use of students by utilizing the existing ravine for this purpose; those playgrounds will prove to be of inestimable value to the public as well. Such an enlargement of the high school building will furnish adequate space for the junior- senior departments of the school system and give ample room for an auditorium and indoor gymnasium directly connected with the outdoor playgrounds. The proposed arrangement of the entire block, with the adjoining Central School (the grounds of which should be considerably enlarged as outlined 25 � I is 1 - 1 — ,, o 26 r u u o� ti a lil W b 7 O H C'3 F d :b ti � p U 0. W O Li d a 0 u A 0 H b R c� :J i.. V w --lh [ O O o z U" �l C7 x O yao sic E�- V� = d O O aOZ' OV I u — O W b 7 O H C'3 F d :b ti � p U 0. W O Li d a 0 u A 0 H b R c� :J i.. V w ❑ PLAN OF STILLWATER ❑❑ on the accompanying plan) and the adjoining court house, would give Still- water another useful and attractive civic addition. Main Street and Highway System AWELL studied plan for highways and streets is an element of first and greatest importance in intelligent city planning. The streets of the city are the arteries of communication and lie at the foundation of an ade- quate city transportation system. The ideal arrangement of streets, espe- cially of main arteries, is one that will enable traffic to flow evenly to or from any point in the city in the most direct manner and on the best obtain- able grades. Of similar importance is the system of main highways leading to the city from various directions. On account of its bluffs, ravines, etc., the location of Stillwater offers unusual opportunities for an attractive and practical layout of the city, but unfortunately those opportunities were not made use of by the first city planners of Stillwater. The rectangular or commonly called gridiron sys- tem, first introduced by William Penn in laying out Philadelphia, and con - tinued by his sons in laying out Reading, Pa., and generally followed throughout the country in laying out cities, regardless of the nature of topography, unfortunately was also adopted in laying out the streets of Stillwater. Instead of laying out the streets, especially the main ones, along natural contour lines following the ravines and other depressions to give the streets easy grades, Stillwater's streets were laid out in most in- stances in the rectangular way, a system eminently unsuitable on account of the topography. As a large number of existing streets possessing steep grades could not be disturbed without incurring great expenditures, on account of the sur- rounding improvements, those streets will have to remain as they are. The platted streets along partially developed or wholly undeveloped sec - tions could be rearranged by replatting them in a manner that would give .easy ways of travel and feasible access to the building sites. The replatting of those streets would be of great benefit not only to the community but to the owners of the effected lands as well. The great burden of costly street grading and costly maintenance would be saved the community, and the value of lots for easy and picturesque approaches would be greatly in- creased. We have particularly in mind the portion of the city bounded by Fourth Street, Wilkin Street, Main Street and the city limits, where a large 27 .. ='� mod Ml U x c. 0 v O v v FE PLAN OF STILLWATER IIIIfI Mill IIIIIIII III II I Mill III I Ill I III IIIIIIMiliII I [If I III II[ I Mill IIIIIIII[ I ill IIIIIDIIII111111111111llllll 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111[ 1 Ill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111111111111111111111111111111111111AIIIllllllllllllllllll Ill IIIIIIHIIII ]I Ill 1001111111111iIIM PMIIII]I number of platted streets are to be found with practically impossible grades. With the coming of large industrial development along the river front between Mulberry Street and the northern city limits a great need will arise for housing a large number of working people. As those people should be housed as conveniently near the industrial development as pos- sible, there is no doubt that this portion of the city, now scantily settled, will possess a large population in the near future. Due to this forthcoming rapid development of this section of the city it will be well to take up the matter of replatting in order to make the best use of the ground so picturesquely situated. As more or less similar conditions of poor street platting exist in Baytown adjoining the southern industrial development of the city, it would be well to look into the matter of better street platting in that vicinity. As there is a considerable portion of land within the city limits yet totally unplatted and as the land possesses all the advantages of picturesque and practical platting, it is to be earnestly hoped that full advantage will be taken in laying it out and that former mistakes in platting will not be repeated. We, therefore, most earnestly desire to call upon the city authori- ties and land holders in the effected areas to give most careful considera- tion to the study of replatting certain streets and platting new ones. While it is ideal for a community to have a well planned and well im- proved system