Minneapolis officials want to reduce bird fatalities near downtown skyways by requiring the pedestrian walkways to be built using bird-safe design methods.
The proposal to rework building standards for upcoming or newly renovated skyways aims to help the birds migrate more seamlessly through the area and avoid deadly collisions.
"Skyways pose a larger threat than people would imagine," said Minneapolis City Council Member Cam Gordon, who's pushing for the change.
But with new guidelines like requiring special glass or lighting, for instance, the move could drive up costs for area developers and change the aesthetic feel of the city's 8-mile skyway system. The glassy and airy feel of many of the walkways is also their most lethal attribute for area birds.
"On face value, it looks like a good principle, but we have to look at all of the details," said Jacob Frey, who represents the downtown area on the council.
City officials are seizing momentum from what became a hotly contested discussion earlier this year between the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) and bird advocates who insisted the new Vikings stadium needed special fritted glass.
The Minneapolis City Council supported the request. But MSFA officials said they wouldn't fulfill the advocates' demand, saying it would ruin the airy feel of the stadium and add upward of $60 million to the $1.06 billion project.
Now bird advocates are moving to different terrain.