urbanMSP

While I'm sure there are fans of St. Olaf's midcentury building that would be sad to see it go, ::raises hand:: We already have one former midcentury church on the edge of downtown that's about to be replaced by a residential tower so I'm cool with the only remaining one altogether in the CBD stick...

The whole crew appears to be migrating to https://www.vox.mn/public.

Is there any reason why they need to develop both blocks at the same time? Would be better to see more focus on one of the blocks, and leave the other block empty even if for another development cycle. Exactly what I was going to suggest. If there’s only sufficient demand for X units, then build X ...

I ended up chairing the meeting. The project we saw tonight had the parking removed and all the units were 1-beds. Someone asked why they didn't propose 2-beds and they said those are always the last to lease up. The builder was initially opposed to removing the spaces as recommended by the COW, but...

The email from the neighborhood called it a "public hearing" so that's a misnomer?

There are four new-build townhomes nearby off Lowry, close to the new Market BBQ. I think they're rentals?

Now that I think about it, it's probably triggered by the lot split this time around. For example, 601 W. Lake has a CUP and variances, but no legal hearing.

The Lyndale neighborhood group votes to give their "support" or "blessing" to a developer's request for variances/CUPs. It isn't binding. Earlier, the housing committee expressed their unanimous support for this project. Yes. I think the CUP triggers a legal public hearing inclu...

It's a permit hearing.

Permit hearing at Monday's neighborhood meeting on 2/25. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Horn Towers. This is the ask: 1. Conditional use Permit to exceed the maximum building height (max height in the OR1 is 2.5 stories). 2. Variance to reduce the established minimum front yard setback along Garfield Ave S for t...

The existing facade, while nice, really doesn't have enough windows in it for an office user. So there would have to be pretty significant changes to the facade anyway. Good to see they'll also be fixing the bad sidewalk condition that currently exists here. Unfortunately, it means there will be on...

There is lots of hard money moving to/from the building in this area, plus some underground parking already which is I think why they're going aboveground for this. Is it feasible for the USPS "sell" their ramp to the Fed, who then leases back spaces to the post office? There is plenty of ...

The detail on this building is great and lines up with the neighboring building. From afar it will be hard to tell this wasn't built 100 years ago. Historic district guidelines win!

Big trees on site all came down today and scraping has begun in earnest. They're keeping all the trees that are adjacent to the parkway.

The mayor wants to be popular, and fortunately in Minneapolis good policies are popular: Make Homes Happen, Full Service Community Schools, etc. He certainly appeared to be among the most downtown biz friendly as a candidate, but as mayor appears to have not pandered to those interests while maintai...

Jersey barriers are being placed around the site today.

My sense is that Hutch has gained a lot of traction quickly. Lots of fired up folks are ready to vote out Paulsen and Lewis, and Stanek is an easy boogeyman to vote against down ballot. Plus Hutch genuinely has good ideas and is the possibly the most "regular dude" candidate I've seen.

Even then (Chapter 7), whoever picks up the leaseholdings as part of the liquidation would then own the Minneapolis lease. The city would have to still negotiate a buyout with whoever that was.

Chain link went up around the Good Grocer site yesterday. Sidewalk is closed so they put jersey barriers in the street for sidewalks down to 27th.

Never underestimate the corporate credit card market! The expense account type is probably thrilled about a new option.

As for the rest of us... a CBD bookstore and movie theater sure would be nice. Oh well.