Minneapolis Development News 1

[City of Lakes]

Recently Opened - - Stories - - Units
Six Quebec - - 6 - - 21
http://6quebec.com/images/hm_rendering_600.jpg

918 Lofts - - 3 - - 30
http://www.918lofts.com/run2.jpg

Lenox Historic Lofts - - 3 - - 24

Under Construction - - Stories - - Units
The Carlyle - - 39 - - 255
http://www.humphreys.com/images/12101_2_big.jpg

http://www.humphreys.com/images/12101_1_big.jpg

http://www.humphreys.com/images/12101_8_big.jpg

5th Ave. Lofts - - 4-7 - - 137
http://www.theplaceforlofts.com/5th/images/5th1.jpg

The Groveland - - 7 - - 133
http://www.thegroveland.com/knowletcontent/images/50098.jpg

720 Lofts - - 8 - - 99
http://www.720lofts.com/Images/Rendering2.JPG

The Lofts at IMS - - 10 - - 97
http://www.bergandwanninger.com/images/IMSLofts_1.jpg

Grant Park - - 27 - - 318
*Tower is completed, but town homes are still under construction.
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news11/DTI_957074.l.jpg

Bookmen Stacks - - 8 - - 45
http://www.jddltd.com/images/projects/residential/bookmenstacks/stacks005.jpg

http://www.jddltd.com/images/projects/residential/bookmenstacks/stacks002.jpg

Tower Lofts - - 6 - - 135
http://towerlofts.com/images/photo01.jpg

212 Lofts - - 4-6 - - 55
http://212lofts.com/images/212lofts2b.jpg

Park Ave. Lofts
This project will include two four- to five-story buildings on either side of Park Avenue (on the blocks known as Parcel D east and west). Each will include 38 luxury condominiums. Park Avenue West, currently under construction, is expected to be complete in 2004 and construction is expected to begin in 2005 on Park Avenue East.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/images/park_avenue_lofts-19.gif

301 Oak Grove - - 6 - - 59
http://www.301oakgrove.com/images/renderingSMALL.jpg

710 Lofts - - 4 - - 60
http://www.cuningham.com/Graphics/Portfolio/Housing/img710lofts1.jpg

http://www.cuningham.com/Graphics/Portfolio/Housing/img710lofts0.jpg

RiverWest - - 18 - - 416 (condo conversion)

Calumet Lofts - - 5 - - 35
http://www.calumetlofts.com/images/cal.jpg

American Trio Lofts - - 7 - - 90

Security Warehouse Lofts - - 6 - - 58
http://www.theplaceforlofts.com/security/images/security1.jpg

Village at St. Anthony Falls - - 6 - - 63
http://photos.mlsfinder.com/images/mn_rmls/photos/88/2306488-1.jpg

http://photos.mlsfinder.com/images/mn_rmls/photos/88/2306488-2.jpg

607 Lofts on Washington - - 5 - - 30
http://www.greatmn.com/images/607_washington.jpg

River Walk Condos - - 6 - - 75
http://www.theplaceforlofts.com/riverwalk/images/riverwalk1.jpg

Construction Soon To Start - - Stories - - Units
Skyscape - - 26 - - 252
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news78/DTI_963801.l.jpg

Cobalt Condos - - 6 - - 110
This project will include one of the new downtown grocery stores.
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2004/10/19/news/news07.jpg

Ivy Hotel + Res. - - 24 - - 88
http://www.ivympls.com/images/ivyTowerIllustration.jpg

Fifth Ave. Gateway - - 20 - - 136
http://homepage.mac.com/nathanl/.Pictures/City%20Scapes/Elliot24.jpg

Mill Trace Condominiums - - 4 - - 50

The Nicollet - - 53 - - 343
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news18/DTI_965597.l.jpg

Approval Process - - Stories - - Units
Pillsbury ‘A’ Mill - - numerous - - 895
The design for the approximately 7.7 acres includes reusing six existing historic buildings and adding six new mixed-use buildings. The buildings will vary in height from 6 to 27 stories and include 895 units of housing and 175,000 square feet of commercial space. The parking required for the redevelopment will be hidden from view in underground parking or parking wrapped by housing.
http://www.cuningham.com/Graphics/Portfolio/Housing/imgAMill0.jpg

http://www.cuningham.com/Graphics/Portfolio/Housing/imgAMill1.jpg

http://www.cuningham.com/Graphics/Portfolio/Housing/imgAMill3.jpg

1016 Marquette - - 11 - - ?
Proposed for the same block as the Nicollet tower.
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2005/03/21/news/news04.jpg

521 Condos - - 4 - - 60

Phoenix Lofts - - 15 - - 112
http://www.sr-re.com/Images/PhoenixLofts3rdAveElevation.jpg

520 Condos - - 6 - -45
http://www.520secondstreet.com/

The Eclipse - - 26 & 32 stories - - 506
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2005/04/04/news/news06.jpg

The Sexton - - 7 - - 122

1010 Park Avenue - - 8, 16, 21 and 31 stories - - 380-400 units
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2005/04/18/news/news02.jpg

Proposed - - Stories - - Units
Columbia Mill Commons - - 2 - - 15

Parcel E Development - - 5 - - 68-95

Park Ave. East - - 4 - - 38

Washington Live-Work - - 4 - - 28

Powers block - - 42 - - ?
http://www.humphreys.com/images/12126_1_big.jpg

Planning Stage - - Stories - - Units
Elliot Park Towers - - 27 - - 360

600 Main Street SE - - 5 - - 45

Depot site - - 4 - - 35

Portland condos - - 4 - - 45

401 Oak Grove - - 6 - - 90

Six-story Loring project.
The original plan was a 21-story tower. The Loring Park Community (CLPC) voted it down because the tower didn't was too tall for Loring Park's hill area, which is home to historic mansions. If approved by the city's Planning Commission in January, construction would start late spring.

Stalled - - Stories - - Units
Whitney Hotel Condos - - 7 - - 35

Skyway Theater site - - 42 - - 300

The Reserve - - 8 - - 108
http://www.minnesotas-real-estate.com/images/thereserve_web.jpg

OTHER DOWNTOWN PROJECTS
The Minneapolis area does an excellent job of supporting its local art scene. Listed are projects currently underway in downtown and the nearby area.

New Guthrie Theater
The new Guthrie will include three theaters:
-a 1,100-seat thrust stage,
-a 700-seat proscenium stage for contemporary drama
-a flexible, 250-seat studio theater for new work and artist development.
The expansion is expected to increase the number of annual Guthrie presentations and productions from 45 to 129 and the number of annual performances from 368 to 694. The new complex will employ about 1,000 people and is expected to attract over 500,000 people a year.

http://www.guthrietheater.org/act_ii/art/architect/northeast_night.jpg

http://www.guthrietheater.org/act_ii/art/architect/panoramic.jpg

http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news55/FTguthlobby17.l.jpg

http://www.guthrietheater.org/act_ii/art/architect/thrust2.jpg

http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news97/1gutvar090903.l.jpg

http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news28/5gutvar090903.l.jpg

Children's Theatre Expansion
Became the first theater for youth to receive the Tony Award as the country's outstanding regional theater in June.
http://www.childrenstheatre.org/images/capital/ctc_outsideviewfromSE.jpg

http://www.childrenstheatre.org/images/capital/ctc_outsideviewfromNE.jpg

http://www.childrenstheatre.org/images/capital/ctc_interior2ndstagewindows.jpg

Walker Art Museum Expansion
-100,000sq. foot expansion

The project will vastly expand the Walker’s galleries, re-orient the entrance, and create an innovative, 350-seat multidisciplinary performance studio capable of meeting the needs of the numerous avant garde performers regularly presented by the Walker. In addition to the four-acre park, key outdoor elements include a plaza along hennepin avenue and rooftop terraces with spectacular urban and park views.

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/pic_green_space.jpg

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/slide_dusk.jpg

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/slide_restaurant.jpg

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/slide_events.jpg

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/slide_entrance.jpg

http://expansion.walkerart.org/images/slide_v_lounge.jpg

Shubert Theatre Restoration
The entire complex will include the Hennepin Center for the Arts, the historic Shubert Theater, and a new Atrium space which will join the two historic buildings. This arts complex will be home to more than 20 arts organizations.

http://www.artspaceusa.org/minnesotashubert/images/mns_arch_02.jpg

http://www.artspaceusa.org/minnesotashubert/images/mns_arch_03.jpg

http://www.artspaceusa.org/minnesotashubert/images/mns_arch_04.jpg

Minneapolis Institute of the Arts Expansion
-Michael Graves’ design will add an additional 117,000 square feet and has three stories above ground and a full basement.

-The ground floor contains public study rooms for the library, print, drawings and photography collections, a seminar room and a small gallery all organized around a central atrium space. The northern portion of the ground floor reorganizes some of the back-of-house and loading dock functions for more efficiency.

-The second and third floors are devoted to galleries with the inclusion of a splendid new reception hall.

*A record of over 560,000 visitors came to the museum in the last fiscal year.
*12,000 visitors set a record for the largest single-day attendance of any American museum outside New York City.

http://www.artsmia.org/building-expansion/images/target-park.jpg

http://www.artsmia.org/building-expansion/images/elevation-24th.jpg

http://www.artsmia.org/building-expansion/images/elevation-stevens.jpg

Central Library
new central library currently under construction
http://mplib.org/images/nicwatersm.jpg

http://mplib.org/images/ncl_4henn_small.jpg

Chambers Hotel
A boutique hotel project at and around the site of the old Fairmont Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. New York-based Rockwell Group to be lead designer for the revised project. Rockwell designed the original Chambers hotel in New York City, along with projects including the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and the W New York hotel. Minneapolis-based Shea Inc. will work with Rockwell on the hotel complex.
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news20/1hotel0902.l.jpg

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

A 12-16 story condo has been proposed for the Elliot Park neighborhood. Heritage Development and Argus Homes have proposed the mid-rise that will be located near the new Skyscape tower, which is about to break ground and the recently completed Grant Park tower. The project might include a grass roof.

[Nick in Atlanta]

@City of Lakes: A lot of the first pics aren't coming up.

