urbanMSP

The first floor has been open for a day or two. Walked through today and they are putting the final touches and moving furniture around. Talked to a security guard who was helping oversee some of the work and he said that they were hosting the official unveiling party tonight. I'm not sure how many ...

The convenience store in Center Village has been closed for months. Not sure if there are plans to re-open something at that location. There isn't much demand for retail in this part of town right now, but there's certainly potential if something decent is put in the KA and surrounding blocks. If th...

I'm sure we'd all love to see 35 covered up and the creation of a new park or neighborhood. But that's not happening. What is happening is that the Armory is going to be renovated - and that's extremely exciting. While the main draw of the building may be for sports and concerts, I could see this as...

I don't like the idea of razing old buildings to put new ones in, but we do need to make a few compromises if we want the city to continue to grow. I just wish the be buildings we put up to replace them have enough character that people will be asking to save them in 60-80 years when another develop...

Looks like a skateboarding paradise! I'm really excited for this. You can click through the full 67 page presentation which has a tone of old images of the area which show the inspiration for the new park design. http://www.slideshare.net/MplsParksFoundation/water-works-a-future-destination-park-on-...

The real work started last week. They have the corner all dug out and a massive pile of dirt. I honestly wasn't expecting such a deep hole for a building of this size. I hope this project and the new construction on the Metro State campus kick things into high gear for this area of Saint Paul. We 'v...

I don't think there is any code which dictates where generators are placed. once the design of a building is approved, they can pretty much move item like this anywhere they want as long as they are changing the structure of the building. I don't think anyone would intentionally design a building an...

I love how the Snelling exit has already been closed for a week, but not work has started in that time period. They've just increased traffic during the morning and evening commute times on 94 for no reason. Projects like this need to have better planning and an understanding of how lane or exit clo...

No designs for the site yet. ESG will be the architect. Purchase agreement is signed. Sounds like they're thinking pretty big. Mixed use, apartments, probably with a public plaza of some kind. Ground floor retail. I am very, very optimistic for this development. Massing was suggested to be one or t...

I've always questioned the designation of "artist lofts" for this and other projects. I guess the intent is to open the project up to a broader audience if the project lives up to the concept. Artists who live and work here would be bringing people in from the community to see or participa...

I think we forget that the stadium is really the bookend for downtown. There's really nothing much beyond it. Yes, there are two blocks between the stadium and 35W which could be developed, but there's really not much that can be done with those even if the stadium had better connection with the str...

Groundbreaking for the new Mississippi Market took place today. Fences were going up as I drove by on the way home this afternoon. The 26,000-square-foot store will be under construction until July of 2015, but dors are not expected to open until September of 2015. This store will be one block up fr...

Don't think the police/fire department presence around there had anything to do with the Downtown East Project. Drive by at around 7:25 this morning and it looked like a few firefighters were coming out of the ramp under the metrodome station. Didn't notice any smoke, but there could have been a car...

I think the balconies will give it a much better look than it has now.

I honestly really like how this building is turning out. It will add quite a few new residents at the far edge of the neighborhood and extend the blossoming retail presence in the area. Does anyone know when the first residents will be moving in?

They should move Office Depot to the vacant space on the 7th street side and open up this corner for a restaurant. This would be a prime location for outdoor seating to enjoy the mall.

I think you're over-thinking it. The base really doesn't need any work. it just needs retail that opens up to the street. The base is built so that the entire first level can open up to the street or have glass windows. Honestly, I don't know why the current owner hasn't opened it up for windows dis...

I noticed the sign at the old taco bell location yesterday afternoon. This spot's been empty for far too long. Nice to see another food truck get a permanent location in the skyway.

The tennis courts don't really get used much. When they do, it's typically students from North Central University in the spring and fall. I wouldn't say that that most of the soccer field's use would be privatized. The soccer schedule for the school runs from mid-August until the end of September. W...

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the Elliot Park Soccer Field was today. A friend who works at North Central University forwarded the following message that was sent to all faculty and staff at the University last week. From the image, it looks like the larger soccer field option was chosen which w...