The Minneapolis City Council has approved a concept for the future of Nicollet Avenue.

The empty K-Mart building on Lake Street caught fire last October and was demolished the following month. Even before that, city leaders wanted to redesign the area to reconnect Nicollet Avenue but plans are now moving forward.

Out of the four concepts first brought to the table in March, Minneapolis Public Works is backing option one as the plan to go forward with in an effort to bring back what many people say is the heart of the city.

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In the concept, the new Nicollet Avenue would go right through the middle of the old Kmart. If approved, option one would make it so the road would be open to all types of vehicles heading into downtown.

A green space would be a big part of the project too, bringing gardens and a place to play sports and games to what’s now an empty parking lot.

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Public Works also says bicycle and pedestrian safety would be ramped up in the area in the coming years, as opening Nicolett back up will bring a lot of traffic back to the streets in that area.

Officials say the project may start as soon as next year.