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Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 17th, 2016, 6:50 pm
by Silophant
Nope, never mind, Strib confirms it's Gaviidae.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 8:31 am
by amiller92
I think those interiors are historic for sure and we already lost half of it. People should be devastated and the city should realize what an asset those kinds of public space are. It's ridiculous to have that lost for a gym.
It's, what, 25 years old? And historic as what? An attempted urban shopping mall that failed almost immediately?

It's a beautiful interior that would be a damn shame to see go. But it's hard to see the case for telling the property owner what they can do with the inside.

The weirder part to me is the Y wanting to move. It's property isn't that old (1990?) and how will they have a pool, for example, in a new space?

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 8:46 am
by Silophant
That's kinda what I'm curious about too. I'm not an architect or a structural engineer, but retrofitting a full-sized swimming pool into a third- or fourth-story space that wasn't originally designed for it sounds expensive. Water is heavy.

That being said, is a pool a defining attribute of a Y? Is it possible they just won't have one? If they don't, it seems like they could put the gym into the Saks space above Walgreens and the fitness center and whatever else a Y has in the retail spots, and potentially retain the atrium.

But I've never been to a Y, so I really don't know what they contain besides a pool and a gym.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 8:51 am
by Nathan
I think those interiors are historic for sure and we already lost half of it. People should be devastated and the city should realize what an asset those kinds of public space are. It's ridiculous to have that lost for a gym.
It's, what, 25 years old? And historic as what? An attempted urban shopping mall that failed almost immediately?

It's a beautiful interior that would be a damn shame to see go. But it's hard to see the case for telling the property owner what they can do with the inside.

The weirder part to me is the Y wanting to move. It's property isn't that old (1990?) and how will they have a pool, for example, in a new space?
The fact that you think age is the sole determinant in whether something is of historic nature is proof that you don't know anything about the subject. Preservation is to save buildings that are not necessarily appreciated by the public now (you) and keep them around long enough that the future can enjoy them, when it is history again. Hundreds of buildings like this get sterilized when they "aren't successful"and then years later everyone looks at pictures in books and wonders why they aren't around anymore. You cant tell me that there aren't plenty of options of things to do with that space that don't destroy the architecture.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 8:59 am
by mnmike
Completely agree with Nathan!

We will see what the plan is...it seems like the escalators from the skyway level (and side elevator) could be the entrance, and maybe they could do a glass enclosure around the atrium and still retain much of the architecture. It is quite a bit of space, I didn't realize it was only the first 2 floors of the Saks building that was sold separately. I really hate how these two blocks are being chopped up.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 9:16 am
by EOst
The fact that you think age is the sole determinant in whether something is of historic nature is proof that you don't know anything about the subject. Preservation is to save buildings that are not necessarily appreciated by the public now (you) and keep them around long enough that the future can enjoy them, when it is history again. Hundreds of buildings like this get sterilized when they "aren't successful"and then years later everyone looks at pictures in books and wonders why they aren't around anymore. You cant tell me that there aren't plenty of options of things to do with that space that don't destroy the architecture.
Yep. Sure seems like a historically-significant example of postmodern interior design to me.

Reminds me of this story from the NYTimes last week. Age doesn't determine significance.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 10:08 am
by minntransplant
The Y would not move into a location without a pool. Would not happen, ever. I'm sure they've had engineers assess the viability of a pool. If if can't support a pool, they wouldn't be looking at this location.

The downtown Y is bustling. They have a daycare (ground level), offices (2nd level), and then the gym on floors 3+. It is a busy place, so I'm not surprised they are looking for more room.
That's kinda what I'm curious about too. I'm not an architect or a structural engineer, but retrofitting a full-sized swimming pool into a third- or fourth-story space that wasn't originally designed for it sounds expensive. Water is heavy.

That being said, is a pool a defining attribute of a Y? Is it possible they just won't have one? If they don't, it seems like they could put the gym into the Saks space above Walgreens and the fitness center and whatever else a Y has in the retail spots, and potentially retain the atrium.

But I've never been to a Y, so I really don't know what they contain besides a pool and a gym.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 10:10 am
by acs
This would almost undoubtedly be a smaller space though, right? If the Y is so busy then why would they downsize?

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 10:19 am
by Nathan
It's definitely not a smaller space if they take the top two floors and completely destroy the atrium, that's why this is contentious right now. If there was enough space for them to move in... great I love it. I've been a member of this Y for over 5 years. BUT there probably isn't enough room for them to move in as is. That's what I'm scared of.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 10:23 am
by minntransplant
This would almost undoubtedly be a smaller space though, right? If the Y is so busy then why would they downsize?
Yea, Gaviidae has less square footage, but the current location has lots of inactive/dead space (it is really odd). I go to the Y and have been hearing lots of gossip about this. Not confirmed, but I've heard that the Y might keep office space where they currently are, and then sell off the rest of the building. I've also heard they want to expand amenities/offerings in a new location (not sure what else they would offer ... they basically have everything in their current set up). I've even heard there might be something in the works for the rooftop.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:18 am
by MattW
I don't know why there is so much resistance to the Y moving. It's currently really hidden and hard to access outside of the skyway system. If they do it right, by having a bright and open ground level lobby it could be a driver of foot traffic.

Lots of if's, I know, but I think it could be something positive for Nicollet Mall.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:32 am
by MplsErik
I don't know why there is so much resistance to the Y moving. It's currently really hidden and hard to access outside of the skyway system. If they do it right, by having a bright and open ground level lobby it could be a driver of foot traffic.

Lots of if's, I know, but I think it could be something positive for Nicollet Mall.
Agreed. I'm also surprised by some comments. I wouldn't expect my fellow urbanists to get upset over bringing life to a dead urban mall that has a poor relationship with the street.

If people on here start advocating for reduced density, increased surface parking, and railing against development I'm going to just assume the site was hacked. ;)

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:33 am
by Silophant
The resistance is to the presumed destruction of the Gaviidae atrium, not the Y moving. Dead though it may be, the atrium itself is one of downtown's architectural masterpieces.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:38 am
by MinnMonkey
I don't see why they couldn't move in and leave the atrium as is. It could make for a very unique space for the Y.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:39 am
by mnmike
And this spot is exactly where the critical mass of complimentary retailers to the now nearly full City Center across the street needs to be, to continue the bit of momentum we have. No reason the retail space here couldn't fill again, and the upper levels have a different use, still retaining the atrium. Here is hoping.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 11:55 am
by Silophant
I think if they produced a plan that retained the atrium as-is, most or all of the complaints here would evaporate. But since the existing Y has a pool and gym, and they presumably still want to have those, it's hard to see how they can fit those in without filling in the atrium space.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 12:16 pm
by Nathan
Totally pro preserved atrium and ymca combo. I'd love to see that accomplished.

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 1:06 pm
by MinnMonkey
I think if they produced a plan that retained the atrium as-is, most or all of the complaints here would evaporate. But since the existing Y has a pool and gym, and they presumably still want to have those, it's hard to see how they can fit those in without filling in the atrium space.
Could fill in the atrium with a glass bottom pool!

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 2:11 pm
by Didier
This might be naive, as I haven't spent much time there, but is there a reason they wouldn't just build around the atrium?

As an outsider, filling it in seems like textbook nose-cutting-off to spite the face.

Image

Re: Downtown Minneapolis General Topics & Development Map

Posted: February 18th, 2016, 2:30 pm
by intercomnut
This might be naive, as I haven't spent much time there, but is there a reason they wouldn't just build around the atrium?

As an outsider, filling it in seems like textbook nose-cutting-off to spite the face.

Image
I would imagine it's because they need that space.