BKV Group has a long history of working with various committees focused on impacting downtown as a whole. Their visions for well-planned development that enriches lives and strengthens community is well-respected among our city’s core, and that passion for community fuels their continued efforts.
So when they were contacted about a project focusing on the Park and Portland corridor in East Town, BKV Group jumped at the opportunity.
Their year-long pro-bono work helped frame up and analyze what the Park and Portland corridor is today and what it can be, encapsulating a vision for one of downtown’s greatest areas of opportunity.
“East Town is clearly thriving, but there are still incredible opportunities for development there—particularly in Elliot Park,” BKV Group’s Mike Krych said. “It’s truly a unique part of downtown with rich history and a variety of uses, and stands as one of the last remaining established neighborhoods in the downtown district.”
Their efforts on the Park and Portland Project, which included understanding all the different master planning efforts for the area and analyzing how they all intersect with what Park and Portland is today, helped propel them into telling a narrative of design, opportunity and growth in the East Town area.
This fall, BKV Group is being honored by the mpls downtown council as a recipient of a 2025 Plan Leadership Award. The awards are aimed at recognizing and honoring individuals, organizations and initiatives that help make downtown Minneapolis more vibrant, and the Park and Portland Vision Project is an example of that mission.
By focusing on making Park and Portland connectors for pedestrians and bicycles in addition to cars, the BKV Group leadership said the entire town will benefit. They said adding greening along these roads will help connect the Mississippi Riverfront, The Commons park, Elliot Park and other East Town destinations—making the entire area feel more like one cohesive experience.
BKV Group said they enjoyed the challenge of the project, but even more so they enjoyed the opportunity to have an impact that will enrich lives and strengthen the community.
The results, they said, will spur great conversations with neighbors, land owners and developers who share their vision for making Park and Portland a downtown destination.
The 2025 Plan, they said, is a catalyst for this type of forward thinking. They enjoy the energy and vitality created by the continued growth of the city, and through The 2025 Plan they see continued opportunity.
“The 2025 Plan is a comprehensive vision for the future of downtown, and was the jumping off point for the Park & Portland vision study,” Krych said. “As a firm deeply involved in the development of multifamily and mixed-use projects, it’s important for us to be proactive in the strategic growth for our communities and provide the best living environments as we try to meet the goals for downtown population growth outlined in the plan.”
