Nicollet Mall

[ztr421]

Is any one else confused by the rendering by Tom Leader Studio of Berkeley, Calif.? It looks like he's taken out Gaviidae, moved the Wells Fargo tower over to Nicollet where Gaviidae was, and removed the City Center.... that seems ambitious.

[MNdible]

Yeah, there was something weird going on with that. My take away from it is that they're proposing to open up a big chunk of City Center, back to the old Multifoods tower.

[Nathan]

It's SO messed up. I think there are buildings that don't even exist in mpls... Having just been in Montreal, on some of their awesome shared/pedestrian streets... I love what Daoust Lestage is proposing it's simple, easy to execute, creates a great sense of place.

[John]

Is any one else confused by the rendering by Tom Leader Studio of Berkeley, Calif.? It looks like he's taken out Gaviidae, moved the Wells Fargo tower over to Nicollet where Gaviidae was, and removed the City Center.... that seems ambitious.

Isn't very flattering about there knowledge of our city, Nicollet Mall, and the buildings abutting it. Puts up a red flag already which I realize is unintentional but...

[twincitizen]

Where are the streetcars?

Look, I know some people have a fantasy of a transit-less mall, but that goes against pretty much every policy at the city and metropolitan level.

If any of these designers/consultants proposed a Nicollet Mall without transit, they shall be awarded no points and may god have mercy on their soul.

[Aville_37]

I'll wait to make a final judgement until I see more renderings. Right now - underwhelmed by those that seem doable, and apprehensive about those that are more ambitious as I doubt they will ever come to fruition as proposed.

[Nathan]

Where are the streetcars?

I'd assume that since they aren't a done deal, they don't have to be included. I'd also assume that if they show a market set up, that they are just closing some of the areas at certain times for events... I mean these are just quick submissions to get shortlisted... I'd imagine these teams were selected more based on their portfolios than these images.

[MNdible]

At least one of the images did seem to show rails embedded in the mall.

[mattaudio]

I was curious about that as well.
1. Anyone know how wide the existing bus lanes are on the Mall?
2. Would two-way streetcars need less ROW if we had streetcars but not buses on the mall? Seems like this could allow better integration of the streetscape and the ROW dedicated to transit.

[Wedgeguy]

I was curious about that as well.
1. Anyone know how wide the existing bus lanes are on the Mall?
2. Would two-way streetcars need less ROW if we had streetcars but not buses on the mall? Seems like this could allow better integration of the streetscape and the ROW dedicated to transit.

The ROW may shrink a little, but not that noticeable as the trains and buses are pretty much the same width!

[stock345]

Is any one else confused by the rendering by Tom Leader Studio of Berkeley, Calif.? It looks like he's taken out Gaviidae, moved the Wells Fargo tower over to Nicollet where Gaviidae was, and removed the City Center.... that seems ambitious.

http://youtu.be/2A71ETuTyxw

Going for THE largest building ever picked up off its foundation and moved.

[RailBaronYarr]

In all seriousness, is a tunnel even being considered through downtown while they're already re-doing building face-to-face construction? Businesses and transit will already be impacted, and certain fixed costs will be sunk as well. This is a once per 30 year type project, and if it's rebuilt without a tunnel I doubt we'd be able to do it in the future. Is this a priority?

[Nathan]

According to the City of Minneapolis Facebook Page

Three design teams are competing to transform and revitalize Nicollet Mall. Want to see their ideas? Come to the Guthrie Theater on Tuesday Sept. 17 where their visions will be unveiled.

http://www.nicolletmallproject.com/

[Avian]

Is any one else confused by the rendering by Tom Leader Studio of Berkeley, Calif.? It looks like he's taken out Gaviidae, moved the Wells Fargo tower over to Nicollet where Gaviidae was, and removed the City Center.... that seems ambitious.

Isn't very flattering about there knowledge of our city, Nicollet Mall, and the buildings abutting it. Puts up a red flag already which I realize is unintentional but...

Not to mention that the Nicolet Mall Project website says this:

"3 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered on the Mall (U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Target)"

Hmmm. Didn't know Wells Fargo moved their HQ to Minneapolis. Or their building onto the Mall. Maybe Tom Leader is on to something!

[JMS9]

That is interesting but i believe I heard that while yes, technically speaking, Wells Fargo is HQ'd in San Fran, most of the banks top execs are actually still here in Minneapolis and the bulk of the operations are here. I could be way off here but I recall hearing that Norwest acquired Wells Fargo, switched to the Wells Fargo name because it had a more national recognition, and calling San Fran the HQ was more window dressing than reality.

Just what I heard over the years. Could very well be 100% wrong.

[Wedgeguy]

That is interesting but i believe I heard that while yes, technically speaking, Wells Fargo is HQ'd in San Fran, most of the banks top execs are actually still here in Minneapolis and the bulk of the operations are here. I could be way off here but I recall hearing that Norwest acquired Wells Fargo, switched to the Wells Fargo name because it had a more national recognition, and calling San Fran the HQ was more window dressing than reality.

Just what I heard over the years. Could very well be 100% wrong.

What you say is mostly 98% correct. The so called shift to SF was more a window dressing as Wells Fargo has been in SF since it inspection. Like when Daytons moved Marshall Fields headquarters to MPLS was sacrilege to those in Chicago! Was much cheaper rent here in MPLS to have most of your banking operations and your CEO's homes are here. I think most would say that SF is a beautiful city, but not a place that they would want to live with the cost of living, transportation, and earthquakes!

[twincitizen]

Strib editorial on the redesign: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/edit ... 97131.html

[mullen]

it does have 3 fortune 500 hq's, but it's Xcel not wells fargo.

[David Greene]

Strib editorial on the redesign: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/edit ... 97131.html

Jesus. "Welfare mothers" AND "low lifes." Can the Strib *get* any more inhumane? What a sorry state of public conversation we have today.

[Nick]

I'm no fan of much of the behavior on Nicollet Mall but I was pretty shocked by some of that language. Had to scroll up halfway through to check that it was, in fact, a staff editorial.