[Jakob]

Fantastic residences! All the projects are very special and look elegant. Good plannings!

[sfhoya]

Great thread! I posted this project on your earlier thread but thought I'd post it here too.
This is the American Swedish Institute expansion not far from downtown.
From the website:
A new cultural center will be built contiguous to the mansion. It will provide badly needed library, exhibit, education and program space, enhanced facilities for member and visitor services, collection storage and administrative offices. The facility will include: a performance hall, Swedish style café, exhibit space, retail shops, classrooms and rehearsal space, collection storage, archives, library and research center, and office space for the Swedish Council of America and the Consulate General of Sweden.
http://www.americanswedishinst.org/asidb/tour_images/lgasi_600.jpg

[City of Lakes]

Thanks sfhoya. Please add any projects that I may have missed.

I almost forgot the two downtown grocery stores that were recently announced.

Two Lunds planned for Downtown Minneapolis
Ellen P. Gabler
Staff Reporter

Downtown Minneapolis will get its first taste of a grocery store when two Lunds stores open there in the spring of 2006. The announcement by Lund Food Holdings Inc. is a treat for many downtown city and business leaders, as well as residents, who for years have longed for a spot to shop for everyday food.

The new stores will open up on both sides of the Mississippi River -- one at 1201 Hennepin Ave., in what used to be the former World Wide Pictures building (also part of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters,) and the other at 313 Central Ave. S.E., the current Rick's Market site.

Construction of the 15,000- to 18,000-square-foot store on Central Avenue store will begin in the spring of 2005, with a tentative opening a year later.

Pending city approval, construction on the 12,000-square-foot Hennepin Avenue store will begin next fall with an expected summer of 2006 opening.

Lund Food Holdings operates eight Lunds stores, 12 Byerly's and three Rick's Markets in the Twin Cities and surrounding area.

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

Immigrant school plans move downtown
Scott Smith
Staff Reporter

The Institute for New Americans (INA) plans to consolidate two schools with 1,500 immigrant and refugee students in the Hennepin Avenue Theater District in downtown Minneapolis.

The school will lease about 60,000 square feet and use all eight floors of an office building at 730 Hennepin Ave., said Joel Gibson, executive director of the Minneapolis-based INA.

Metropolitan State University currently occupies the building. The university plans to vacate the building at the end of January. The INA will start relocating students to the building in February.

The INA will consolidate a high school and an adult school that now hold classes at three different sites. The high school serves about 300 students, of which about 40 percent immigrated from Africa and 35 percent from Mexico or Central and South America.

The immigrant students are older than native-born high school students, ranging in age from 19 to 24.

The remaining 1,200 students are older adult immigrants primarily learning English as a second language.

Gibson said the school will become an asset for downtown businesses by providing immigrant employees work training and educational programs.

"We think that our presence will eventually upgrade the quality of the immigrant downtown worker," Gibson said. "The advantage we bring to the downtown community is that we are training many of the workers who work in the downtown service industry."

Gibson also wants to partner with downtown businesses to set up mentoring opportunities for students. The institute already partners with businesses such as Franklin Street Bakery in Minneapolis to educate and train their immigrant employees.

The prospect of an immigrant high school located in the city's theater district has raised eyebrows among some downtown business interests. Gibson said concerns he's heard have been easily addressed.

Most of the students use public transportation to get to the school. So there are no school buses to cause additional congestion on Hennepin Avenue, Gibson said.

Also, the institute's high school students are older and generally have a more respectful attitude than native high school students. "These immigrants and refugees usually come from countries where they have a higher reverence for authority, so we have almost no incidence of trouble."

Finally, the new school will have about half the students of Metropolitan State, he said.

The school will appear before the Minneapolis Planning Commission on Monday. It will seek a conditional use permit. City staff has recommended approval of the permit.

Mark Kolsrud, senior vice president Minneapolis-based Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, represented the institute in its real estate search.

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

More condos planned for Stone Arch area

By Sarah McKenzie
Bluff Street Development has another condo project lined up for the East Bank near the Stone Arch Bridge.

The developer has proposed 40 to 45 units of high-end condos for 600 SE Main St., near the Stone Arch Apartments, 601-701 SE Main St.

Bluff Street Development is a partnership between Bloomington-based Lupe Development's Brian Flakne and Steve Minn, a former Minneapolis City Councilmember, and Downtown-based Wall Companies' Fred and John Wall.

The developers have another condo project planned nearby at 520-521 SE 2nd St. The proposal calls for 105 units of housing in two buildings and 9,600 square feet of retail near the Pillsbury "A" Mill and an old rail corridor.

BKV Group, a Downtown-based architecture, interior design and engineering firm, is also consulting on Bluff Street's new condo proposal.

Said Minn, "We think that a creative solution to the side that fronts the steam plant is required. The other three sides of the site all have nice views. The view down the Stone Arch Bridge at Downtown is spectacular."

The site has been a surface parking lot and a trailer storage site for 40 years and was once serviced by a rail line that has since been pulled up, Minn said.

Another massive condo complex is proposed for Main Street Southeast due west of Bluff Street's proposed projects. Northeast Minneapolis-based Schafer Richardson has plans to build 1,050 condos along the riverfront between 3rd and 6th avenues. The units would be spread among the "A" Mill, the Red Tile Elevator and five new towers ranging from eight to 27 stories, and be built between 2006 and 2012.

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

3 New Residential Towers Planned for Elliot Park, including a 27-story Tower

These planned towers would rise near the new 27-story Grant Park condo tower, the 26-story Skyscape condo tower, which is under construction and the 20-story condo tower Fifth Avenue Gateway, which will be starting construction soon.

[empersouf]

The Carlyle looks great.

[Dr. Dubai]

these ones looks also great:eek:

10th & Nicollet Condo - - 48 - - 343

Skyway Theater site - - 45-50 - - 300+

Powers block - - 42 - - ?

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*
Zehring Development

New condos offer a floor of your own
The design Lisa Goodman killed. By Sarah McKenzie

St. Paul-based developer MSP Cos. is moving forward with plans for a flashy, 9-story "boutique" condo development at South 10th Street & Marquette Ave., across from the Hilton Minneapolis.

Dick Zehring, owner of the commercial real estate and development services firm, said the proposal is based on stately Manhattan lofts.

The proposal calls for eight spacious 3,500-square-foot units that would occupy a full floor each. A lobby and parking garage would go in the first floor of the 167-foot-tall building.

Each unit would feature 15-foot-high ceilings, a fireplace and a 600-square-foot balcony. Finished units are expected to sell for more than $1 million, Zehring said, though they can be bought unfinished.

Here's the article:
http://www.skywaynews.net/articles/2005/01/17/news/news07.txt

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*
Sexton Project

Sexton conversion adds ramp, more condos
By Scott Russell

The conversion of the Sexton Building, 521 7th St. S., into condominiums will include a new five-story-tall mixed-use building next door.

The developers plan to build the 67-foot-high building at 516 8th St. S. on what is now a surface parking lot immediately south of the Sexton building and east of the House of Charity, according to a city staff report.

Here's the article:
http://skywaynews.net/articles/2005/01/17/news/news07.txt

[ArchMadness]

Preliminary rendering of Zehring project
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2005/01/17/news/news07.jpg

Newer rendering of Eastgate
http://www.skywaynews.net/content/articles/2004/11/29/news/news08.jpg

@City of Lakes...you have a nice thread here. Keep it up!

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

Changes to Warehouse District housing plan.
A new Twins stadium is no longer in the mix.

"Right now our assessment of the ballpark plan is that it's very unlikely anything will happen until after the [2006] gubernatorial election," Pogin said. "You can always have a Hail Mary at the end of the [legislative] session. If history is any judge, I don't think that the current political configuration is going to move that ball forward."

Therefore, Investment Management is now talking to national residential developers and a local developer about a large-scale housing development on the entire site, Pogin said. He declined to name the developers.

"We hope to be full speed under way in the next six months at the latest," he said.

The development would be massive -*about 2,000 housing units built over a five- to eight-year period, Pogin said. He estimated the project would cost anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion.

It would include a combination of senior housing, rental units and condos. The condos would likely be priced below $300,000 -*the lower end of the Downtown housing market.

"I see this more as workforce housing," Pogin said.

Here's the article:
http://www.skywaynews.net/articles/...news/news01.txt

[Madhusudhan]

I have fond memories of this city. The Twin Cities was my home in the US for 3 years in mid nineties. The city has gotten a few new projects onstream since I left it. The light rail wasn't there I know. Would be interesting to revisit it. :cheers:

[Jasonhouse]

This will be much appropriate in the proper local forum.

[Minneapolitan]

^ HUH?

[City of Lakes]

.................

[Jasonhouse]

^ ???? :(

Hey, if you think that 3-4 replies in 6 weeks is a success, I will gladly move your thread back out there, where it will quickly be buried within a few hours (and no, constant 'bumping' is not a viable solution).

I think that you will find that your thread will get much more attention and appreciation here. In fact, if it gets some decent posting activity, I will sticky it to the top of the forum, just as I do for the development compilation threads of other cities.

[City of Lakes]

Thanks for the explanation.

[Jasonhouse]

I like that one called the "Powers Block"... That's not a very common shape.

[City of Lakes]

................

[mpls]

the second one is rsp's attempt at the phoenix lofts on st. anthony main; schafer richardson eventually chose an esg design, theres a thread at tc scape about it.

the first was designed for lupe development, probably had a similar fate to phoenix lofts. neither lupe nor rsp will verify the proposals progress.

sum: both are probably dead.

[Neph]

Outstanding thread! Thanks Jasonhouse for the sticky.

I've always though Minny had such weird condo architecture. That Second St 20 floor design is a good example but I guess I still like it.

[stephenapolis]

City of Lakes. The Saint Anthony proposal (16 stories) at 2nd Street, is a dead proposal. They chose another design. It is known as the Phoenix. It should be breaking ground this spring.

[City of Lakes]

^ Thanks for the info. It's too bad we won't see the St. Anthony proposal rise. The Phoenix looks boring.

http://www.sr-re.com/Images/PhoenixLofts3rdAveElevation.jpg

[Toggie]

YAY 56 floors!!!!



