Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) Clinic Expansion

[mattaudio]

Looking at the 2007 master plan, they must have been able to acquire the commercial properties on this block easier than the properties on the Lehman block.

[Nathan]

also I think this site just compliments the entrance to the other building much better, it would be kind of nice to have two half circle drives mirroring each other and the buildings facing one another.

[mattaudio]

Now if only we could get residential development on the eastern side of Portland between 6th and 8th, behind the HCMC ramp and the Lehman's buildings.

(the site plan above incorrectly labels Park as Portland)

[BigIdeasGuy]

I'm just spitballing here but wouldn't it make financial sense for the county to sell ME site to a private developer and build a new ME building either in the surface parking lot or right next to existing parking ramp?

If the new block is going to cost $10M, the ME site is undoubtably worth more perhaps $15-$20M(???) and I really doubt a new ME building is going to cost anything in the neighborhood of $10M. County comes out ahead big time on the transaction plus the addition property tax revenue that would be generated by the development of a block in a prime location. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[MNdible]

It would be interesting to know how much overlap there is between HCMC and the ME. I'm no Quincy, but it seems like there's nothing particular about the ME facility that would require it to be downtown at all.

[FISHMANPET]

I've watched a lot of Law & Order lately, so easy access for police and sheriffs would be useful for the witty banter between detectives and the ME while the detectives ask the ME for the cause of death.

[sushisimo]

Supertall Hospital.

My favorite soap opera. Scandals, affairs and ultimatums on every floor.

[spearson]

Now if only we could get residential development on the eastern side of Portland between 6th and 8th, behind the HCMC ramp and the Lehman's buildings.

(the site plan above incorrectly labels Park as Portland)

You mean something like Sexton Phase II?

[mattaudio]

No, other side of Portland... screening the ramp.

[reeckman]

The hcmcnews article says the helipad is moving east (not to the expansion block)

[mullen]

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/m ... llion.html

[Lancestar2]

Any details on if we will see a skyway too this new block, and to the existing parking ramp across Chicago Ave? I thought I read somewhere that the apartment building was staying? Either way not sure this project will improve walkability downtown but still it's progress in regards to development of downtown.

[schmitzm03]

Planning Commission COW has renderings: http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 138675.pdf

[TommyT]

looks nice!

[grant1simons2]

One very small thing I'd like to see removed are the signs on the corners of 9th. I know they want to see an expansion on the Chicago Ave side, but there could be some small density building on the corner of 9th and Park.

[ndokken]

Just curious, but has there been discussions about connecting HCMC's skyway to the rest of downtown? I know they're really trying to target the people who work in downtown or at least make it more attractive, but I think that would become more of a reality if you could just walk there from the skyway

[twincitizen]

One very small thing I'd like to see removed are the signs on the corners of 9th. I know they want to see an expansion on the Chicago Ave side, but there could be some small density building on the corner of 9th and Park.

Agreed. The monument signs do not belong in the 9th Street historic district. It looks like the staff report already talks about eliminating one of them (I think...). They're requesting a variance for two, as code only allows one.

Going even further, the corner of 9th & Chicago should really be reserved for future housing, not more HCMC expansion. 9th Street should be lined with as much contiguous housing as possible.

[grant1simons2]

Going even further, the corner of 9th & Chicago should really be reserved for future housing, not more HCMC expansion. 9th Street should be lined with as much contiguous housing as possible.

Right? I feel like it'd just be one more lot in Elliot Park just waiting to be filled in for years to come. Elliot Park is Swiss cheese in terms of parking lots vs buildings. Could be infill heaven for someone. I know it's not popular here, but I would really really love to see some classic row houses in a lot of the area. Anyways, back to the hospital

[mattaudio]

I've said it elsewhere but I'll say it again: We need to do something to make 9th and/or 10th more of a human scale link between Elliot Park and the CBD. Two-way traffic, tree-lined, etc. Maybe with accommodations for future Chicago Ave streetcar connection over to Nicollet, etc. We need to build bridges between DTE, CBD, and the other periphery neighborhoods, and this would be a crucial link.

[fehler]

I noticed the skyway level of this new building leaves open possibilities for expansion to the west and to the south (HCMC owns the parking lot on Centennial Place?), both of which would skirt the edge of the 9th Street Historic District.

HCMC has long wished to be connected to the Skyway network, both for its own worker's convenience and to tap the downtown worker clinic market. With projects on the Sexton block and Kraus Anderson filling in, it no longer looks like a long-term pipe dream. Heck, a project on the Huberts/First Covenant block may even allow for a full loop to US Bank Stadium.