of streets in all parts of the city, those streets along which the main traffic flows in various directions, whether through residence or business parts, should be given first attention in order to have them well improved and to provide sufficient width'to take care of heavy traffic for many years. As the matter of possessing an adequate system of main streets is as important for Stillwater as for any other progressive commun- ity, we have carefully studied this phase of civic problems and have out- lined such a system on the general plan. The present mainly traveled streets throughout the residence and business portions of Stillwater are incorporated in this system, viz.: Olive Street, from the city limits to Sixth Street; Greeley Street, from the city limits to Olive Street; Owens Street, from the city limits to Olive Street; Laurel Street, from Owens Street to Fourth Street; Fourth Street, from the northern city limits to Myrtle Street; Pine Street, to southern city limits; Sixth Street, from Pine Street to Myrtle Street; Myrtle Street, from Sixth Street to Main Street; Chestnut Street from Third Street to Lowell Park; Third Street, from Myrtle Street to Hancock Street, and the entire length of Main Street. To obtain the most complete system of main streets 29 0 PLAN OF STILLWATER 7❑ ioiinuumomuuummmmmr�o�rmuumniimuriuuumuoimmumuuuuuuuuumiunauumiiiuuu�niuiiiimmomiiiiiiiiiuuiuiuinniiiuuuuuuuumummummmmuiuuummummmmimmuuuumumnuumuuumu it will be necessary to extend South Avenue a few blocks northwest and southeast. That such a direct thoroughfare from the intersection of Third and Hancock Streets leading along easy grade directly to the State Prison would be of great value to the entire community, few, if any, would deny. The above numerated streets forming the main arteries of Stillwater, after being well improved, will provide sufficiently for the main traffic for some time to come even in its present width of 60 feet. With the gradual growth of Stillwater and the surrounding country, traffic on the main streets will be greatly increased, and as the present width will not be suf- ficient to take easy care of heavy traffic in the future, it will be very ad- visable to increase the width to 80 feet. This additional width of 20 feet, although not needed now, will prove of great value later on when the need of wider streets arises. The process of widening such streets could be ac- complished by officially establishing new building lines along the main streets and no structures of permanent nature allowed to be erected beyond those lines. The cost of lands taken for widening or opening streets could be borne either ,entirely by the community by a bond issue, or partly by the community and partly by special assessments. Equal in importance to the system of main streets in a community is the system of main highways leading to a town or city from various di- rections. These highways, being a connection between various communi- ties, not only should be well improved and of sufficient width to take care of heavy traffic, but should also lead as directly as possible and possess the easiest grades obtainable. It is to the credit of the Washington County authorities that a fine system of main highways connecting Stillwater with the neighboring cities and towns has been provided for. The accompanying map of part of the Washington County highway system illustrates well the system of main highways leading to Stillwater, which highways connect ideally with the main streets of the city. The principal highways connecting Stillwater with the neighboring communities comprise the road southwesterly to St. Paul, southerly to Hastings, westerly to White Bear, northwesterly to North Stillwater, Winthrow, etc., northerly to Carnelian Lake, Idlewylde, etc., and northerly along the St. Croix River to Marine St. Croix and Tay- lor's Falls. With the wide awakening throughout the country towards improv- ing highways in the most efficient manner and with the existing federal and state agencies to aid county authorities in such improvement, there is no doubt that the highways of Washington County, especially the main 30 The Already Well Balanced System of Main High- ways Leading to Stillwater, When Highly Im- proved, will be of Inestimable Value to Washing- ton County and to Stillwater 31 ,,F51 PLAN O F u S T I„uLuuL W, uA T ,E., R, „ u ones leading to Stillwater, will be well improved in the near future. It is now a well - established fact that improved highways become one of the best assets not only to individual communities but also to counties and states as such fact is well demonstrated in a number of eastern and far western states and especially in California where good road building is one of the main enterprises. Stillwater, with its natural advantages for rapid development, will depend largely upon the system of highways leading to it in order to attain its full advantages. The wonderful natural scenic attractions along the St. Croix River, of which Stillwater is the center, should be reached from various parts of the county by well- improved highways. Such main high- ways, as for example the St. Paul Road, being the connecting way between the Twin Cities and