Hampton Inn & Suites - (19 8th Street North)

[spearson]

I think the other half will come down eventually. That support pillar at the edge of the property will have to come down sooner or later. They closed the skyway exactly one month ago today and the progress of demolition has been disappointing. Though they have made good progress today, the other side of the skyway from your picture finally has all of the exterior materials removed. Hopefully some of the superstructure can start coming down soon.

This is what the original milestone schedule said: Earthwork, Piling, Utilities, Building Foundations - Late February through early April 2014.

I think the skyway is putting them behind schedule. Getting half of it down will at least allow them to get going on the earthwork part of the project.

[spearson]

No picture update, but the skyway section over the property is now on the ground. Lots of big cranes on the site today I imagine to move the big steel section of the skyway frame. Won't be long for excavation to start now.

[Nick]

[Wedgeguy]

On my way to the Twins game today I walk by this and they were driving piles close to the building next to it. Also saw some digging. So we will have to see if this will be ready for Football season or just for Basketball. This year it will not be ready for baseball.

[spearson]

I think the estimated completion date is April 2015, so it might be ready for Baseball next year..

Also, I work in that building, the pounding shakes the whole place!

[twinkess]

I think the estimated completion date is April 2015, so it might be ready for Baseball next year..

Also, I work in that building, the pounding shakes the whole place!

I can imagine! I work in Butler Square and the pounding from Target Field construction felt like it was going to take the building down!

[spearson]

No picture update, but they have started pouring the footings for the building.

[mister.shoes]

I know it's "just" a Hampton Inn and "only" 11 stories or so, but I love that this is going in where it is. 1st Ave south of First Ave has been completely neglected and serves as little more than a commuter connector to 394 and 9th/10th Streets. Once this hotel is done, the surface lot across 8th should hopefully feel some pressure to develop. Ditto the two skinny surface lots facing Hennepin on either side of 8th. Then, add something interesting on either side of Hawthorn between 10th and 11th and we're in business. Hennepin will fill in in no time and our theater district will be even more lively.

[Didier]

Downtown, especially in this area, could use a more affordable hotel.

[nordeast homer]

I saw some parts for a stationary crane on site today along with a tall erector crane, I'm guessing the crane is going up today.

[mamundsen]

I saw some parts for a stationary crane on site today along with a tall erector crane, I'm guessing the crane is going up today.

You are correct. I just walked by and this crane is going up now!!!

[go4guy]

Crane is fully assembled as of this morning.

[spearson]

Steel framing spanning maybe two levels is going up. Making great progress here.

[Avian]

I'm a bit surprised that a building this size is essentially slab-on-grade (with frost footings of course). No basement.

[spearson]

Snapped a picture at the 6th floor of the Hawthorne ramp last night. This morning it looks like they may have flooring materials on site and they are putting up temporary fencing through the steel girders on the second level.

[schmitzm03]

Webcam: http://oxblue.com/open/mortenson/hamptonmn

[Wedgeguy]

Do we think that the concrete support pier will go away if they can get the skyway full engineered and supported as part of the hotel structure.

[Archiapolis]

Do we think that the concrete support pier will go away if they can get the skyway full engineered and supported as part of the hotel structure.

Free structure? I doubt that the developer wants to pay to demolish existing structure and then account for it with new structure. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[mattaudio]

Even if they wrapped it behind the new building facade, is it really a big deal?

[Wedgeguy]

Even if they wrapped it behind the new building facade, is it really a big deal?

Nope, the support just looks out of place. If they can hide it in the new facade all the better.