12. The Nicollet (BZZ-2145, RLS-33, Ward 7), 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue (Hilary Watson).

Staff report

A. Variance: Application by Jeff McDonell, on behalf of Barbour/LaDouceur Design Group, for a variance to reduce the south interior side yard setback from the required 91 feet to 13 feet for the building, to 11 feet for the balconies on floors 10 through 50 and to 0 feet for the 9th floor roof terrace for the property located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South and 1001 Nicollet Mall.

Recommended Motion: The Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the variance to reduce the south interior side yard setback from the required 91 feet to 13 feet for the building, to 11 feet for the balconies on floors 10 through 50 and to 0 feet for the 9th floor roof terrace for the property located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South and 1001 Nicollet Mall.

B. Variance: Application by Jeff McDonell, on behalf of Barbour/LaDouceur Design Group, for a variance to reduce the east interior side yard setback from the required 91 feet to 15 feet for the building, to 14 feet for the balconies on floors 10 through 50 and to 12.5 for the architectural fin for the property located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue.

Recommended Motion: The Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the variance to reduce the east interior side yard setback from the required 91 feet to 15 feet for the building, to 14 feet for the balconies on floors 10 through 50, to 12.5 feet for the architectural fin and to 0 feet for the 9th floor roof terrace for the property located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South and 1001 Nicollet Mall.

C. Site Plan Review: Application by Jeff McDonell, on behalf of Barbour/LaDouceur Design Group, for a major site plan review for a 56-story, 360-unit residential development with some retail and office space located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue.

Recommended Motion: The Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the site plan review for the properties located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue subject to the following conditions:

At least 25 secure bicycle parking spaces shall be provided within the building.
Approval of the final sign plan by the Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division.
An additional seven square feet of windows shall be added to the 10th Street South facade in order to bring the development into conformance with the Nicollet Mall Overlay standard that requires that at least 40 percent of the first floor facade that faces 10th Street South is windows and or doors.
The maximum FAR of the building shall not exceed 22.07 unless the applicant obtains a variance to exceed this limit or provides additional qualifying F.A.R. premiums.
A lighting plan showing foot-candles shall be submitted as part of the final plans.
Approval of the final site, landscaping and elevation plans by the Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division.
All site improvements shall be completed by February 7, 2006, unless extended by the Zoning Administrator, or the permit may be revoked for non-compliance.
If estimated site improvement costs exceed $2,000, the applicant shall submit a performance bond in the amount of 125% of the estimated site improvement costs before exterior building permits are issued.
D. Preliminary Registered Land Survey: Application by Jeff McDonell, on behalf of Barbour/LaDouceur Design Group, for a preliminary registered land survey (RLS-33) for the property located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue.

Recommended Motion: The Community Planning and Economic Development Department - Planning Division recommends that the City Planning Commission adopt the findings and approve the preliminary Registered Land Survey for the properties located at 81 10th Street South, 87 10th Street South, 1001 Nicollet Mall and 1000 Marquette Avenue.

[City of Lakes]

Has anyone heard about a possible buyer for First Avenue? I guess there's a developer who wants to build a residential tower on that site.

[mullen]

This is great news! I'm psyched for this building. We need to see how many actual feet it will be. I love the design for this tower, it's going to be another beauty for the minneapolis skyline. Thanks for posting this!

No, I havn't heard of a tower proposed for first avenue. That simply isn't going to happen, first avenue is a minneapolis icon. I wonder if that building has some sort of protected historic status? It used to be the old bus depot.

[City of Lakes]

I thought First Ave. would be on the historic preservation list too, but apparently it's not.

[Toggie]

hey, the rendering for the 5th ave. lofts just changed!
http://www.theplaceforlofts.com/5th/images/5th1.jpg
they used the same name for the image which is why it changed in the original post. this is a thumbnail of the old rendering for reference.
http://theplaceforlofts.com/images/5th.jpg
you can't really tell but this rendering is a vast improvement over the old one.

[The anti-cheesehead]

YAY 56 floors!!!!


Do you have any pics? How tall is that going to be?

[ArchMadness]

This is the closest thing there is to having a rendering of this baby:
http://www.directimagehost.com/is.php?i=68695&img=10th&Nicollet.jpg

[Jasonhouse]

YAY 56 floors!!!!


Do you have any pics? How tall is that going to be?


Well, since it also has retail and office space, in addition to the condo levels and parking... I would say it's probably going to be around 650-700ft, without any kind of ornamental top that it may or may not have.

[City of Lakes]

It was announced that this tower would be 56 stories, including the fin-looking ornament.

[Mpls_9]

That's still not that bad. It would be, what......the 4th or 5th tallest? Fall somewhere in between 33 South Sixth and US Bank Plaza (oops...almost called it Pillsbury...lol).

The Carlyle, The Nicollet, Ivy Tower, 5th Avenue Gateway, and Skyscape.

Damn. That's a nice collection of cranes in our skyline this summer!!

[ericmpls]

I just found this message board so go easy on me. I have a lot of questions about condo's and lofts in downtown minneapolis. Any of you people live downtown? I used to live at riverwest and i would like to move back downtown. Which area of downtown do you live in or would you prefer to live in? Wharehouse district, Mill area, Elliot Park, St. Anthony, Loring Park.... etc. If there's a better place to find out about or discuss this type of stuff let me know--

Thanks-

Eric

[mpls]

hey killer, check this out for more local opinions-
twincityscape.com/forum

[ericmpls]

thanks bud

[okinawatyphoon]

I've been browsing the Minneapolis forums for a while....and I really like what I see. Minneapolis is my dream city to live when I grow up after college. I'm only 16 now though haha. I might go to college in Minneapolis, but I'm still browsing. I just can't believe all of the residential development! Its simply AMAZING!

[Mplsuptown]

Okinawatyphoon, I got a question for you. Are you a military brat or a local?

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

The plans for the 3 towers that were announced for Elliot Park a few months ago have been updated. The project, The Arcades at Elliot Park, now includes 4 towers that will be 8, 16, 22, and 32 stories.

Also, according to the Skyway News, the Nicollet (10th & Nicollet) will be 50-stories.

[okinawatyphoon]

Okinawatyphoon, I got a question for you. Are you a military brat or a local?

I'm mostly a military brat...:(. My dad is a civilian though, but we live on the military base. I want to study typhoons in Okinawa as a local when I get out of college, but I also want to move to Minneapolis. Choices choices choices....hmmm....

[Mplsuptown]

No typhoons up here though. Thanks for answering. I was stationed on Kadena AFB a long ...long time ago.

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

Thank Sirus for finding these massing models of for the A-Mill project.

http://oddnature.com/a_mill/massing1.jpg
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/massing2.jpg

Different variations
Before
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/before1.jpg

After
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/after1.jpg

Before
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/before2.jpg

After
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/after2.jpg

One more
http://oddnature.com/a_mill/after3.jpg

[Mpls_9]

So, does this mean it's finally moving along now? Have they cleared that hurdle that was hanging it up for so long with our lovely city offcials?

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

Colink (tcscape) posted this rendering of the new Cobalt Condominiums. The sales center opens Feb. 26 and projected completion is late 2006.
http://www.colinkulow.com/twincityscape/cobalt.jpg

[City of Lakes]

*UPDATE*

Funding for the Planetarium for the Minnesota Planetarium & Space Discovery Center at the new central library has been approved in both the state House and Senate borrowing plans. This is great news being it's been such a struggle to get the state involved. Here are the major features:

Planetarium Theater
The 200-seat, 60 foot diameter, Planetarium Theater will feature a fiber-optic star projector that will simulate a glorious day & night sky. The theater will also include a full-dome, 3-D video system that will engage audiences like never before.

North Star Observatory
The North Star Observatory will connect visitors to remote telescopes and orbiting satellites portraying recent and live images! For example, a 2nd grader can view Saturn--live--at 11:00 in the morning via a satellite link to a telescope on the other (night) side of our planet. The observatory will also feature an iconic, 8-foot Earth Globe displaying live images of our planet.

Space Exposition Hall
The Space Exposition Hall will feature traveling national exhibitions that attract wide audiences. An "art gallery" of Hubble Space Telescope images is one of the most popular shows currently on tour.

Holodeck theater
The signature Holodeck theater will add an innovative, thrilling virtual environment as the theater's walls, ceiling, and floor disappear and transform the space into a spectacular landscape like the surface of Mars!

Star Lab
A traveling Star Lab outreach program, based out of the center, will bring cutting-edge astronomy education to communities across Minnesota.

[City of Lakes]

.......................

[Minneapolitan]

This is great news!!! I will definetely be among the first to go when it opens. :)

[Mplsuptown]

I just hope Pawlenty doesn't veto it. This is such a worthwhile project and I just don't get why party politics have to come to play when it comes to teaching children (and adults). It's all about Republicans hating "LIBERAL" Minneapolis. I'm surprised the funding was approved by both houses this year. How many years did this take, 4?

[stephenapolis]

Well the TaxPayers League is against it. So that actually helps it. The League has pissed off quite a few people lately in the public, so their sway in dimming. When they supported renaming Olson Highway to the Reagan Highway, they really screwed themselves. So I see that the chances of this passing are higher this year, then it was in the past. Same goes for the Shubert and Northstar.

[Badgers77]

I've been browsing the Minneapolis forums for a while....and I really like what I see. Minneapolis is my dream city to live when I grow up after college. I'm only 16 now though haha. I might go to college in Minneapolis, but I'm still browsing. I just can't believe all of the residential development! Its simply AMAZING!

It's a real nice city, but it's ugly during the winter, and there are much dreamier similar cities, like San Diego, Seattle, Raleigh-Durham, Boston, etc. Plus, Minneapolis doesn't really have culture...

Still, if you can handle the winter it's an awesome city, I suppose.

[sfhoya]

It's a real nice city, but it's ugly during the winter, and there are much dreamier similar cities, like San Diego, Seattle, Raleigh-Durham, Boston, etc. Plus, Minneapolis doesn't really have culture...

Still, if you can handle the winter it's an awesome city, I suppose.

Well, winters in Minneapolis can be beautiful in my experience but I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder.

