urbanMSP

Over a decade since construction, I think the materials on Kensington Park still look great. Stucco panel, brick, and some metal accents. Townhomes are the same stucco panel and brick, with greater proportion of stucco.

https://i.imgur.com/emptwN6.jpg Good density, but the materials scream $155 sf construction cost. Don't they all kinda look like that? At least everything in the 4-to-6-story-plus-underground-parking family The proposed corrugated metal got some negative reactions at the neighborhood meetings. Alth...

Rendering posted to the city website (http://www.richfieldmn.gov/departments/community-development/redevelopment): https://i.imgur.com/emptwN6.jpg I gather this view would be from the middle of 66th facing northeast from just west of Russell alignment. I think in real life the Fraser retaining wall ...

Last I heard they were still negotiating with one or two houses on 16th, but they were prepared to just leave some of the townhomes unbuilt and workaround those who chose not to sell. Not sure of the construction timeline. Design looks nice, although that rendering above is playing some tricks. That...

Notice went out that approvals for the project will be at November 26th Planning Commission meeting. Kind of a zippy pace compared to what's been the norm for other projects.

So long, midcentury. Pretty sad. I like the design of the new building, and I'm glad to see more intensity coming to the block overall, but it sucks to lose this beautiful landmark on the street. Age is similar to most of the buildings that were destroyed for the downtown era urban renewal (about 6...

Tabled until next month, with the main requests having the developer show what four stories would mean for the site, and demonstrate proof of parking if they got more parking-intensive uses in the retail. I watched (listened to in the background!) the whole public hearing. Some interesting takeaways...

Very disappointing about the anti-development candidate winning. From a Strib article that mentions the race (http://www.startribune.com/richfield-elects-the-first-latina-mayor-in-the-state/499864022/): "Several challengers, including Anderson, had argued that the city is growing too fast and t...

Nice. Virtually all the parking underground is a great land use. So was that already zoned for multifamily? Or are Richfieldians natural, docile urbanists by nature? [emoji846] The entire "block" of 65th to 66th, Queen to Russell, is guided for high density residential, but only three of ...

Two possible developments presented at Planning Commission-Council-HRA work session: The first was at 66th & Queen. Developer owns a large (0.5 acre) single family home parcel, and is considering an apartment project as small as just that parcel, or as large as 6 additional parcels + vacation o...

I know during the Holidays Lunds used to hire police officers to direct traffic here because it would get so bad. I wonder if any underground parking would not be accessed from the west side of the building and the alley be used by residents to 64th? With that you have a light to enter onto Penn. I...

Was not a topic here. In general there is interest in improving Penn here, but it's not on current Hennepin CIP, and City isn't pursuing other funding that I am aware of right now. I agree that left turns at rush hour would be hard. Ideally, it would be nice if there were a roundabout at 64th that c...

Hey forum users: The streets.mn board is "hiring"! And they'd really like to see a forum user or two on the board. I have been on the board for a two-year, 2017-2019 term, but will be ending in January. The board meets once monthly. We help set the direction of the organization, set budget...

I was surprised to see something actually happening! I couldn't even pinpoint what was different when I went to work today. Trees! No trees. That's it.

Nice. I hope the Council goes with your recommendation. That west side of France could use a little love. Since Aurora, the only new thing built has been that little strip retail thing at 70th. It's a big improvement over BP, but it's not nearly as substantial an improvement as this could be!

The 17-story project that this was earlier this year was a good project. This is a shame, especially coming on the heels of things falling through in Pentagon just a couple of weeks ago. Losing 800 planned units of housing in two weeks is a lot, even by Edina standards.

It is nice, but I'm not sure I'd prioritize preserving it over better building placement -- especially because, realistically, it will die far before the building is torn down. That Lunds is from 1968, and I doubt the tree preceded the store. Speaking of trees, I think it is nice that they seem comm...

That building placement just seems very odd to me. You'd prefer the larger building go on NE corner? (Me too) Three defenses of putting it in the back come to mind: 1. The 1-story retail building is not shown in the rendering. This might make it a little less harsh 2. It will allow the residential ...

Here are some visuals: https://i.imgur.com/dcbZgME.png https://i.imgur.com/equ79uF.jpg Full packet here: http://www.richfieldmn.gov/home/showdocument?id=16947 The rendering is just for overall massing. They anticipate that exterior finishes would be a "Lunds pallet" that would match a remo...

Would that northwest corner apartment building give access to the 62nd frontage road? Or will that be more completely blocked off from any access through? They mentioned that they considered that, but preferred access through Lunds parking lot. Although I like the idea of better integration with th...