Author: John Van Heel

John Van Heel

John Van Heel is a life-long resident of the Twin Cities, calling Loring Park home for more than thirty years. He works as a designer at a Minneapolis architectural firm and has long been active in the community and civic life of the city.

Rethinking I-94 West

Analysis
Freeways
Urban Design

John Van Heel • July 10, 2023

As with the neighborhoods between Minneapolis and St. Paul, I-94 west of downtown Minneapolis exacted a heavy toll on the urban fabric. Here’s one proposal of how to repair some of that damage.

Deconstructing the Past and Future of St. Anthony Falls Lock

Analysis
Freight
Policy

John Van Heel • April 15, 2022

In these perilous times, dreaming of the future comes less easily. That is precisely what I found myself doing, however, after hearing the news earlier this year that the planning process for the future development of the three-acre St. Anthony Falls Lock property would start fresh from the beginning — this time, with Indigenous peoples […]