What I can't accept is the contention that Minneapolis "doesn't really have culture." I live in San Francisco now and I have to say that institutionally Minneapolis exceeds this city in many areas of the arts, especially live theater. There is an incredible variety and depth of theater there - the outgrowth of a very talented community of artists. Minneapolis needs a lot of work in other urban categories but the arts simply isn't one of them.

Here are some stats on theater audiences I posted a month or so ago from a 2001 study in the Star-Tribune:

Total 2000 theater attendance in selected U.S. cities, ranked as a rate of population:

CITY........................ Tickets sold....... metro population.... and rate of theater attendance:
1. Mpls.-St. Paul 2.3 million.............. 2.8 million................. 82%
2. Seattle ................. 1.9 million............... 3.4 million ..................56%
3. Chicago.................. 4.0 million.................. 8.8 million ..................45%
4. Atlanta.................. 1.7 million............... 3.8 million ..................45%
5. Philadelphia........... 1.5 million............... 6 million .....................25%
6. St. Louis................. 600,000 ................... 2.5 million ..................24%
7. Boston ................... 1 million.................. 5.7 million ..................18%

[Mpls_9]

What a surprise. Badger77 spews some ignorant crap about Minneapolis, and it proven to be wrong, once again. I've never seen somebody have such a bigger issue with a city before.

I've never heard of anybody refer to Raleigh-Durham as being "a dreamy city" before either.:weird:

[mullen]

Somebody with a "badger" monikor takes a swipe at minneapolis, there's a shock. But seriously, you can find plenty to diss the city about, but culture? Thats one area that's widely viewed as a strength for the city. Museums, theater, music, it's a top tier city. Your comment is pretty ignorant. Are you a packer fan by any chance? That would explain a lot.

[City of Lakes]

.............

[JT-MI]

Looks like more development headed for the downtown riverfront near the University of Minnesota:


University officials prepare for a new rowing facility

Preliminary plans for the University’s rowing team’s new boathouse were approved last week.

By Than Tibbetts


University athletics and capital planning officials are gearing up for the construction of a new rowing facility on the East River Flats Park.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board approved preliminary plans for the new boathouse last week.

Gophers rowers have been waiting for a facility since the team’s inception in 2000, as their temporary, unheated tent can be frigid in the early months of the spring season. Women’s rowing is currently the only athletics team without a permanent facility.

Rowing head coach Wendy Davis said it is impossible for her to talk with the rowers after practice because they don’t have a heated facility.

The University has produced a tentative design for the facility, which would be a two-story building to accommodate the women’s varsity and men’s club rowing teams.

Regina Sullivan, the associate athletics director in charge of the rowing project, said the University will work with the park board to lease the land. In exchange for the land, the University will most likely provide public restrooms, improvements to the park and recreational programs at the facility.

Richard Pfutzenreuter, the University’s chief financial officer, said the rowing facility is also an important project that relates to Title IX, the federal gender-equity law.

Davis said the University needs to act now to avoid inflation and increasing the cost of construction on the East River Flats Park site.

“Already, we’ve had a delay of a year and a half, and the cost has gone up by a million dollars,” she said.

The final estimate of the project’s cost will be determined later in the planning stages. University officials said they hope to finance as much of the project as possible with private donations.

Although Davis said she was excited to hear about the progress, she still remained cautious.

“All I know is that the biggest domino has fallen down with the board’s approval. So now, the rest of the dominos can start falling down,” she said. “But I’ll be happy when there’s a hole in the ground.”

[JT-MI]

Some loft-style apartments are under construction on University Ave. in Dinkytown... the renderings look great!

www.1301University.com

Dinkytown to see more housing next year
By Jared Roddy


Students and faculty at the University of Minnesota will have another housing option come August when the cranes and dump trucks finally rumble away from the hole in the ground that used to be a Pizza Hut.

Brett Naylor, of Urban Land, LLC, is developing the 1300 block of University Avenue Southeast into a six-story building with 92 luxury apartment units and two retail spaces.

The complex will be known as "1301 University" and began preleasing the apartments Thursday, Naylor said. Its Web site, which features floor plans and an interactive map of Dinkytown, also went online this week.

“We’re getting all our ducks in a row,” Naylor said.

When completed, the structure will have a brick-and-stone facade. Naylor said the units will vary from studios to four-bedroom apartments and will feature hardwood floors and 9-foot ceilings.

“I can be very honest,” Naylor said. “We are spending a ton of money up front on this structure because we want to own it long term.”

Local businesses are reacting to the plan with careful optimism. Skott Johnson, president of the Dinkytown Business Association, said most were supportive of the new project.

“I think most people support the idea of having more students living in and near Dinkytown,” Johnson said. “That’s always good for business.”

The new structure will be two floors taller than the current Marcy-Holmes neighborhood master plan allows. Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association President Brian Biele said that because the association approved the building before it adopted the master plan, it is exempt.

Biele was complimentary of Naylor’s efforts to appease the neighborhood.

“He didn’t come to us and say, ‘Here’s my plan, will you support it?’ ” Biele said. “He came to us and said, ‘Here’s my idea, will you help me develop it?’ ”

Two issues that had to be addressed in the original plan, Biele said, were the size of the structure and parking. The neighborhood association wanted to make sure the new building wouldn’t cast shadows across Dinkytown and other buildings wouldn’t be dwarfed.

Naylor said the original plan called for an eight-story tower, but after meeting with the neighborhood, the plan was amended.

The parties also addressed parking.

“They wanted to see more parking,” Naylor said. “Which is only a positive for me — it’s expensive to build, and you can’t recoup the costs, but it’s a long-term amenity.”

The building will have 66 underground parking spaces for residents and 33 street-level spots, a portion of which will be for retail patrons.

Naylor said he has not decided which businesses will occupy the lower level of the new building. Banks, coffee shops and ice cream parlors have shown interest. Biele and Johnson said they hope it will be something that complements the businesses already in Dinkytown.

“We certainly don’t need another coffee shop or any more hair salons,” Johnson said.

Greg Pillsbury, co-owner of Burrito Loco and Red Rocket, said he wasn’t worried about new competition.

“I’m sure there are people in the world who would rather be the only place in town,” Pillsbury said. “But I think more is better — the more businesses in the area, the more people will come. In the end, it’s good for everybody.”

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/dinkytown1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/dinkytown2.jpg

[mpls]

^major yuck, see that monster every day and am very scared because the shitty façade is getting ready to go up. i'll snap a pick next chance i get.
regarding the boathouse-
there is a rendering the in southeast angle of it, looks pretty good, i'll try to come across a scanner. that said, it is in the wrong spot. the area were they want to build it is great now, quite undisturbed and accessible. the boat house will stick out like a sore thumb and be a blemish to the east flats natural beauty. i say, squeeze it into the spot they are currently using at the foot of the old soo line rr tressle. that area is already marred by inproper use, so they could actually do a little rehabilitation and make the area more accessible/aesthetically pleasing.

[JT-MI]

A scan of the boathouse would be nice... I haven't been in that area in a while, but I do agree that the new lofts going up in Dinkytown, while nice looking in their renderings, are too much like the cheap "Grand Marc" in the Seven Corners district across the river... I hope the 1301 University building doesn't look too out of place with the retro-ness of Dinkytown.

[YaNoMe]

So how do you find out more about all these new loft condos. Do they have websites I noticed some are posted but very few.
Anyone know?

[mpls]

read the local-local periodicals (esp the skyway news), look for c/s in your hood, and go to tc scape.

[East Side]

Is there a "The Nicollet" site out there yet with some official renderings? The newspaper photos/sketches don't really allow for a good feel of what the building will look like IMO.

[mpls]

no, but things are still moving at a steady clip, according to a bizjournal article spotted by mplsuptown at tcscape, they've already picked a marketer - financial freedom - and begun soil samples.

[stephenapolis]

We should see better renderings next month. That is when I heard they want to start the marketing. I can't wait to see it from more angles.

[Sirus]

They really need to create a set of renderings that show what it would look like in the city from various angles.

[Mpls_9]

I heard on TCS that Skyscape broke ground this past weekend, and Ivy is due in a week or so.

[The anti-cheesehead]

I still can't believe that there's a market for all of these highrise condos in downtown. The Nicollet, Skyscape, Ivy Tower, The Carlyle, Grant Park,----that really seems to be a lot of condo space for a city the size of Minneapolis.

Does anyone have any idea how much these are going to add to downtown's population?

[Mpls_9]

Don't forget that block by Skyscape that will house 4 new condo towers, ranging from 12 to 32 stories and the Pillsbury A Mill, which just cleared a major hurdle.

21st Century Towers by the new library too.

[JT-MI]

There is a public meeting on the Pillsbury A Mill project this Wednesday, March 9:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/planning/docs/AMILLProjectDEIS.pdf

Let's have people turn-out and give their feedback to the Planning Commission!

[ArchMadness]

I heard on TCS that Skyscape broke ground this past weekend, and Ivy is due in a week or so.

Juat a correction from that post on TCS you are referring too...

It was the Reflections building in Bloomington that broke ground. Skyscape is expected sometime in April/May. :cheers:

[JT-MI]

Bloomington hopes to create 'third downtown'

Dan Mitchell, Star Tribune
March 7, 2005


The shovels will hit the dirt within weeks for a project in Bloomington that developers and government officials hope will spur further development south of the airport, helping to create a "third downtown" in the metro area.

With the Bloomington City Council's approval in late February of public financing for infrastructure items such as sewers and parking structures, construction will go ahead on two 17-story condominium towers near the Hiawatha Line's Bloomington Central stop. Groundbreaking, originally slated for sometime in February, is set for March 31.

The condo development, called Reflections, is the first phase of a planned five-phase project that, if completed, eventually will include retail shops, offices, restaurants and a 300-room upscale hotel. It will take 10 years or longer to complete the $700 million development, called Bloomington Central Station, according to McGough Development, which is managing the project.

McGough initially had planned to build an office park at the location, but with the construction of the Hiawatha Line, those plans evolved into what McGough project manager Mark Fabel said will be a "nationally recognized, transit-oriented, mixed-use development."

