MN Sustainable Communities Network: a resource for the North Shore

Readers: This is a summary of a 2001 "case study" by the MN Sustainable Communities Network. -True


Case Study: Grand Marais – Sustainability on the North Shore

Grand Marais is a picturesque city on the North Shore. Due to its beautiful location on the shore of Lake Superior, and its proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Sawtooth Mountain Range, tourism and summer residency is an important component of the local economy. Though visitors bring money to fuel the local economy, they also bring waste. Community members are recognizing this and doing their part to address waste as well as other issues associated with sustainability. Like many towns, Grand Marais has seen some of its buildings abandoned and begin to decay.

Recently, a group of local citizens, in cooperation with the mayor, worked together to deal with a troublesome lot. The group worked to transition a plot of land on the lakeshore that was once home to an old filling station into a park. While not all buildings can be saved and sometimes need to be demolished, some are salvageable. These buildings can be remodeled for use today. Many older buildings in the city of Grand Marais are being renovated and are now home to prosperous businesses. The Angry Trout Café, a popular local restaurant was once a fish house on the shore of Lake Superior. What was once a ski-hill and lodge near the city is being explored as a potential location for a housing development.

Businesses can also play a part in the movement towards sustainability. The Angry Trout Café mentioned above provides an excellent example of how business can incorporate sustainability into its transactions. Food for the café comes from local growers to the extent possible. The café has also implemented several methods to reduce waste as much as possible. There are 3 compost bins in the kitchen where food scraps are sorted for composting or dog food for local sled dogs. Food prep containers are selected on the basis of their being environmentally friendly or recyclable and "to go" containers for coffee and leftovers are returnable. Even the trash bags are environmentally friendly, made of cornstarch that disintegrates much more quickly than plastic.

The community recognizes that poorly planned growth and waste that harms the natural landscape can hurt the economic base of the resort area. Citizens are working to ensure that the harbor area is well protected and that growth is "smart" rather than lured in at any price. With the development of a land trust to protect the harbor area, an attempt to protect the ski hill area, the development of a city park in place of an old building, refurbishing old buildings, the environmentally conscious Angry Trout Café, and an engaged group of citizens that want to learn more about implementing smart and sustainable growth, Grand Marais is a city poised for a healthy future.

Link to full 2001 case study: http://www.mnproject.org/pdf/ccschapters/grandmar.pdf or visit http://www.grandmaraismn.com/-- Summarized by Jennifer Hawkins, The Minnesota Project


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