BACKGROUND The City of Minneapolis has a rain leader disconnect program intended to reduce the amount of storm water directed to City's sanitary sewers. Reconstruction of Lake Street in South Minneapolis revealed that many properties in the project area still included rain leaders that were directly connected to the sanitary sewer. Ingebretsen's was one of many properties that were required to upgrade stormwater infrastructure.

SITE SPECIFIC CONCERNS/GOALS The environmentally-conscious business owner wanted to hold stormwater on-site, and also wanted to qualify for stormwater fee credits available from the City. But like many other sites on commercial streets like Lake Street, Ingebretsen's does not have adequate green space to manage stormwater with a traditional rain garden.

SOLUTIONS A former alley between two buildings was converted for stormwater management. We implemented an intricate design including rubber liners, non-permeable aggregate base, varying sizes of clean, washed granite, steel edging with drilled holes, permeable pavers, and a rain garden. The former alley is now an attractive stone patio with green space.