McGough worked closely with Bloomington officials for three years to get approval for the project. So closely, in fact, that Clark Arneson, Bloomington's economic development manager, used almost precisely the same words as Fabel to describe the project.

Bloomington will kick in up to $58 million for infrastructure as the $700 million project is built. The money will be raised in increments via bonds that the city will pay off using the increased tax revenue from the development.

Each phase of the project would be financed separately.

"It's pay as you go," Arneson said.

Fabel said nearly 80 percent of Reflections' 267 units are either sold or have been reserved.

"There are 210 buyers itching for us to have a groundbreaking," he said.

The smallest condos, at 700 square feet, sell for $170,000. Larger units, at 1,400 square feet, are priced at $400,000. In addition, 12 penthouse units of 2,000 to 2,300 square feet and priced from $800,000 to $1 million, have all been sold. The penthouses offer panoramic views of downtown, the airport and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

"Those went pretty quickly," Fabel said.

To address potential noise problems from the nearby airport, the buildings will feature an exterior made of triple-paned sheaths of glass. Condos will sport neither balconies nor windows that can be opened. While sealed-up living spaces might be seen as a drawback, things aren't playing out that way in this development, said Tom McGough Jr., the developer's vice president.

"We've turned that into a selling point," he said. Thanks to a state-of-the-art ventilation system, the building will offer "dramatically better fresh air" than traditional windows would afford. Some of the city's tax-increment financing proceeds will help defray the high cost of the exterior design, McGough said, but "not as much as we anticipated."

Nobody at McGough had much to say about the startling revision in plans for expanding the Mall of America, announced by developer Nader Ghermezian on Feb. 15. The latest plan for the mall, just across from Bloomington Central Station, would double its size and include a 200,000-square-foot casino, a 6,000-seat concert hall and an NHL-size ice rink. The expansion, Ghermezian said, depends on government approval of the casino. Ghermezian has been accused of grandstanding, but McGough had no comment except to say, "Whatever happens there, we're excited about the synergy it creates."

As for whether the "airport south" area is in danger of being overbuilt, especially given the metro area's glut of office space, Tom McGough said he has no worries.

"This is such a special site, we think we'll be successful," he said.

Plans call for 2 million square feet of office space. Brad King, McGough's marketing chief, added that despite the glut, "there is ample opportunity for high-density office space in this area -- if it's planned properly."

Nonetheless, offices aren't likely to be built on the site for at least a couple of years, The next phase of Bloomington Central Station most likely will be more residential space, King said.

"Before you have strong retail, you need a mass of people."

Between residents, workers, and visitors, McGough expects 8,000 to 10,000 people on the site every day once it's completed.

[JT-MI]

By clicking on the link below, you will be transferred to the City of Bloomington's website, which has a web video at the bottom of the page with a terrific video/rendering of the Reflections condo project... this whole new "downtown" area, including the condo project at the bottom of the page, is just west of the Mall of America, between the mall and the Wildlife Refuge (check Mapquest to see this location on a map)...

http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/commdev/planning/econdev/central/central.htm

[JT-MI]

I mean, just EAST of the Mall of America.

[JT-MI]

Bloomington Central Station/McGough Development

The approved Bloomington Central Station project is a 43.3 acre mixed-use transit oriented development (TOD) located on the HealthPartners corporate office campus west of 34th Avenue, south of American Boulevard and north of East Old Shakopee Road. The project centers around the Bloomington Central Station, one of three Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations in the City of Bloomington. The project land uses include high density residential (1103 dwelling units), a 200 room full service hotel, office and retail uses and park or common open space with a total project gross floor area of approximately 2,990,600 square feet.

The final development plan for the initial Bloomington Central Station phase is for a high density residential development. The project site is a 2.9 acre parcel east of the existing HealthPartners tower, south of the Hiawatha LRT alignment and north and west of 34th Avenue and East Old Shakopee Road. It will consist of two 17-story residential towers (275 dwelling units) above an underground two level parking structure (33 visitor and 339 resident spaces). Below is a computer generated perspective on the Reflections component of the Bloomington Central Station development.

Web video rendering of project:
http://216.43.109.68:8080/ramgen/misc/reflections.smi

[City of Lakes]

^ This thread pertains to development in downtown Minneapolis.

[JT-MI]

Yeah, it was pretty foolish of me to assume that anyone interested in downtown Minneapolis development would even be remotely interested in Bloomington, wasn't it? It's not like they're neighbors or anything...

[Minneapolitan]

Yeah, it was pretty foolish of me to assume that anyone interested in downtown Minneapolis development would even be remotely interested in Bloomington, wasn't it? It's not like they're neighbors or anything...

Yeah I know what youre sayin. I think that name should be changed to at least MPLS city wide development. But whatever.

[JT-MI]

I think that would be a good idea... it could include some of the flashy Uptown development as well (speaking of which, did anyone see the article about the new "treehouse" condo proposal for Uptown in today's Star Trib?

[JT-MI]

Anyone got pics to add of all the condo development in Uptown?

Let me start with this article from today's Star Tribune:

Developers dream of an upsized Uptown
Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune
March 7, 2005

A 287-space surface parking lot behind the Lagoon Theater may soon become the epicenter of an urban earthquake -- a major project that will reshape the Uptown neighborhood.

Supporters say they would be building a gigantic "tree house" with more than 100 condominiums, as well as a public plaza and office space.

Others raise environmental concerns and ask whether it isn't a premature super-sizing of Uptown.

The Ackerberg Group and Clark Gassen in concert with BKV Group architects have the grand designs for the 2.8-acre site that include two curving, architecturally modern structures. Their plans also include an art gallery, an expanded Lagoon movie theater, office space for several hundred employees and 11 floors with more than 100 condominiums above a retail-restaurant space.

Condo modelKyndell HarknessStar Tribune"We've been dreaming through some different options of what to do," said Stuart Ackerberg, whose company has controlled portions of the site for almost a decade.

To proceed, the group will need approvals from the city for the project.

"I was surprised when I saw the plan," said Gary Schiff, chairman of the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee.

Schiff, who coined the super-sizing description, added: "It will dramatically change Uptown as we know it."

While Schiff has some questions, Council Member Dan Niziolek, who represents Uptown, is ready to go.

The block bounded by Lagoon on the south, and Hennepin and Fremont avenues on the west and east, respectively, is slated for two buildings. A European-style plaza would lie between the two -- an office on the east side and condominiums on the west -- connected to the 29th St. greenway and Girard Av. S.

Underneath it all: a 780-space parking garage.

"In our opinion, Uptown is lacking a couple of things: a public space to meet, and there's really no art in Uptown even though it's known for the art fair," Ackerberg said.

A new light

The project also would expand the Lagoon theater from five to eight screens and install stadium-seating theaters, doubling the seating capacity.

A yet-to-be revealed office tenant wants to move 200 jobs into the building. Gassen also expects to move about 100 from his company into a 100,000 square-foot office building.

Niziolek said that move will make Uptown a desirable place for employers. "Just by one player doing that, people will perceive Uptown in a new light. You now can have people live, learn, work, play and shop all in close proximity to each other," Niziolek said.

The developers, who have moved the condo building off the greenway to allay concerns from the Midtown Greenway Coalition, need city permission to build above four stories. The developers are referring to the condominium as "the treehouse," no doubt in part to quell worries about the height.

Tim Springer, executive director of the Midtown Greenway Coalition, is pleased with accommodations the development group has made so far, especially in allowing for future transit.

"They have been very interested in developing a plan that enhances the greenway as much as possible. That is wonderful," he said.

And Springer said the project will help integrate Uptown with the greenway in many ways, including landscaping, public art, lighting and a pedestrian overpass.

Still, some members of the coalition's board, which includes representatives from many neighborhoods, remain concerned about auto traffic from the development as well as long shadows on the greenway from the buildings, he said.

One thing even Schiff likes: the modern architecture, which is full of curves, glass and probably native stone.

First look

The Planning Commission gets its first look at the project on Thursday. Schiff said the commission has yet to even discuss such an increasing density in Uptown.

"It's a choice. We don't stay a small town forever but we have a choice to make about whether we concentrate new development downtown or along the light-rail line or in Uptown," he said.

Schiff, for one, is worried about air quality given that light-rail connections and a midtown streetcar are years off.

"The good thing about that area is it's poised for transit so more density won't just mean more cars. The concern is we're not there yet," he said.

Niziolek countered, "The solution for Uptown is not to stop development but to continue to grow the development in a pattern that supports transit and in parallel to bring that transit to Uptown."

If everything goes smoothly, the condos will be available in December 2006.

Gassen declined to set a price range for the homes, but said there will be a mix, like the rest of Uptown, which includes gracious homes as well as apartments for the younger crowd.

"Some of these homes will have the ability to be spectacular," he said.

Bill Baxley, project manager at BKV Group, calls the overall design of the project "dynamic" and "contextual."

"We don't want a glass office building, we want something a little more rooted," Baxley said.

He refers to a "pedestrian spacial sequence" tying the project to Calhoun Square and calls the design a "sculptural marker for Uptown."

He and the developers are quick to mention that the space currently is a parking lot with no green space, while the project includes an 18,000-square-foot plaza they call a "flexible urban space" for reading, resting, drinking coffee and entering the theaters.

The developers have set an aggressive schedule for approvals because the office tenant would like to move in next year. The Planning Commission vote could occur April 24 with a City Council vote on May 27.

The developers say that under current zoning, the site would accommodate a hulking four-story building, something they say is not nearly as inviting as their proposal.

Ackerberg won't reveal the price of the project except to say it's more than $40 million, a previously published number. What he won't be asking the city for is public subsidies.

"We just don't believe in it," he said. "We've been doing business for 40 years; we've never asked for a subsidy."

But, he warns, "That's why we're not able to compromise on the height of the condominium."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/Uptown1.jpg

[City of Lakes]

Yeah, it was pretty foolish of me to assume that anyone interested in downtown Minneapolis development would even be remotely interested in Bloomington, wasn't it? It's not like they're neighbors or anything...

Yeah I know what youre sayin. I think that name should be changed to at least MPLS city wide development. But whatever.

