urbanMSP

To be sure, when dumberguy said 222 looks to be making great progress, was he not referring to the parking structure that has been in place all along? I went by this block on Sunday and don't remember seeing any significant above-ground structure outside of the parking ramp.

To be sure, when dumberguy said 222 looks to be making great progress, was he not referring to the parking structure that has been in place all along? I went by this block on Sunday and don't remember seeing any significant above-ground structure outside of the parking ramp.

I don't think so. The underground infrastructure looks nearly complete and they are making good progress adding onto the existing parking structure. IIRC the majority of the addition is on the backside of 222 (i.e. on N 2nd Street) so you may have missed it.

this one's going up really fast. I think both Whole Foods and the apartments will open well before the stated completion date of summer 2013.

Also (caveat: I'm a layperson), it seems that there are concrete pillars being erected on top of the first two stories. So maybe this won't be stick-built.

It's actually very common for the first one or two floors to have concrete frames, especially if there is a commercial use on the first floor. I know that Sydney Hall in Dinkytown had concrete framing on the first floor (where the CVS is), topped with stick frame. Lumen on Lagoon probably was also. Given that this development has a large commercial use on the first floor, and I wouldn't doubt that the height of the 1st floor for Whole Foods will be significantly higher than a typical apartment floor, so that's why it probably looks like two floors (though I haven't seen it in person for a while, so that's a guess).

Yes, the Whole Foods space can't be stick-built, even if the rest of the building is. It isn't cheap to span the large distances needed to make the big open rooms in large commercial spaces with wood.

Also (caveat: I'm a layperson), it seems that there are concrete pillars being erected on top of the first two stories. So maybe this won't be stick-built.

Here is an image from yesterday. You can see concrete pillars, albeit small ones, going up to what will be the third story.

Also (caveat: I'm a layperson), it seems that there are concrete pillars being erected on top of the first two stories. So maybe this won't be stick-built.

Here is an image from yesterday. You can see concrete pillars, albeit small ones, going up to what will be the third story.

I'm admittedly obsessed with my anti-stick built agenda, but I really believe this could be a concrete build. In addition to the concrete pillars rising to the third story there are now two cranes on the property. Would they need 2 if it was just stick from here on up?

Concrete for grocery level, stick above. The cranes will ne needed to lift the concrete floor plates up to begin the wood levels, and then the pre fab wood wall sections themselves. When we say stick built,its actually panel built in many ways.

Concrete for grocery level, stick above.

Are you guessing? Or do you know for sure?

I seem to remember it in the plans over on Minnescraper. If it were concrete, wouldn't you go taller since there is this apparently pent up demand for luxery apartments, not to mention breaking even on construction costs.

So guessing, no confirmation yet. It has all the hallmarks of a wood project though, especially the brick that only rises 3 stories with metal paneling above.

I'm seeing some stick going up on the 2nd Street side now. It's on the 2nd level that rings the old parking structure.

I'm seeing some stick going up on the 2nd Street side now. It's on the 2nd level that rings the old parking structure.

If you are referring to what I think you are, those are just temporary railings for the workers.

I'm seeing some stick going up on the 2nd Street side now. It's on the 2nd level that rings the old parking structure.

If you are referring to what I think you are, those are just temporary railings for the workers.

There's that, but these are the prefab sections that are starting to frame some walls. I can't imagine these will be apartments on this level facing 2nd, as the depth looks really shallow before they hit the wall for the parking ramp. This is on top of the newly built first level that is built closer to 2nd street than the original Jag garage that was kept. (Photobucket and a pic would go a lot further in describing this...)

You can easily see them on it's website's webcam...

http://www.222hennepin.com/stream.html

Bah. Silverlight.

When I moved here about a year ago I wondered how many years that empty ugly structure was going to sit there fenced up on a major downtown street. Despite any shortcomings, it's sue moving along quickly. I have Lund's just a few blocks away, but if I stick around Downtown for a 2nd year I'll have a Whole Foods too, but still Target might have the cheapest groceries around these parts.

But not the best, per se.

There's that, but these are the prefab sections that are starting to frame some walls. I can't imagine these will be apartments on this level facing 2nd, as the depth looks really shallow before they hit the wall for the parking ramp. This is on top of the newly built first level that is built closer to 2nd street than the original Jag garage that was kept. (Photobucket and a pic would go a lot further in describing this...)

I drove by it last night and this morning. It's stick. The rain outside now adequately expresses my mood.

Confirming there is indeed "stick" above the ground level now.

Here are some photos from today. Pretty impressive to see so many cranes.


DSCN1291 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1292 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1293 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1300 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1301 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1302 by spectre 000, on Flickr