Retrofitting for Change: Fargo

Abstract

13th Avenue South Fargo has gradually grown to become the City of Fargo’s commercial and residential hub since the introduction of interstates i-29 and i-94 in the late 1950’s. The region surrounding 13th avenue South has thrived as result of cheap land for development and the infusion of business ventures such as the West acres mall. This has brought an influx of business investors and residents to the area hungry for a piece of the profit and economic productivity the region has to offer. With Fargo's thriving commerce which is predominantly along 13th avenue south Fargo, population figures have been on the rise. These figures have resulted in an increase in population density within the city of Fargo. It is feared that future projected population growth within the city of Fargo especially along its commercial corridors will not be able to align with the current trends of spread development and urban sprawl that Fargo has been so used to in respects to its current planning trends. If urban sprawl and spread development are not addressed through design and planning within the city of Fargo to meet the needs of the growing population, then we will begin to see future scenario's along commercial corridors in Fargo (such as 13th Avenue South) where economic and aesthetic demise becomes a trend . This will in-turn gradually affect economic productivity and standards of living along such commercial corridors within the city of Fargo and other areas of similarity within the state of North Dakota. This thesis aims to indicate practical solutions to rectifying urban sprawl and spread development along commercial corridors such as 13th avenue south Fargo. This is being done through the implementation of urban development principles of retrofitting, infill, smart growth and urban greenification. This is all being done with the aim of catering to Fargo's present and future growing population as well as protecting and improving Fargo's economic viability for present and future inhabitants of the city.