Stillwater, should be more of a boulevard or parkway character than an ordinary road in order to make traveling pleasant along its entire length. The road leading to Marine St. Croix and Taylor's Falls should possess all the characteristics of a well- improved scenic highway and become famous throughout the entire Northwest. The stretch of this road from Stillwater's city limits and leading along the river for a certain dis- tance is a splendid example of what such a scenic highway should be, and no efforts should be spared to have this highway as well improved as the above - mentioned stretch along its entire length to Taylor's Falls. The scenic highway should afford the tourist the best opportunities of viewing the panoramic views of the river to the best advantage, hence it is most highly desirable to have this located as near the edge of the bluffs as possible. To illustrate this theory we have shown on the accompanying highway map a stretch of highway leading along the bluffs from which the full beauty of the valley can be seen. This view is now lost, due to the fact that the existing highway is too far away from the edge of the bluff. Nature was lavish in giving these most wonderful scenic beauties to Wash- ington County, and it is now high time for the people to make full recogni- tion and use of this wonderful gift of nature. Transportation THE existence of every progressive city now largely depends and will depend more and more upon a good transportation system with the out- side world. Under modern conditions the city that has the most efficient and ,economical transportation system has an advantage in industrial de- 32 0 PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 nuwumii¢ unrwuummur�u�! u.! uuim! ninumuuuuwumuumouiumuuiiiowmuu�miiimiimummmuuuuummuuumuuuwuuunimuuouumuuuuuouimiia uiuumuiumimmiFiuiinum ;!iiimuumumuuuuuunm velopment over the city not possessing such facilities. Its merchants can do business more quickly and economically. Its manufacturers can take raw material and ship finished products more easily. A good all -round transportation system attracts and holds industries. The city with the best worked out terminal facilities benefits most. The transportation system of Stillwater, composed of the three im- portant lines: the Northern Pacific, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, furnishes Stillwater, with- out doubt, with quite adequate transportation facilities by land. In order, however, to insure the growth of Stillwat:er's industries, especially the iron industry, for which Stillwater offers every possible advantage, an addi- tional railroad line directly connecting Stillwater with the iron mines of Northern Minnesota, is needed. The great possibilities of the new factor in transportation over land, namely, the motor truck, must not be overlooked by any community. Its capability of transporting freight and passengers on par with the rail- roads, especially over the shorter routes, has been fully demonstrated. With the development of highways, essential to motor truck transportation, this new factor will play an important role in fast transportation of freight and passengers. As the great progress of Stillwater depends largely upon good transportation between the Twin Cities, this new means should not be overlooked. Important as railroad transportation is to any community, transporta- tion by water should be of very great importance to the communities lo- cated along the seashore, the Great Lakes and navigable rivers. The great advantages of any city located along navigable water and where water transportation is fully developed over cities not possessing such advantages is well demonstrated. The great inland water transportation systems in some of the European countries, especially in Holland, Belgium and France, obtained through tremendous labor and large expenditures in transforming shallow streams and swampy lands into navigable canals, lie at the bottom of the wonderful development of those countries. As in many other re- spects, so in this, nature has furnished wonderful inland waterways suit- able for navigation in this country, but thus far only partial use has been made of them. The great Mississippi River with its tributaries, the St. Croix one of them, offers untold possibilities for inland deep water naviga- tion, but those waters, instead of carrying on their surfaces countless boats loaded to their fullest capacity, were allowed to flow idly for many decades. What it would mean to the entire country if those inland navigable waters 33 34 C O co ed EG ed z a w O a O d 'r d a nn nuuwuwuuuiimm�mm n uiimioii umuPuuuLuuu muuuNuummmOnmmmnuumSTuuI LLmmnWnmi minTmumiRumiiuuuumumuiumuiu muiruoinmiuuuuF] were fully developed, especially now during the world crisis, need hardly be emphasized. Those waters, by relieving the great burden on the railroad transportation system of the country, would provide sufficient transporta- tion facilities and thus contribute largely to the great cause for which the world democracy is striving. The early history of Stillwater indicates that the city owes its ex- istence to the great lumber industry which it was possible to establish by means of the St. Croix