urbanMSP

Interesting Strib article over the weekend about rezoning in Minnetonka to allow for multiple homes on some 3-acre parcels(!). Surprisingly, neighbors are concerned about what it will do to the "character" of the neighborhood.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/209812171.html

I was near this site last week, and it is massive. Here's a photo, but it doesn't do it justice. This is looking NE across the site from 5th St SE. Outside the frame of the photo (to the left) there is concrete above the ground.

Story in MNDaily about students being forced to move out early to accommodate construction at this site. CPM hopes to start construction August 1st, and finish August 2014.

http://www.mndaily.com/news/metro-state ... t-students

New article about this project in the Minnesota Daily: http://www.mndaily.com/city/business/2013/05/21/businesses-community-groups-fight-dinkytown-rezone-development Save Dinkytown’s petition says the large scale of the Opus project would “diminish the apparent significance and character of the hist...

I think he was talking about Mpls/SP being named the fittest city in america for the third year in a row (by the American College of Sports Medicine).

That's a fair point. Awkward space.

I guess we should wait to see if this pans out, but my kneejerk reaction is negative. I really wish Block E had uses that would interact more with the public. A large practice facility doesn't sound promising.

Alatus' ownership of Block E has so far been a disappointment.

The Hillcrest commercial development proposal is officially the winner: http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/m ... polis.html

Uh oh, with the St. Paul Port Authority in charge, I guess we should expect another suburban-style office park. On the plus side, that type of development really fits the character of Energy Park Drive.

I'm always amazed at how terrible the SPPA developments are.

It doesn't sound like there are any firm designs yet: The height is not finalized, but the developer is considering four stories: two floors with a mix of office and retail, topped by two floors of four-six condominium units. CPM co-founder Nick Walton said initial design work is underway with Peter...

http://www.southwestjournal.com/notes/news/developer-proposes-four-stories-of-retail-and-condos-at-lake-james The development proposed on the SW corner of Lake and James has been scrapped in favor of a new proposal on the NE corner of Lake and James (where the bike rental place is). Ground level re...

Yes, that was the idea they floated... Would 50/50 make THAT much of a difference for a music venue? I feel like that would still be really hard to comply with...

At one point the Chanhassen Dinner Theater was going to move into the Mall as part of Phase II, but the Legislature passed a law prohibiting it in 2008. The language they passed prohibits "...inclusion of an auditorium, theater or similar live entertainment venue. This paragraph does not prohib...

I guess it was unanimous. Here's your candidate for mayor, Mr. Gary Schiff: “I think this is a signal that this city takes seriously the contributions of Mr. Healy,” Schiff said of the unanimous committee vote. http://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2013/05/minneapolis-likely-protect-master-builder-heal...

I didn't realize this was happening, and I don't know how much it'll get used, but they have installed a section of cycle track in front of this building.

Southdale will probably take a hit, but to be honest, as the MOA gets bigger and more touristy, it becomes less attractive to locals. Growing up in south Minneapolis, my family would regularly shop at Southdale, but we avoided MOA like the plague. I can see them coexisting by serving different commu...

Not sure if this was already posted, but there will be a public meeting tonight at the Metrodome to discuss the Draft EIS. Meeting starts at 5pm: http://www.msfa.com/content/DRAFT%20ENV ... e%20v2.pdf

From what I can tell, the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee voted this morning to uphold the Heritage Preservation Commission's determination that the properties are historic.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/zp/WCMS1P-106660

Possible retail tenant coming to Suburban World Theater: http://www.startribune.com/blogs/208307781.html

Slightly related, the MN House just rejected a bonding bill for this year. Never say never, but it looks highly unlikely that there will be a bonding bill (then again, it would have been unusual to have a bonding bill in an odd-numbered year; presumably there will be a bonding bill next year). Of re...