Minneapolis Armory

[Anondson]

Parking will enter and exit from 5th? Dammit!

[martykoessel]

Unless I'm viewing the renderings incorrectly, it appears that Swervo is planning to brick in all the existing windows on the east and west sides and then build an addition on the east side that covers a portion of the historic facade and makes little attempt to fit with the WPA style. How this flies from a historical preservation perspective, I've no idea.

[mister.shoes]

With suuuuuuuper cheap-looking brick, too. I'm actually quite glad they showed pictures of the new brick next to the old brick, because it really illustrated the complete and utter lack of depth and texture in the new.

[seanrichardryan]

The idea with NRHP listed properties is to Not match the old and new work.

[grant1simons2]

Hey, let's go to the meeting and protest

[Nathan]

With suuuuuuuper cheap-looking brick, too. I'm actually quite glad they showed pictures of the new brick next to the old brick, because it really illustrated the complete and utter lack of depth and texture in the new.

Those brick aren't necessarily cheap. I'm not sure where that's coming from. They definitely aren't a match, but the color is similar. It's also very possible that those brick are available in a bark texture (like the existing brick) but the vendor only had samples of a wire cut brick in stock.

[mister.shoes]

I did say cheap-looking

[EOst]

Here's that elevator overrun. I understand why they want it, but it's pretty intrusive:

[seanrichardryan]

A 'roomless' elevator would simply cost more money. Easy changes to make here with push back.

[Archiapolis]

Unless I'm viewing the renderings incorrectly, it appears that Swervo is planning to brick in all the existing windows on the east and west sides and then build an addition on the east side that covers a portion of the historic facade and makes little attempt to fit with the WPA style. How this flies from a historical preservation perspective, I've no idea.

Sorry, "brick in all the existing windows on the east and west sides and then build an addition"?!

Building another level 10' up and MAINTAINING PARKING AT GRADE?!

Are.
You.
Joking?!



I haven't been tracking all of the designations etc but the addition better be sensitive/responsive AF and "bricking in" windows sounds awful.

This is my favorite building in the metro, these changes sound terrible. I've got to see these drawings/proposals.

[Archiapolis]

Ok, drawings quickly reviewed. Elevating active uses above grade and having parking at grade is horse sh1t. This is garbage.

[Silophant]

Right? I don't really have a problem with leaving the basement as parking. Whatever. But elevating the event space floor is asinine.

[seanrichardryan]

Windows stay the same (except where they become doors). They weren't drawn into the color renderings by Mack & McDonald. I find it interesting they've hired the same architect (David J. Kelly) for all their work, Fed, Arctic Cat, Walker Library etc. I guess they then brought M&M in to consult after the city gave them pushback.

[BigIdeasGuy]

I'm by no means the biggest historic preservationist on this board but there is enough in this plan where the city should just say no and force Swervo to either make changes or walk away. The second parking level is straight up acceptable and the elevator overrun is just as bad. If Swervo were to correct those two issues I think everything else is workable.

[acs]

I think you guys need to take a chill pill about the parking level. I don't think it will make a lick of difference on the outside. Along 5th street the first 12 feet is solid load-bearing stone anyways before the windows start. From that side it's not gonna matter what is behind that whether parking or event space. Around the other sides, sure maybe those few low, tiny windows will again be looking in at parking, but my point is this building's overall street presence is so bad it can't get much worse.

[MNdible]

There are a lot of problems with this proposal, but the elevator overrun isn't really one of them. Modern elevators require them, period. And while it looks terrible in true elevation, that's not a view that anybody will ever experience in real life.

[MobJob]

I also don't see the issue with the elevated floor. Did anybody ever expect retail in the main structure on ground level here? If not, then the parking level makes no difference to me; and if it makes the space more functional, then all the better. Unless people expected retail on the ground level, I just don't see how the parking at grade significantly detracts from street level presence.

[grant1simons2]

No, I expected them to use the ground floor like, yah know, historically? Logically? This doesn't even seem smart.

[MobJob]

Are you able to explain why you think the historical use (which is fluid anyway) is the logical use in modern times? Similarly, do you think the historic use is the only logical use?

[grant1simons2]

For one, it helps mitigate traffic on 5th St. Can you imagine the back up this is going to cause? The exits/entrances are historically on Portland and Fifth Ave, because it made sense. Now, keeping an entrance on 5th St makes even LESS sense. To add to this, almost everything we have heard up until now has talked about having an Armory that's active on the Common's side. People who may be at the Common's will have to walk an extra block around to a single entrance point (massive lines) crossing over another entrance/exit. Should I keep going?