Downtown Hotel News

[MNdible]

The other downside to winter work is that the finished product tends to suffer. Workers are trying to do fussy work wearing heavy gloves. They're in a hurry to finish up so they can warm up. Adhesives aren't sticking as well as they would in warmer weather; materials are more brittle, etc.

This isn't such an issue when you're putting together the big structural elements, but exterior finishing work in the winter is a bad idea.

[Wedgeguy]

As I don't have plans on how they are adding a floor. If they are not taking the old roof off then they might not have as many issues with snow and moisture piling on during a blizzard and causing a ceiling collapse. There are some HVAC units that will have to get moved to add a floor. If they don't interfere with the heating of the building they maybe safe again. They have 2 months basically to get the addition at ground level build so that they will have that hopefully enclosed before the worst of the weather. I don't know the phasing of this project if the added floor will be this winter or next spring. But the gaping hole where the pool area was and the end of the building that is missing an exterior cover will need to be dealt with soon.

I'm sure part of why this was not done in the summer was they did not want to have a disruption of hotel guests during peak tourist season.

[Jryan]

Hi all. I am a former employee of this property. I can tell you that the timing of this project was done in a way to keep the disturbance of our guests to a minimum. As Wedgeguy stated above, it also is peak season for the property because of a large amount of group and transient business. Some of the events include room nights, which we can not go against contract. When heavy construction begins on the 5th floor the whole floor (nearly 50rooms in a 225 room property). I will mention that I was there when the work began and the noise has been incredibly loud and distracting. So much planning and consideration is going into the project because of all of theses moving pieces.

[HiawathaGuy]

A rooftop pool above Manny’s Steakhouse? New hotel owner's considering it
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... house.html
*LOCKED*

Gist:
The new owner of the W Minneapolis-The Foshay is considering building a rooftop pool above Manny’s Steakhouse.
“W Minneapolis currently does not have a pool. Several newly constructed projects include an outdoor pool,” the company wrote in a section of the presentation covering revenue opportunities. “During the conversion to a hotel, the roof above Manny’s was reinforced to support a rooftop venue. Engineering studies at the time validated this.”

Other discussions around revenue opportunities include converting the 30th floor museum space into an event space.

[grant1simons2]

Uhhh could they not? One of the very very few open air observation decks left in the the US.

[grrdanko]

Uhhh could they not? One of the very very few open air observation decks left in the the US.

It's not on top of the tower. A pool wouldn't fit up there anyway.

[grant1simons2]

If the museum converted into an event space, the deck would more than likely close to the public.

[matthew5080]

Losing the museum would be awful. The views from there are spectacular. However, I do agree that the W would do better with a pool of some sort to remain competitive with upcoming projects in the downtown area.

[mattaudio]

Did we have this?
"At tail end of boom, hotelier jumps in with 'dream' project"
http://www.startribune.com/at-tail-end- ... 399117871/


Also, what happened to the project that was planned for the Pressbox/parking lots next door to the east? https://goo.gl/maps/QWdHQFV6SbA2 Sure would be nice to see this stretch of 4th St turn into a walkable gem a la 2nd St.

[Silophant]

Wrong block. This is the little building wedged between the Hotel Minneapolis and the CenturyLink ramp. We talked about it a bit in 2014. Glad to hear it's moving forward!

[twincitizen]

Also not to be confused with the Holiday Inn Express conversion proposed for 317 2nd Ave. Anyone know if construction ever began on that one?

F&C article on the Downtown hotel boom, which many industry experts believe is nearing an end. Article notes Mortenson breaking ground soon on Hyatt Centric at 800 Washington Ave S.

In just a matter of weeks, downtown has seen more than 500 new rooms come into the market. Nearly 300 more are on the way before the end of the year. The 245-room AC Hotel at 401 Hennepin Ave. S. opened earlier this month. In late August the 290-room Embassy Suites opened at 12 S. Sixth St. Next month the doors will open at the 164-room Radisson Red near the U.S. Bank Stadium and at the 124-room Hewing Hotel in the North Loop.

http://finance-commerce.com/2016/10/hot ... nneapolis/

[grant1simons2]

So we've had our apartment boom (kinda ongoing), our hotel boom (nearing an end), so now office? In a perfect world that's how I see it working.

[nBode]

condos?

[mattaudio]

(Putting in this thread since we've covered Depot developments here)
Ice rink at The Depot in Minneapolis will close permanently on March 11
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... close.html

[grant1simons2]

We need a real year round rink open downtown. State of hockey, dammit!

[acs]

Maybe the commons with have one when it's finished. If it's ever finished.

[amiller92]

(Putting in this thread since we've covered Depot developments here)
Ice rink at The Depot in Minneapolis will close permanently on March 11
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... close.html

The train shed is a great example of the challenges of historic preservation. Can't tear it down. Mostly useless. Does active harm to the urban street grid.

[mattaudio]

4th Ave S could definitely go through the train shed north of Washington if we had planned for it. But unfortunately those superblocks date to the railyard days, and City never procured the ROW before the Residence Inn was built along 2nd St.

I'd rather see this as a reason to avoid superblocks in the future, such as in the North Loop.

[MNdible]

Since this seems to be where we talk about the Depot development, here's a nice look back at the history of the project.

Features this shocking before photo, for those who don't remember the days when all of these parking lots dominated Washington Avenue.

[Anondson]

That was such a wild experience at 2am rollerblading. The towers behind climbing to the sky with acres of pavement to roll around at high speed.