River whose waters brought the lumber from the upper valley to the sawmills. Now that other industries are taking the place of the lumber industry and will require better navigation facilities, these facilities must be obtained. As it will be readily seen that the inland system is of great importance to Stillwater, its people should spare no efforts towards its full development. As there is every reason to believe that the hindrance and neglect in the development of inland water navigation is a thing of the past, a new inspiration and hope should be nursed by the cities possessing the possibili- ties of inland navigation. The national government is now bending its energies toward improving navigation not only on the lower but on the upper Mississippi and there is no doubt that the neglected possibilities will be fully developed in the near future. As this is being written, reports are on hand from the national capitol that the group of business men representing Minneapolis is presenting the desirability of developing a harbor for Minneapolis and is laying a strong case before the national government for the necessary development of navigation on the upper Mississippi. With the full development of naviga- tion on this river, the navigable waters of the St. Croix should also be fully developed and it is, therefore, to the interest of Stillwater, together with other communities located along this river, to make strong efforts to- wards realizing this most important economic development. Although there are controversies as to the practicability of transforming the St. Croix in its entire length with an additional artificial canal as a connecting link between the upper end of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi, they should not be an obstacle in further pushing such a great project. That there are considerable obstacles in the path of making the St. Croix navi- gable between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi, no sensible mind ac- quainted with the circumstances will deny. As those natural barriers, al- though hindering the realization of such engineering achievements, are not unsurmountable, and as the untold benefits of this great project would be of vast importance not only to the neighboring region of the St. Croix 35 F❑ PLAN OF STILLWATER Fcli Valley but to the entire Northwest, and as this entire project is not of local but national importance, the nation must be awakened to the need of car- rying it to a realization. Besides transportation by land and water, an additional factor of transportation, by air, should be speedily recognized by communities wish- ing to avail themselves of this new means of rapid transit. The aeroplane now being chiefly used as an engine of death and destruction will, at the .end of the war, be turned into benevolent use, and the day of general aeronautics will not be very far off. The aeroplane being already used for carrying mail will speedily develop also for carrying light freight. As the most serious problem in commercial flying is to find good locations for landing purposes, it will be necessary for the communities to provide pub- lic landing and starting fields. Therefore, the question of municipal land- ing fields will be the need of the day. As a number of cities throughout the country are already making preparations for ,establishing such aeroplane landing fields and as these cities, by providing adequate landing facilities, will be in position to obtain ideal air service, it is to be hoped that Stillwater will not overlook this coming factor in transportation and will provide a municipal aero field. In many communities one of the chief obstacles in ideal establishment of aeroplane fields is the lack of large space and suitable location, but Stillwater is fortunate in this respect as it may possess an ideal aero field by acquiring Lily Lake Drive Park which being of considerable size and level character, and possessing good drainage, meets the requirements of an ideal aero field. Water Front and River Development THE formerly analyzed possibilities of improving water navigation on the St. Croix River are closely connected with the possibilities of devel- oping the waterfront in its entire length along the city limits. This stretch of water front, together with that of Baytown and South Stillwater, by giving easy access to railroad lines and all facilities for laying out spur tracks leading to the industries on one side, and by giving easy access to boats along the water front, will furnish large areas ideally suited to the establishment of various large industries. The present irregular shore with shallow water could be straightened ouV-by building a sea wall and filling the low land with material dredged 36 w The Value of this Section of the City will be Tremendously Increased by the Advocated Improvement of the Water Front Fol mmuuiniuumuuiumwuuuuwmuiinuuumPmui mmuAmmNwummnOmuFunmu�SmuTinI mmiLumnWinmAmiun niuEmmRuumnnununumummuumimmuuuuuiFii' � from the river. Besides furnishing the material for filling this stretch along the shore, the dredging will also provide a sufficient depth of water needed for the larger boats entering the docks. It will be readily seen that