urbanMSP

You can't use this building or anything else Jim Stanton does as a litmus test on the market or what banks are willing to finance (since this building is self-financed). He's got a formula that works. Why would he change it?

Agreed. Instead of bitching that this (or any other building) isn't tall enough, let's all just hope that Jim Stanton (and Magellan, Opus, Alatus, and Mortenson, etc.) have another one in the pipeline. I'll take four 11-story buildings over one 44-story building any day of the week while Downtown Minneapolis is still ~30% parking lots. The taller stuff will come when we start running out of developable land.

Exactly right twinscitizen. Like I saw on the cities around the world thread here, new York is building a lot over 1000 ft now. That's clearly because they have no space to build, but a demand to I've there, so old buildings get torn down and massive ones get constructed. We are far from it but even in our respect we aren't ready for the tell.

Which makes me wonder how many lots needed to get filled up in the 70's before the IDS sprung up? I believe the main reason for getting a tall tower is lack of vacant lots but not the only reason. Remember, we almost got the Nicollet and there were more vacant lots then in 07'. (Which by the way I heard would have been the tallest building designed by a woman)

Office market was different than the residential market, offices tend to be higher in cities than residential, and there was more demand for it. But the Nicollet almost happened but it didn't for some reasons of the condo crash, so demand was just not there. That's why first smaller happens and gills up demand safely jn respect to the developers. Then as there is no more space to build, and the demand piles up, tall residential living occurs.

IMG_4509 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr


IMG_4510 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr


IMG_4511 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr

Thanks for the photos Nick. This is turning out even better than the rendering (which I thought made the building look good).

The one-story portion of the building looks rather poorly conceived.

This looks topped out, right?

yup, and the single story section... yeah awful. I am pleased that the windows are SO big that it doesn't look as bulky as I was worried it might.

This is most certainly topped out. The elevator penthouse is up and it's sprouted a fir tree.

Do we have more info on that single story section? Swimming pool and such? Not sure I understand why they bothered, but it's probably better than a mere surface lot?

Yes, common area with pool and hot tub.

looks like a squat ramada inn.

I'm in agreement that the one story part is weak. It looks fitting for a high rise condo project at a suburban freeway interchange. It would have looked better with a low rise townhome component that blends in with the taller building giving it a more urban feel with connection to the street. The rest of the project looks great though IMO.

As the condo market continues to improve downtown, I do think developers should think more about building tall and vertical, especially in the CBD. In most big cities , good views are considered a prime amenity in urban living and are part of attracting buyers and renters etc. It's apparent that some of our local developers either don't understand or embrace that idea. My hunch is that our culture ( and local developers) here are still quite suburban in mentality. Attitudes change slowly.

I agree completely that high-angle views are/will be a serious attracting factor for those would-be downtown residents. However,it may actually give a nice tiered look if there are mid-rises nearest the river with taller skyscrapers behind them. Thankfully there's not much to block this project's view on the North side as of yet. The worst is when you're in a taller building and you still have a blocked view (like my downtown office view).

I like it...Turned out better than I thought it would, and I thought the renderings were pretty good.

I like it...Turned out better than I thought it would, and I thought the renderings were pretty good.

Agree. The combination of materials and color in particular are beautiful. The one story part is maybe a little 'off ' , but once its finished with the landscaping etc. it won't that noticeable.

The renderings didn't do it justice. I was kind of dreading this building, but I actually like the finished product. Maybe it's because it's a little bit of a departure from the developments around it. It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, it just gives you something different to look at.

Stanton's confidence in the Condo market was mentioned in Super Talls so I went over to the website to see where they were at on pre-sale, and it looks like they are at 62% 101 of 164 units spoken for. First move in looks to be May '14. Seems to Bode well for the Condo Market.