Search found 156 matches

by holmstar
July 14th, 2017, 9:05 am
Forum: Saint Paul
Topic: Allianz Field and Snelling-Midway Development
Replies: 808
Views: 209554

Re: Soccer Stadium and Snelling-Midway Development

Just thought I'd mention that ticket sales have reached almost 20k per game now and the "Itasca Society" is nearly full (nearly 11,842 season ticket holders). This suggests that they will have no difficulty filling the new stadium.
by holmstar
October 15th, 2015, 8:20 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: The Commons - Downtown East Park
Replies: 687
Views: 128727

Re: The Commons - Downtown East Park

Page 35 states that the existing mature trees across from the old Strib building will be preserved!
GOOD.
by holmstar
October 14th, 2015, 7:37 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Xcel Energy HQ - 401 Nicollet
Replies: 539
Views: 101428

Re: Xcel Energy HQ - 401 Nicollet

Tell that to Delta/Northwest Airlines.
There's still a good number of people working in MSP. Really only building A was lost. Buildings C and J are still full of office workers. There's no rumors of that changing going around that I have heard.
by holmstar
October 6th, 2015, 11:03 am
Forum: Saint Paul
Topic: Wabasha Center (Former Macy's) - Downtown St. Paul
Replies: 211
Views: 58564

Re: Former Macy's Site - Downtown St. Paul

I guess I should have looked more closely at the drawing above. Although, if that is actually what they're thinking, I wouldn't say the rink is "on the roof." It's more "on the top floor." If you look at the roof, you'll see that the center portion of the top floor is open to th...
by holmstar
August 21st, 2015, 9:29 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Hyperloop
Replies: 10
Views: 1729

Re: Hyperloop

Sure, but Musk isn't doing this. He just wrote up the idea, glossed over the engineering difficulties, slapped an absurdly low cost estimate on it, and threw it on the internet, which promptly said "OMG MUSK IS SO AWESOME" (which is true) and ran with it. Now there's a bunch of engineers ...
by holmstar
August 21st, 2015, 9:06 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346227

Re: MSP Airport

Fair enough. As much of the market as they can, then. Still unfair competition.
by holmstar
August 21st, 2015, 8:53 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Hyperloop
Replies: 10
Views: 1729

Re: Hyperloop

It's a modern day monorail fantasy but for intercity transit. Normally, I'd agree, but Musk is a determined guy. Pretty interesting read: http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/05/elon-musk-the-worlds-raddest-man.html Yeah, I know, the title doesn't exactly suggest an impartial author, but it's probably the be...
by holmstar
August 21st, 2015, 8:39 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: MSP Airport / Metropolitan Airports Commission
Replies: 1359
Views: 346227

Re: MSP Airport

The gulf carriers are offering fares that are essentially impossible without government subsidies. They deny that they are receiving subsidies, but there's really no other way they could be doing this. The impossible competitive disadvantage has already forced non-gulf carriers to significantly redu...
by holmstar
July 22nd, 2015, 7:30 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: U.S. Bank Stadium
Replies: 2080
Views: 189027

Re: U.S. Bank Stadium

They're vents. I'm guessing that they are made up of a series of slanted parallel slats. These would look different, even if the same color, because they are at a different angle to the sun than the wall. When in person, you're closer to the building, which also means you see more of the opening bet...
by holmstar
July 21st, 2015, 10:12 am
Forum: Saint Paul
Topic: Custom House / Hyatt Place - Downtown Saint Paul Post Office
Replies: 69
Views: 29686

Re: Custom House - Downtown Saint Paul Post Office

there are no restaurants or shops within a two block radius.
I believe they are trying to change this with the river walk/deck thing.
by holmstar
July 2nd, 2015, 11:01 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

I can totally see people parking at 28th Ave. (NOT MOA <snicker>) and riding Blue/Green. Westerly people will be able to park at Shady Oak. Easterly people will be able to take Gold/Green. North is really the most problematic. I have no doubt a district parking ramp will be built eventually, I'm ju...
by holmstar
June 26th, 2015, 7:26 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: North Loop Neighborhood
Replies: 1096
Views: 495141

Re: North Loop Neighborhood

Named "Eric Biermann" --> Founds brewery.
by holmstar
June 17th, 2015, 3:24 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: RBC Gateway & Four Seasons - 37 stories - 519'
Replies: 2124
Views: 487147

Re: Nicollet Hotel Block

Not sure what the issues was with the hotel developer and their reason for abandoning the project. Looks like they're moving elsewhere downtown: If a hotel does go into the tower proposal, it won't be the Canopy by Hilton that United Properties originally proposed because that chain is slated for a...
by holmstar
June 16th, 2015, 7:01 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

It is, however, up to us to decide whether we should give him money when he doesn't need it. What money is that? They asked for a waiver on sales tax for materials, which is an incredibly common request for any large project, and they agreed to pay the current property taxes on the site. They just ...
by holmstar
June 15th, 2015, 3:24 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

While I would certainly hope he, or any other uber-wealthy individual, does donate much of his fortune to charity eventually, it isn't up to us to decide that.
by holmstar
June 15th, 2015, 3:12 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

I'm not defending john menard. He was just the first example I thought of. The point is that people don't own businesses to lose money. The minnesota united fc is not a non-profit. To presume that it's just fine for them to spend money with no pay-back is unreasonable. You wouldn't expect any other ...
by holmstar
June 15th, 2015, 3:01 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

You could say the same about any business owned by a wealthy person. John Menard is worth over 3 billion. [sarcasm] Maybe he should run menards as a non profit, just to give back to the community [/sarcasm]
by holmstar
June 15th, 2015, 2:49 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

Of all the potential arguments for a property tax exemption, I think "the city/county might suddenly dramatically jack up taxes" might be the silliest of all. Every other venture, one with precedent or not, runs this risk. If the financials are really so precarious that even the theoretic...
by holmstar
June 15th, 2015, 2:00 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167512

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

The thing is, even with a lock on property taxes, the owners don't expect to turn a profit on team/stadium operations. They're betting on the value of the team to appreciate. If they don't have a lock on taxes, it leaves a big question mark on financial viability. There are no comparable properties ...
by holmstar
June 12th, 2015, 9:53 am
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Central Park Commons - Eagan
Replies: 37
Views: 7267

Re: Lockheed Martin site - Eagan

Most of delta's IT department is still in Eagan at 1500 Towerview road. The building itself was sold and then leased back. And theres no rumors of IT being moved down to ATL, at least not that anyone that I work with has heard.