Okay children. I'll say this one more time. This thread is about projects in downtown Minneapolis. If you want to post articles about projects in Uptown, Bloomington, Edina or some other city, feel free to start your own thread.

[East Side]

It seems that the next few years will be critical to downtown. Whether other amenities spring up around the new condo developments (fitness clubs, groceries, tranit, restaurants, convenience stores, etc.) will determine whether people stay. If people move downtown and find that life is just as comfortable there as in the 'burbs, but with the added benefits that downtown has to offer, then I don't think there will be a "glut" of condos. If, however, those amenities do not follow, people will soon tire of having to drive out the 'burbs to get the things they need to make life comfortable. Why drive to the 'burbs when you can just live there? It will all hinge on how the Minneapolis City Council sort of "directs" other development around these condos, IMO.

[Mplsuptown]

Something long overdue for Uptown. Nice high density in a very underused and potentially dangerous parking lot. I hope it gets approved.

[mpls]

maybe we can be hopeful and think this may push the walker library rebuild to be at a bigger scale.

[colink]

The Southwest Journal had a story this week on the Walker Library site. They said there are three competing proposals, one being an 8 story condo i believe. It's all very preliminary but imagine the density of the area if all of these projects actually happen.

[Minneapolitan]

Okay children. I'll say this one more time. This thread is about projects in downtown Minneapolis. If you want to post articles about projects in Uptown, Bloomington, Edina or some other city, feel free to start your own thread.

I dont think it was too grown up of you to call me a child, I was just stating my opinion. And that is perfectly fine. thank you. :sleepy:

Who the hell gave you power anyways? You sound very pompous.

I agree with you East Side, in order for the DT residential population to really flourish, these necessary amenities will need to be in place. Sounds like theyre trying. My BF and I are planning on moving to the warehouse district in 4 years or so. Damn if we will though, if there isnt a grocery store!

[twincities03]

^ Troll elsewhere. The thread is about downtown MPLS. projects so, deal with it. Besides, most people could care less about what's going on in other parts of the Twin Cities. For example, the St. Paul construction thread was overlooked quicker than I thought it would be.

[Minneapolitan]

Point taken. I never wanted to start a fight. Jeez if anyone knows me they would know Im not like that. Can I not have an opinion? I dont understand why I am being persecuted for agreeing with someone. I guess you cant do that here....... So I guess Ill go where more mature, nicer people are. This is my last post in this thread.

[City of Lakes]

You are free to have an opinion and that's fine. I had the opinion that it would be ridiculous to start a Twin Cities construction thread for the simple fact that there is so much going on throughout the metro that not many people care to see or read about it. I chose to compile a downtown MPLS. list because I live near (Seward neighborhood) and work in downtown. All my interest is in downtown Minneapolis and I do have some in downtown St. Paul. I honestly don't care what's going on in Lakeville or Woodbury or even Uptown.

BTW, this thread was doing just fine until two or three people decided to dump on it.

[Toggie]

In Minneapolitan's defense the first post of this thread does include projects that could be considered "out of downtown" but I agree that suburban stuff has no business here....

[JT-MI]

I gotta jump to Minneapolitan's defense...

[JT-MI]

Pride in city, man, 'tis all...

[JT-MI]

Exactly. The way I see it, if the planning commission plays their cards right and allows such development (condos, eateries), Uptown will rival Chicago's Lincoln Park/Wicker Park neighborhoods as THE place to live in the city limits...

[mpls]

whats wrong with you guys?

[jmancuso]

guys, this thread is about dowtown minneapolis' developments, nothing else. if you want to start a new thread for projects elsewhere, i will be happy to sticky it for you but subsequent posts not pertaining to this thread's topic will be deleted.

capice?

[Minneapolitan]

Sorry guys, I never wanted to start all this, and I sure didnt know this would happen. I guess that wasnt my last post, lol but people say things they dont mean when theyre mad.

So to keep this thread on track, I was wondering about something I heard a while ago about Trump wanting to stick his name or something on the Nicollet building. What is that all about???

[mpls]

^bs. wouldn't read too far into it.

but how about all those high-sal jobs heading to new brighton from medtronic? ;)

[mpls]

walker competition is heating up...
(thanks to tc scape for the heads up)
http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2005/03/02/news/news05.jpg

Task force can't decide what to do with Walker Library
By Michael Metzger

A joint city-Library Board task force missed a Feb. 28 deadline for recommending whether to repair the Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave. S., or replace it with a mixed-use building.

The City Council and Library Board mandated the deadline so the unerground library's parking deck could be repaired this summer. However, a decision was postponed to at least April 1.

The task force now awaits a city-library staff report on whether $700,000 in repairs to the underground Walker's cracked parking deck can wait.

All four developers submitted proposals at a Feb. 23 task force meeting that said a mixed-use building must be taller than the area's four-story zoning limit.

The developers and their proposals are:

Greco Real Estate Development: a five-story building, with four condo levels and an unspecified number of units.

Legacy Management & Development Corp.: A five-story facility with 26 one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom apartments. Forty percent of the units would be affordable at unspecified income levels.

Central Community Housing Trust: a five-story, 66-unit mixed-income complex. Half the units would be affordable to renters making 30-60 percent of the area median income.

Lander Group: an eight-story building featuring 44 loft-style condos.

Mayor R.T. Rybak, a task force co-chair, said he thinks a four-story structure isn't economically viable but wants more public input before upping the height limit.

"We now know that [a mixed-use building] can't be done under the current zoning. It could be done if you had a taller building, but that decision should not be made without a very thorough and deliberate conversation with the neighborhood about whether that trade-off is worth it."

All the developers struggled to identify funding sources. Each relied on optimistic projections for Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding and contributions from other cash-strapped institutions.

Library Trustee and task force member Diane Hofstede, a vocal supporter of fixing the Walker's roof, said, "Each proposal had some major [funding] problems in them. There would need to be some work done before you could even consider them."

Former City Councilmember and longtime Walker advocate Pat Scott said she's very frustrated that the task force couldn't make a decision by the deadline.

"The inability of the task force to accept that it had timing parameters puts the future of Walker Library in serious doubt," Scott said. "The library system can't handle an additional development at this time since they are beginning the total renovation of two large libraries."

The North Regional and Eask Lake branches are undergoing major renovations.

Library Board President and task force co-chair Rod Krueger said the task force could wait a month to get better data on deck repairs.

"We're just trying to clarify if there is a sense of urgency to get this parking deck fixed right away. If there is, what I think the recommendation would be is to get the parking deck fixed and do a more long-term proper study of mixed-use on that block," he said.

Alex Wakal, who retired last year after 25 years as superintendent of library buildings and grounds, said short-term fixes could forestall major repairs for an indeterminate time. However, he said that judging the risk to the building and its books is difficult because several feet of dirt and concrete cover the rubber membrane.

The Walker task force has no scheduled next meeting, but members said they expect it sometime after April 1.

[Mplsuptown]

Here's a letter I sent off to my council member.

Dan I just want to express my feelings on both the Lagoon Parking Lot site and the possible rebuilt Walker Library. First I think the Lagoon site is prime for development. I love the concept the developers are proposing. As far as the library redevelopment, I rather liked the corner in the rendering in the SW Journal, it ties in nicely with Calhoun Square a block away. I believe something this massive next to the Midtown Greenway and the Henn/Bus platform should be of less height and rising midway to an apex then again descending down towards Lagoon. Thereby minimizing the shadow effect on the Greenway and offering the potential new residents some rather large balconies. Perhaps even a nice plaza for library patrons to sit outside and read. Height in the middle could possibly be 6 stories to help the loss of height on the north and south ends. Just a suggestion that many people would have a hard time arguing.

On another note I guess some of my neighbors had a meeting on Sunday night on a rumour that Calhoun Square is interested in buying up houses on the west side of Fremont. I'm not sure if this is true or if I'm in favor of it. I guess I'd have to see what they plan on doing, but getting rid of the residential component on that street would be highly detrimental to the neighborhood. I do like the fact that there is a potential Best Buy component being added to the mix. I've written to Best Buy in the past that since the loss of the Uptown store I've found it extremely aggravating to drive out of Minneapolis to shop at their stores and at the very least they could open up a boutique type store somewhere in Uptown where they could have a few items on display and where people could go and order and perhaps pickup items. I never heard back from them. I think the idea has merit.

I guess all of my concern is somewhat mute since I've currently got my house on the market. I have many reasons, some are just the quality of life issues, some are lack of outdoor space for myself (yard), and another is the fact that for the last 3 years I've received minimal pay raises, this year it's .07%. That's really sad, considering the prices of everything else keeps going up at 100x or more of that dismal payraise. I'm being priced out of my house and neighborhood and their is nothing in the future that I see that is going to change. I find this extremely ironic when just a few years ago the city was forcing all new employees to live in the city. Speaking of jobs, I hope you're not in support of the city's 911 service being taken over by Hennepin County, at least not at this point. There are so many negatives for the residents of Minneapolis if this should happen. Having worked there for over 10 years and knowing the extremely high level of service our 911 service provides, if I hadn't already decided to move, this would be the icing on the cake.

I hope you and yours are well. The twins must be growing tremendously by now, I'm sure quite the handful.

Oh one other thing, I'm glad you voted for the Edgewater redevelopment. I'm sure you got a lot of flack from it but I believe it was the right choice. I may not have always agreed with everything you've done Dan but I respect you and your choices and I'm sorry to see you stepping down.

Sincerely,
Mike PXXXXXXX

[mpls]

thoughts like those make we wish we you were staying to fight!

[Mplsuptown]

I'll try to keep my 2 cents in. I'm sure I'll be coming back to the neighborhood on occaision to visit all my friends and neighbors I've made these past 15 years.

[stephenapolis]

^bs. wouldn't read too far into it.

but how about all those high-sal jobs heading to new brighton from medtronic? ;)
Andy, Andy, Andy. Those jobs are just going from one burb to another.

They started assembling the crane for the Carlyle today. So soon this tower will really start moving upwards.

[mpls]

^:)

hot damn, won't it be nice to get some height there?

