urbanMSP

does anyone know why the ramada was demolished?

Bob Lux supposedly had plans in 2007. http://www.startribune.com/downtown-ram ... /12574026/

No new parking, thank God, aside from three metered stalls on Hawthorne. (Which will wreck that bike lane, but whatever, I guess.)

How's that? Would these spots be a bump-in, or would they actually take the bike lane?

A bump-in, but I have zero faith that people will park close enough to the curb to be out of the bike lane. They don't at the Hewing Hotel, at least.

Also, Grant is here ripping on their architecture, which is hilarious.

Doing the lords work, thanks grant!

Update from the DMNA meeting. Holy cow, they listened to community feedback.

(When it was extremely cheap to do so.)

They did? I just looks a bit different, but wouldn't exactly say it looks better. Feels more jumbled now with a lot of competing styles.

I still can't believe this is a downtown project.

Oh, it's really bad.

I still can't believe this is a downtown project.

Right? Looks like it belongs off a freeway exit in the suburbs.

Did anyone ever figure out the orientation in this image? Which street is out front?

Any chance the city rejects this? Did the DMNA approve?

The front is Hawthorne. It'll be across the street from the Orpheum Lot, with Harbor Light behind it.

DMNA will be grudgingly sending a letter of support, but it's kinda a moot point. Barring abrupt passage of the Comp Plan changes, this project is permitted by-right. I don't even know that they'll be asking for variances. The city doesn't really have a way to shut this down.

Maybe something terrific will get built across the street to reduce this project's impact. Hopefully, as open space becomes scarce we get fewer projects like this.

A few thoughts...

A design fit for the suburbs (outer ring at that.)

Should be a slightly more affordable hotel option downtown than what currently exists.

Given the minimal investment, let's hope there is the ability to redevelop as the rest of the neighborhood builds up.

Here's the packet. Usually, I can spot the orientation easily, but are these buildings together facing Hawthorne, or are they an L shape with one facing the Greyhound Station and the other Hawthorne? I didn't notice a great layout of the site. The adjacent lot that will be used for valet parking by the hotel isn't owned by them. So maybe future, denser development?

http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 210244.pdf

Here's the packet. Usually, I can spot the orientation easily, but are these buildings together facing Hawthorne, or are they an L shape with one facing the Greyhound Station and the other Hawthorne? I didn't notice a great layout of the site. The adjacent lot that will be used for valet parking by the hotel isn't owned by them. So maybe future, denser development?

http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 210244.pdf

It is all fronting Hawthorne. Two separate (narrow) buildings adjacent to each other. I have come to like this project, I know it's not an architectural masterpiece, but it (partially) fills in an empty lot with activity.

Here's the packet. Usually, I can spot the orientation easily, but are these buildings together facing Hawthorne, or are they an L shape with one facing the Greyhound Station and the other Hawthorne? I didn't notice a great layout of the site. The adjacent lot that will be used for valet parking by the hotel isn't owned by them. So maybe future, denser development?

http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 210244.pdf

It is all fronting Hawthorne. Two separate (narrow) buildings adjacent to each other. I have come to like this project, I know it's not an architectural masterpiece, but it (partially) fills in an empty lot with activity.

That's what I'm hoping, it'll leave space for other projects. This area is so barren presently, this project will help change that. I'm hoping the valet lot will get a tower of some sort and share a garage with the hotel someday. That's optimistic I know.

It's one door for an entire block and two short, skinny buildings. This is really a "better than nothing" but not by much situation.

This will have a big visual impact on that side of downtown from the street though...as it is now, and has been for years, looking from Hennepin in this direction it feels like you are on the edge of a vast nothingness.

This will have a big visual impact on that side of downtown from the street though...as it is now, and has been for years, looking from Hennepin in this direction it feels like you are on the edge of a vast nothingness.

Agreed... I always thought that section of DT looks like DT Detroit.