by such proposed water front improvement, large valuable land area will be created for industrial sites, especially along the narrow stretches between the railroad and the present shore, and will give deep water dock- age, so essential to successful water transportation. In addition to carrying out the proposed development of the water front, one of the chief assets among its natural resources, another hidden natural resource of great economic importance to Stillwater lies in the development of a large volume of power on the river through the construc- tion of a high dam in the vicinity of Boom Point. The value of such high dam will be manifold. In the first place, it would create a large volume of cheap power which would be available for commercial purposes in Still- water and the Twin Cities. It would be of greatest importance to the project of deep water navigation on the St. Croix as it will create a large body of deep water up to Taylor's Falls, and by means of a lock canal this body of water will be accessible to all kinds of boats. The dam, having considerable waterfall, will also furnish great scenic attraction. The con- struction of such high dam may, on account of the reported deep mud at the bottom of the river, prove to be quite costly, but as the economic advantage of this project will be of such tremendous value not only to Stillwater but to a large portion of the Northwest, it is worthy of careful consideration. As the replacing of the existing bridge over the river on the axis of Chestnut Street would become an urgent matter in the near future, it would be advisable to give this problem careful thought. Owing to the broad ,ex- pansion of the river, it is quite evident that to suspend the bridge over the entire present width of the river will prove quite costly, especially if a design of pleasing appearance will be considered. It occurred to us that in view of this fact, by making partial fill along both shores (which fill can be obtained partially by dredging and partially by using material from the eastern bank of the river and the balance spanned by the bridge, as out- lined on the general plan), the city would be enabled to carry out this project in a more economical and pleasing manner. M FE-11 PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 III I I I I I I I I I I I I VIII II III I I I I VIII I II II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I II I VIII I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I III I I I I II I I I VIII I I I I II I I I I II II gllli II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IIIIIIIIIIIIII II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Bill I I II I I I 1 111111 1 1 1 1 1 IIII I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II II I I IIII II II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Itll II II1 1 1 1 1 1III III III The Reason Why St. Croix Valley Should be Made an Interstate Park St. Croix Valley, An Inter -State Park AS PREVIOUSLY touched upon, the natural scenic beauty of the St. Croix Valley for about 75 miles up and down the river, compares most favorably with world famous scenic attractions, and as Stillwater is thus fortunately located, this scenic beauty of the St. Croix is without doubt one of its chief assets which should be fully exploited by the city. The gradual development of Stillwater's park and boulevard system should not stop at its city limits but should be extended many miles beyond its borders. The high cliffs and beautiful wooded banks, from Stillwater to Taylor's Falls, should be incorporated into one tremendous park which will furnish coun- try -wide attraction. At best, even with the assistance of the Washington County authori- ties, such an undertaking could be carried out only partially along one side of the river; that is, up to the northern border of Washington County, and it would be necessary, therefore, to make it not only a state matter, but. on account of the east bank being located in the state of Wisconsin, it will 39 PLAN OF STILLWATER 0 AiII�IIIIIII HI Hit IIIIIIIIIII I HI I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII11111111111111111111kIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllll lllllllllll llllllHIM1III I It III111111161111II HIM IIII IIIIIIII!IfIIII1H11H I I➢Illi! N111 [it be necessary to have this project of inter -state nature and transform this beautiful valley into an inter -state park to insure the wonderful natural beauty of the valley for all time to come. In view of the fact that the beautiful wooded banks of the St. Croix are liable to be despoiled in time by the cutting of timber, early steps should be taken towards the realiza- tion of this great project, and the united efforts of Stillwater and other communities along this valley should be made. The splendid beginning for the protection of these natural scenic beauties of the St. Croix Valley at Taylor's Falls, made by the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, should simply be enlarged by incorporating the entire length of the valley between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls into an inter -state park. Zoning The City IN ORDER to direct the growth of Stillwater along