[sfhoya]

http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2005/02/16/supplements/2005_spring_real_estate_guide/supp01.jpg

A sneek peek inside Midtown Lofts


The three-story north building offers eight townhomes and eight one- or two-level flats.
A Southwest home for urban hipsters right along the Greenway

Uptown may already possess an abundance of stylish and artistic people, but now it's got an equally stylish place to house them.

Lander Sherman, a Lander Group and Sherman Associates development partnership, will soon complete the Midtown Lofts at 2829 Colfax Ave. S.

Midtown Lofts' 72 units - a combination of townhomes, one- and two-level flats - should be completed by May. However, at press time, only nine units were available, according to Lander Group Marketing Director Wren Aigaki-Lander (daughter of company founder Michael Lander).

While many worry a condo-glut in Minneapolis will result in vacant units - not a nearly sold out before opening day? In addition to the convenience and cool-factor of living in Uptown, not to mention the hopes of someday making a mint on a resell, these lofts are a striking neighborhood addition, inside and out.

The basics

Midtown Lofts is comprised of three buildings: two four-stories that face the Midtown Greenway and a two-and-a-half and three story row of townhomes just to their north. The 56 units available in the south or greenway-facing buildings are one-or two-levels and start at $299,900. The 16 two-and-a-half-story townhomes begin at $419,000. The units vary widely in size, from roughly 750 to 1,750 square feet.

Although a residents association is yet to be formed (since most people haven't moved in yet), Aigaki-Lander expects the residents-group-to-be will set association fees at 18-20 cents per square-foot monthly (approximately $570 for a $300,000 unit). Association dues will go towards such upkeep basics as snow removal, as well as amenities.

One such amenity is the common courtyard. Aigaki-Lander expects the landscaped garden area, complete with a fountain, to be finished in May. Additionally, each resident owns his or her own underground parking stall (an additional stall costs $19,000).

'It' factor

To be blunt, Midtown Lofts' artful design makes some nearby "modern" developments look like oatmeal and cinderblock cubes.

In addition to varying in height, the exteriors of the three Lofts buildings are a veritable patchwork of colors and materials. Yellow stucco, red brick, galvanized metal and "Hardiplank," a durable material that compensates for wood siding and trim, combine to form a sort of giant collage.

Aigaki-Lander said adding such texture to the traditional neighborhood mix is important to the developers. "I think that [texture] is probably one of the strengths of this type of design," she said.

On the inside, residents can select either a "traditional" or "loft" floor plan - "loft" meaning less separation between the bedroom and main living area than normal - and a "traditional" or "contemporary" interior finish.

Aigaki-Lander said a buyer attracted to the classic bulb-shaped doorknob would best stick to the traditional finish. They may not appreciate the sleek, handle-like "knobs" of the contemporary finish.

This differences goes deeper than doorknobs. Significant traditional finish options include hardwood (cherry) cabinets, kitchen islands, hardwood floors, tiled bathroom floors and carpet. Because of the cost associated with these finishes, opting for the traditional finish is going to be pricier.

Contemporary finish can mean sealed-concrete and/or high-gloss, birch plywood floors. Ductwork remains exposed, to give that semi-industrial/warehouse-like feel.

While concrete flooring may sound clunky and cold, Aigaki-Lander pointed out how the contemporary style lends a lighter, airy feel that seems to expand the space. While touring one home, she pointed to a stairwell "wall" made of wood slats, as opposed to drywall, that allowed light to filter through.

Whether traditional or contemporary, each unit has plenty of windows. "The concept is to let the light in," Aigaki-Lander said. "And really try to keep the space open even though you are keeping a separation between living spaces."

Environment-friendly design

Aigaki-Lander said the developers also incorporated a few environment-friendly designs in Midtown Lofts for responsible buyers.

Interface Flor's recycled-carpet squares change carpet-cleaning-as-we-know-it, for example. "If you spill on them," Aigaki-Lander said. "You can just pick them up and wash them and throw them back down."

Such options might be a sign of things to come for future Lander developments.

One Midtown Loft unit, the "green unit," serves as a demonstration home for the Lander Group's enviro-friendly research and development arm, Lander Green.

The green unit features recycled rubber floors, recycled-content sheetrock and cabinetry with formaldehyde-free veneer among other earth-friendly touches. Aigaki-Lander said it features water-conserving or low-flow appliances as well, such as dual-flush toilets. "That's sort of the 'next thing' in environmental bathrooms," she said. "Yep, it's got a full-flush and a half-flush, depending on your need."

Whether the half-flush will fly with consumers remains to be seen. However, residents and neighbors of the swank new development can bank on more condos coming to their area.

Midtown Lofts is the first phase of the 192-unit Urban Village project - meaning 122 additional condos, duplexes and townhomes - between Aldrich and Dupont avenues along this stretch of railway-turned-bikeway.

For more information, visit themidtownlofts.com.


http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2004/12/01/news/news09.jpg
An aerial illustration of the promenade at Bryant Ave. S. and the 29th Street corridor.

Promenade and road repair to go with Urban Village


An aerial illustration of the promenade at Bryant Ave. S. and the 29th Street corridor.
The first part of Urban Village, a 190-unit Wedge neighborhood development, is nearly complete after eight years. Tenants have begun moving into the Midtown Lofts, a 72-unit condo project between Bryant and Colfax avenues along the Midtown Greenway's northern edge. The two-phase project will eventually run between Aldrich and Dupont avenues.

The city is now preparing to build a Midtown Greenway promenade along the stretch next spring and summer, according to city Project Manager Mitchell Sawh.

At the November meeting of the Lowry Hill East (Wedge) Neighborhood Association, Sawh showed illustrations of the sloped ramp that will bring bikers and pedestrians to the greenway.

Sawh said the promenade stretches from Aldrich to Colfax and is designed to create a gathering place for people, while providing corridor access.

He said the $340,000 project would add trees, shrubs and a retaining wall consistent with others used on the greenway. Sidewalks, benches and a wrought iron fence are also included.

City and state taxpayers will pay for the project, but once completed, the Midtown Lofts Building Association will own it and be in charge of maintenance.

Sawh said a staircase might be added, but that could delay construction. The greenway has state historic designation and the State Historic Preservation Office must approve changes, he explained.

The city also plans a mill and overlay of the 2800 block of Aldrich Avenue in 2005.

Country Home Builders, Inc. will add 52 townhome and 58 loft units to the 2800 block of Aldrich and Bryant avenues next year. Another parcel along the 2800 block of Colfax will be developed by Brighton Development but not for a few years.

[sfhoya]

http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2005/03/02/neighbors/neighbor02.jpg

Updated East Calhoun development design released



The Edgewater, as seen from East Calhoun Parkway.
By Robyn Repya
A new design for the Edgewater, a six-story, 23-unit condominium building at West Lake Street & East Calhoun Parkway, was released at a January meeting of the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO).

The new design has three fewer units and features an exterior with more stone and less glass. A green roof, which will capture approximately 70 to 80 percent of runoff, will also be part of the project.

In addition, the new plans also show the building's top floor will step down from six stories to four on the west end, closest to Lake Calhoun's shore.

Developer Clark Gassen, president of Financial Freedom Realty, said the design changes come from the work project's neighbors and his desire to differentiate the building design from other new buildings in town.

Last year, the ECCO and CARAG neighborhood groups withheld support of the project, which the City Council ultimately approved. (The East Isles neighborhood voted to support the new development plans.) Critics had voiced concern about the project's height and that the design featured too much glass in an otherwise traditional-looking district.

Gassen said 13 of the 23 units have been sold. The condos are 1,300-3,000 square feet and start at $700,000, though some exceed $1.2 million. He recently added a 24-hour-a-day concierge due to buyer demand.

For more information about the project, visit www.gatewaytouptown.com.

[sfhoya]

More condos coming to Uptown

The new Uptown-based real estate company Financial Freedom Realty, 1406 W. Lake St., is planning to build 27 to 30 condominiums at 2936 Emerson Ave. S., between Lake Street and Lagoon Avenue.

FFR owner Clark Gassen recently purchased the building from the Ackerberg Group, a large Uptown real estate business that previously occupied the site along with a Fairview heath clinic. The Ackerberg group is now at 3033 Excelsior Blvd.

Gassen said he's planning to have retail space on the first floor and the condos above. Sales for the new condominium units will begin in February. New condo units in the building will sell for between $170,000 and $400,000, Gassen said.

For more information about the project, visit www.ff-realty.com.

[sfhoya]

http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2004/12/15/news/news02.jpg
The Weisman Building (right) will be the site of new condos next to the Calhoun Beach Club (left).

High times may return to Lake Calhoun


The Weisman Building (right) will be the site of new condos next to the Calhoun Beach Club (left).
Three housing projects could test shoreland development height limits

While the housing redevelopment business is red-hot downtown, the craze has returned to Lake Calhoun's north shore.

Three unrelated projects are close enough to the lake to trigger the city's Shoreland Overlay District, a statute limiting how tall buildings near most Minneapolis bodies of water can be. In the past, height has been a major flashpoint between residents and lakes-area developers, and the Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood finds itself grappling with a possibly controversial trio.

The three projects are:

- 100 new high-end condos on the site of the Warco-Variant building, 3104 W. Lake St. The land is next to the new Tryg's Restaurant, 3118 W. Lake St. The

developer is St. Louis Park-based Mathwig Development.

- 150 rental units where the former Ministers Life Insurance headquarters now sits, 3100 W. Lake St., behind the Lake Pointe Corporate Centre. The project is a joint venture between Uptown developer Stuart Ackerberg and the Village Green Company, which completed two condo developments in the Lyn-Lake area this year. Ackerberg owns the site.

- A condo/retail project replacing the Weisman Enterprises building at 2626 W. Lake St. -- known for its prominent spyglass facing Lake Calhoun. The CARAG-based Lander Group is the developer and has a purchase agreement.

Preliminary plans

Mathwig Development owner Troy Mathwig said he plans to develop condominiums in Southwest because "so much of the fear of [condo] saturation is downtown. Right now, there's so much room to grow" near Lake Calhoun.

Mathwig said his condos would be high-end, two-plus bedroom units. He said he hopes to start construction in late 2005, figuring for a 15-month construction time before occupants can move in.

