Search found 146 matches

by MplsSteve
December 6th, 2013, 7:44 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Block E (archive)
Replies: 351
Views: 106454

Re: Block E

Admittedly I don't follow these things that closely, but I assume from all of the comments that Best Buy's fortunes have improved. It seems like not that long ago there were some serious questions about its survival. I think in general, the changing nature of all retail makes it very difficult to pr...
by MplsSteve
December 3rd, 2013, 2:37 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Nord Haus - 315 1st Ave NE (208' - 20 Stories)
Replies: 617
Views: 133142

Re: Superior Plating site

According to their depth to bedrock map, the bedrock at the Superior Plating site is 50' deep or less.
Thanks, that's interesting to know and an interesting website too.
by MplsSteve
December 3rd, 2013, 12:47 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

I think people want to save it because it is old and they want to atone for the mistakes of the previous generations, but this is no Metropolitan Building. Agreed. I feel this way about a lot of things. It's important to remember that in the late 1950's there was very little love for the Metropolit...
by MplsSteve
December 3rd, 2013, 9:40 am
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Nord Haus - 315 1st Ave NE (208' - 20 Stories)
Replies: 617
Views: 133142

Re: Superior Plating site

The Northeaster newspaper reported that on December 12th the current owners will share their plans for cleaning up the site. http://nenorthnews.com/extraFiles/131204Northeaster.pdf It will involve removing the building and all of the soil underneath it down to bedrock. If there are no development pl...
by MplsSteve
December 2nd, 2013, 7:20 am
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis - General Topics
Replies: 964
Views: 339724

Re: Northeast - General Topics

I thought the speed cameras were a great idea, but weren't they ruled unconstitutional here in Minnesota?
by MplsSteve
November 27th, 2013, 2:44 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Proposed Crown Hydro Plant
Replies: 14
Views: 3759

Re: Proposed Crown Hydro Plant

"The two major concerns voiced over Crown’s proposal are that drilling a 930-foot tunnel in a geologically sensitive area could harm the Stone Arch Bridge, and that drawing water from an area of the Mississippi River that already houses an Xcel Energy hydroelectric facility nearly three times ...
by MplsSteve
November 26th, 2013, 12:48 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis - General Topics
Replies: 964
Views: 339724

Re: Northeast - General Topics

One thing that could be done right now to help calm the busy streets in Northeast would be enforcing the speed limits. I can tell that it's not being done at all on University Ave.
by MplsSteve
November 26th, 2013, 10:46 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

I guess I can understand the logic behind it, however in the age of social media using signs on top of buildings as a way of branding seems a bit out of date. Does anyone even notice signs anymore?
by MplsSteve
November 23rd, 2013, 10:45 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

I don't think this is a case of not wanting to have nice new things (as if new always equals nice). I think what people here are saying is let's think this out carefully and not do something that we'll later regret. The fact is that when developers have been challenged by pesky preservationsists in ...
by MplsSteve
November 22nd, 2013, 2:26 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

I think it's unfair to judge the Strib as you would another office building since a lot of the structue was used for industrial purposes (printing). That said, I think it could be reduced in size; maybe down to the original front section facing Portland. I like the way it relates to the slightly ear...
by MplsSteve
November 21st, 2013, 8:15 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

Seems like Minneapolis has been down this road several times before - either demolishing or going to great lengths to "save" an historic structure that was standing in the way of a much hyped development scheme. In the early 1980's the Forum Cafeteria on 7th was dismantled for later recons...
by MplsSteve
November 19th, 2013, 7:35 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: DTE: Wells Fargo, Radisson Red, Edition Apts & Millwright Building
Replies: 2909
Views: 447726

Re: Star Tribune Blocks

I wonder if they will change the name to Star Tribune Tower?
by MplsSteve
November 14th, 2013, 9:29 am
Forum: Minneapolis - North, Northeast, and Southeast / University of Minnesota
Topic: Grain Belt Terraces - (1215 Marshall Street Northeast)
Replies: 16
Views: 6065

Re: Grain Belt Terraces - (1215 Marshall Street Northeast)

I'm glad to hear that this is finally getting off the ground. I hope they do a good job restoring the office building. It's a wonderful old structure.
by MplsSteve
November 14th, 2013, 9:21 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)
Replies: 190
Views: 50523

Re: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)

I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the popcorn ceilings were only in the closets; I'm pretty sure the rest of the spaces had smooth ceilings. Unless you spend an inordinate ammount of time in your closet, I can't see that it would be much of an issue. The floors are laminate, which I guess I ca...
by MplsSteve
November 8th, 2013, 7:53 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Nic on Fifth - (290' - 26 Stories)
Replies: 1033
Views: 218238

Re: Nic on Fifth - (290' - 26 Stories)

They are working on building out a leasing office on the skyway level of the Baker Center. They certainly don't have much of a website at present.
by MplsSteve
November 7th, 2013, 8:52 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)
Replies: 190
Views: 50523

Re: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)

I went to the open house last night and was pretty impressed. The model apartments (on 3rd and 4th floors) were really nice - high ceilings, large windows, quite generous closets. Not at all your typical cookie cutter apartments. I was also happy to see that they did try to preserve any remaining hi...
by MplsSteve
November 1st, 2013, 10:04 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Embassy Suites (Plymouth Building) - 12 6th Street S
Replies: 286
Views: 50493

Re: Plymouth Building Hotel Conversion - (12 6th Street Sout

Part of its designation relies on the fact that the buildings curtain wall system allowed portions of the facade to be removed and replaced. Yeah, I read that report, but I think it was a bit puffed up. You can do that kind of remodeling to any building - basically just knocking off applied ornament.
by MplsSteve
November 1st, 2013, 6:35 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Embassy Suites (Plymouth Building) - 12 6th Street S
Replies: 286
Views: 50493

Re: Plymouth Building Hotel Conversion - (12 6th Street Sout

I'm glad to hear that there are plans to reuse this building. It's had a major presence on Hennepin ave for ages. Is it too much to ask for them to restore the original facade? The 1930's renovation was very ham-fisted, and quite honestly the present exterior is no thing of beauty. Unfortunately, it...
by MplsSteve
October 22nd, 2013, 9:06 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: 510 Marquette Avenue
Replies: 137
Views: 39094

Re: 510 Marquette Avenue

Let's face it, this building just has seriously bad Karma.
by MplsSteve
October 21st, 2013, 9:20 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)
Replies: 190
Views: 50523

Re: Soo Line Building Apartments - (501 Marquette Avenue)

My father was the building superintendent there for many years, so I know quite a bit about that building. The building was completely remodeled in the early 1960's after First National Bank moved out. The lower floors were completely gutted and virtually all of the historic interior details were re...