orderly lines, it will be well to study the entire area of the city within its present limits and possible extensions, and classify this area into various districts or so- called "zones." Practically in every growing community there are business sec- tions, wholesale sections, manufacturing districts, restricted residence dis- tricts, and mixed districts where apartments, small business houses, ,etc., are allowed to be built. All the districts, although parts of the entire com- munity, are sufficiently individual in character, and can be directed as to their growth along definitely outlined system if the community studies the regulation of the boundaries. While Stillwater with its well defined districts, such as business and industrial, and the purely residence districts with individual homes, does not seem to have need of such proposed regulation now, it is with view to the future that such district regulations are recommended. Should an apartment or business house, for example, be built in a purely fine resi- dence district, through lack of regulation, as often happens in communities not possessing any regulations, it would have a very depressing effect on a large portion of the district and will be the cause of financial losses to in- dividual owners and to the city treasury. The individual home owners, being dissatisfied with undesirable invasion of their territory, usually move to other parts of the city, quite often at a great sacrifice in disposing of their homes. Such homes usually begin to be inhabited by cheaper ten- ants and gradually larger and larger portions of the district are effected. 40 ® PLAN OF STILLWATER [] 111IIIIIIIIIJMI I I I 1 11111111111111111 IIIIIIIIIHIM1111 ill������������������������������� ,������������� This is the beginning of the so- called "blighted" districts which are a detri- ment to any community. Studying the problems of zoning Stillwater, we are able to outline the business, wholesale and industrial sections on account of the natural, de- fined boundaries. Owing to the fact that the growth of Stillwater has not yet reached the point where apartments have crept into the development the entire residential district is now .exclusively made up of private homes. Thus it becomes difficult to deliberately assign out of this residence dis- trict any particular portion which in time would become of a mixed char- acter, but by profiting by the experience of all other communities in this respect, it is certainly worthy of earnest consideration for the city of Still- water to give this problem due consideration. In connection with the zoning of the city into various districts, it will be highly advisable to give consideration to regulating the height of build- ings, especially those of commercial character in business and industrial districts. The sad experiences in a number of our cities with buildings of unlimited height demonstrates very forcibly the need of municipal regula- tion of height of buildings, and we, therefore, recommend to the city authorities to give this matter their earnest attention. While at present it seems to be inappropriate to make such recommendation on account of little danger of unduly tall commercial buildings in Stillwater, the early regula- tion of height of buildings, however, may save the city from those sad ex- periences so greatly regretted in other communities after the damage was done. 41 1IIII❑III [] PLAN OF STILLWATER- 0 IIIuII III IIII I I III III III if ill [III IIIIIIIfI I IIIIIIIIIIII�If I ififI III I I II II I I I I r1lI P1I liff I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I III[[[; I I I I I I I[ [if IIIlai[III I I I I I I I I IN IIif I[II I I I I I I I III I If I I I I I I I I III I I I if II III I I I I I I I Ii I I IiI I I I IIiIII I I III If If I I 111111111 Conclusion WRILE it is true that there are a large number of other subjects of lesser importance which should be carefully considered in the field of mod- ern city planning, we have attempted in the foregoing paragraphs to em- phasize the main subjects applying to Stillwater for laying a sound founda- tion for a practical and ideal development of the city. Taken all together, they present a tremendous field not only to the city authorities who are en- trusted with the carrying out of the proposed civic betterments, but also to the entire community on which depends the successful outcome of ideal planning. Stillwater people have many times manifested their great zeal in doing the right thing for their community, and we have not the slightest doubt that, with their love for their city and their zeal to see Stillwater grow along ideal lines and prosper, they will show their greatest interest in the proposed civic betterments and lend their heartiest support in carrying out the new city plan, so that whatever may be done will be done right, with the one thought of doing it for the good of Stillwater. 43 6 1: C 0 ;1 T t L E ilk E 11-1-111BEET 11CF, M-1�1--:-,�---- =3 samz 01 L L A K CITY- OF • S T ILLWATER - MINNESOTA' GEhAERAL-PLAN — 19�b n3v,LL I Nlchcl-3 A` If The Proposed Grouping of Public Buildings, as shown, will create a City Heart, and with Lowell Park joined by Chestnut Street, will form a Happy Unit.