Ackerberg said plans for his apartment project with Village Green aren't fully developed yet; the building will share parking with the Lake Pointe Corporate Centre building. "The condo market is hot, but we think long-term is rental housing," he said.

Ackerberg said construction should start in late 2005, with occupancy by late 2006. He said he's talked with a few residents and has identified parking and traffic issues that needs more work. Ackerberg said he plans to go back to the Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association (CIDNA) with more information soon.

Lander Group President Michael Lander said he's in the very early planning stages of the Weisman site development, just east of the Calhoun Beach Club. For example, he said he still hasn't decided how many units the project will have.

Lander said Weisman Enterprises would relocate. He said he hopes to start construction by 2006, a schedule that allows lots of planning time. He will host a Jan. 13 public meeting to discuss his plans with residents (see information box).

Zoning and Lake Calhoun

Developers for each project have met informally with a CIDNA committee in recent months to discuss their plans and neighborhood development goals.

Bob Corrick, co-chair of CIDNA's Redevelopment Committee, said his group approved "development guidelines" in December so developers would know the neighborhood's expectations.

The guidelines address everything from aesthetics, zoning and sound to traffic, parking and environmental mitigation, plus many other concerns.

Corrick said the height issue brought some concerned residents of Lake Calhoun's east side to a recent meeting.

The city's Shoreland Overlay District (SOD) limits buildings within 1,000 feet of a body of water to no more than two-and-a-half stories or 35 feet high whichever is lower. However, the city can give a conditional-use permit (CUP) to bypass the restriction.

Such permits are common, as existing high-rises such as the Calhoun Beach Club indicate. In November, the City Council allowed the 28-unit Edgewater condo redevelopment at 1805 W. Lake St. on Lake Calhoun's east side of Lake Calhoun to have six stories.

The decision provoked vocal opposition at neighborhood meetings in the surrounding East Calhoun, East Isles and CARAG neighborhoods. Corrick said some of those residents attended CIDNA's meeting, voicing concern about the height potential for the new developments.

Neighbors eventually appealed the Edgewater's CUP to the Council but lost. While neighborhoods commonly make recommendations to the Minneapolis Planning Commission and City Council, neighborhoods have no formal "veto power."

Corrick said CIDNA so far has no comment on any of the three new proposals in their neighborhood.

Absent Shoreland Overlay limits, the zoning for the three Cedar-Isles-Dean parcels permits a four-story building or one that is up to 56 feet tall. All were aware that the Edgewater was able to bypass the shoreland limits. However, none of the developers has decided on their building's height.

While Mathwig said the city's Edgewater decision could set a precedent for other developments, Ackerberg said each neighborhood would probably confront the height issue in its own way.

Each developer said he would discuss his building's height with residents and plan to visit the CIDNA board with updates and for dialogue as his projects progress.

[sfhoya]

http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2004/12/01/news/news11.jpg
The historic Suburban World Theater, 3022 Hennepin Ave. S.


The historic Suburban World Theater, empty since May 2002, is finally showing signs of life.

At the November CARAG neighborhood meeting, Southwest property owner Don Driggs, who purchased the 3022 Hennepin Ave. S. building last year, said theater events are planned. He hopes to schedule more arts and music events and resurrect the Saturday morning cartoon shows at the theater.

Driggs, a Southwest property owner, paid $625,000 for the Suburban World, according to city property-tax records. He said it took him a few years to complete the sale because the site was involved in a bankruptcy and foreclosure. He added that much time has been spent cleaning the long-vacant theater.

Driggs said he would soon have more information for the community about his plans. Residents at the CARAG meeting thanked Driggs for his work and for doing something with the space.

[ReddAlert]

whats Dinkytown..?

[sfhoya]

Dinkytown's a neighborhood adjoining the U of M.

Here's an article about a theater rehab taking place there with some history on the name 'Dinkytown'.
http://www.citypages.com/databank/26/1266/article13401.asp

[sfhoya]

Neighbors get look at redeveloped Calhoun Square

http://www.swjournal.com/content/articles/2004/10/21/neighbors/neighbors01.jpg
Three views of a redeveloped Calhoun Square: (top) the Hennepin Avenue side between Lake Street and West 31st Street, featuring housing on the 31st Street corner; (middle) the view from West Lake Street, between Girard Avenue and Hennepin; and the view from West 31 Street (bottom), showing the new housing. Illustrations courtesy of North American Properties.


Jay Scott, principal of North American Properties, brought a preliminary draft of the $75 million Calhoun Square redevelopment project to the CARAG neighborhood board Oct. 19. Neighbors filled the room to get a peak at illustrations and ask questions about the project North American Properties acquired the complex this spring, along with all buildings on the 3000 block of Hennepin, the vacant lot north of the parking ramp and Lake Street buildings between Hennepin and Girard. Scott said talks are still underway to purchase the Music-Go-Round building, 1301 W. Lake St.

The illustration he presented showed a block-long retail complex with an additional story-and-a-half on the parking ramp and 60 housing units along West 31st Street and on the corner of Lake Street & Girard Avenue.

Scott said North American would demolish the buildings that contain the Lotus restaurant, 3037 Hennepin Ave. S. and City Image Salon, 3049 Hennepin Ave. S. and as well as those housing The Great Frame Up, 1407 W. Lake St. and the Passage to India Restaurant, 1401 W. Lake St.

He said the reconfiguration would add up to 100,000 square feet to the complex.

Leasing agent Anne Knuth said North American wants to lure retailers who currently have no or one Minneapolis stores.

Scott has talked with existing retailers such as Express about expanding. Knuth said that she's talked to Borders about expanding into a two-level bookstore, but nothing has been finalized.

Scott said he doesn't see a need to increase Calhoun Square's restaurant or entertainment businesses, and will instead focus on retail and bringing more people to the complex during the day.

He said that would be done by adding housing and office space on the center's upper levels. Knuth also said a new mall entrance east of Figlio's could boost traffic in tucked-away areas the complex's east side. "The objective is really to open the mall itself," Scott said. "Right now, it's a very heavy presence on the corner."

Residents questioned Scott and Knuth about the taller ramp and potential noise increases. Some also expressed concern about housing that could rise as high as four stories. Scott said the plan is a work in progress and there's plenty of time to change it and incorporate new ideas.

Scott said the illustration will be the first of many, and said he'd return to the neighborhood for more discussion. Once a final concept is polished, construction would hopefully begin in early 2005, beginning with the parking ramp he said. Scott said the project would be done in phases spread over the next three to five years.

[mpls]

hell yeah, thanks for digging up all of those articles!

[ArchMadness]

Here's a better rendering of the new Edgewater condos.
http://www.ff-realty.com/images/Edgewater_Rendering.jpg
http://www.gatewaytouptown.com/

[Sirus]

Here's a better rendering of the new Edgewater condos.
http://www.ff-realty.com/images/Edgewater_Rendering.jpg
http://www.gatewaytouptown.com/


I think that anchors the corner much better than what is there right now.

[mpls]

thats really pretty nice, i'm very glad we didn't get another 301 kenwood rehash.
thanks for the rendering.

[mpls]

...and nice - only 5 units left. lets get another one of these!

[JT-MI]

I always liked these pics of the new Uptown City Lofts. Anyone have some actual pictures of the completed unit?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown3.jpg

And, just for fun, I threw in a rendering of one of the other new projects going up, I forget the name:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown2.jpg

[JT-MI]

Oh, I remember now... that bottom rendering is of the Midtown Lofts...

[colink]

Here's a couple of photos I took of the Midtown Greenway last weekend.

http://www.colinkulow.com/twincityscape/mg_01.jpg

http://www.colinkulow.com/twincityscape/mg_02.jpg

[Sirus]

I don't care that much for those Uptown City Apartments. They remind me too much of Block E.

[mpls]

agreed, looks like a faux wild west deal.
the midtown lofts, on the other hand, excellent use of contemporary materials.

[Sirus]

agreed, looks like a faux wild west deal.
the midtown lofts, on the other hand, excellent use of contemporary materials.

definately, I really like how the brick is used on Midtown.

[Mplsuptown]

The Uptown Apartments were going to look much worse. You should have seen their first proposals when they brought them to the neighborhoods. I agree they do look quite fake and I wish they would have done something to the east side of the building. I mean really, the upper row is fake painted shutters on a cement facade.

[Mplsuptown]

I think that anchors the corner much better than what is there right now.

I still find it hard to believe that neighbors (to the south no less) were the biggest complainers. No loss of sun to them. It's going to improve the look and first impression of anyone entering into the neighborhood. Dang, what's wrong with people. :weirdo:

[JT-MI]

A bit of a side note...

Major car crash in Uptown today destroyed a historic building which housed the upscale Sudz Salon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/uptown7.jpg

It's unfortunate to see ornate old architecture destroyed in a flash. Maybe they can re-create if/when they rebuild?

[JT-MI]

Oh, and just so I don't sound like an insensitive jackass (caring more about the building than the people involved), no one was seriously injured in that accident, just scratches...

[East Side]

Here is a link to an editorial in the Star Trib from this weekend, discussing The Nicollet, and the impact of all of the residential development in downtown MPLS. (Registration may be req'd).

http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/5287413.html

[mullen]

I agree on the average quality of the uptown village apartments and the city should be diligent with this company, (village green), who is involved in a larger project closer to lake calhoun, that we get better than a hollywood set looking design. Midtown Lofts are excellent, it's like a marker for good design in that neighborhood.

[Toggie]

The Carlyle now has a tower crane.
http://umbrage.iexposure.com/carlylecam/current.jpg

[mpls]

in-motha-fucking-deed! wouldn't it be nice if they kept the sidewalks open during construction?

[EastSider]

Has there been a recent list of major projects/proposals in Minneapolis? I'd love to see it if there is.

[mpls]

not really anything major of late, things will heat up again with the weather.
you can always check out twincityscape.com/forum, anything new is always there.

[colink]

Colle & McVoy is the company interested in the proposed condo/office development on Lagoon. They are looking at Edina, Downtown Mpls, and Uptown. Check out the Business Journal (Print Edition)

[EastSider]

^Thanks for the link.

[StevenW]

Hey, are there any new big developments going o