Lyndale Ave & 54th Street area

[lordmoke]

A three story building with four apartments and ground floor retail has been proposed for the former Beek's Pizza site at 5336 Lyndale:
http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 127056.pdf

[Tom H.]

So we CAN do small-scale infill! Why can't we do this in more places?

[MNdible]

Interesting that the elevator is not accessible from the street. So if you've got any guests who are wheelchair bound, guess they'll be entering through the backdoor...

[twincitizen]

At what point does an elevator become required by building codes or ADA legislation? 3 stories? A certain square footage?

Seems like a mighty expense for 4 measly units. If you must build the elevator, why not add a 4th floor with a couple more units? (other than the obvious answer of providing parking)

I'm all for small scale infill in theory, but in practice (along commercial corridors anyways), it often seems like it would be better to acquire the property next door (the Animal Hospital in this case) and do something with economies of scale. To what extent does this development limit the ability of the Animal Hospital to redevelop their property? Especially since they propose to share access and commercial parking.

[mattaudio]

The elevator does seem a little strange... it has direct access to the SW 2BR unit on the 3rd floor, but access to the common hallway on the 2nd floor.

[RailBaronYarr]

At what point does an elevator become required by building codes or ADA legislation? 3 stories? A certain square footage?

Seems like a mighty expense for 4 measly units. If you must build the elevator, why not add a 4th floor with a couple more units? (other than the obvious answer of providing parking)

I think as long as the building is less than 3 floors and 3k sqft per floor elevator ADA requirement. http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStan ... s.htm#401d

So yeah, if you're going to build 3 and need the elevator, why not build 4 and squeeze another couple units in there. I share twincitizen's thoughts, maybe the economies still don't pencil out if you lose the shared parking and have to put it underground for the commercial space + residential? To be sure, I welcome this addition and it's almost shocking to see something so incremental, just seems odd, and I do wonder the fate of the shared parking + animal hospital - will they ever be economically feasible to upgrade?

[blobs]

Cool! Seems like a nice design. 2 floor apartments and heated garages.

[Archiapolis]

Whoa. Not great.

[twincitizen]

No news in a long time, but breaking ground soon apparently: http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/de ... nstruction

[mattaudio]

I heard they were waiting on confirmation that an AutoZone is taking over the old Walgreen's space, a great addition to the corner for their future tenants.

[twincitizen]

What's going in at the NW corner of Lyndale & 55th (south of the new Walgreens)? SW Journal just mentions a "retail building", but I'm curious if anyone has more information.

Random thought - Lyndale & 54th might be the busiest intersection in the city where two streets with only one through lane of traffic in each direction intersect. Any challengers in mind?

[mattaudio]

Nicollet and Diamond Lake (54th) usually seems busier. But I'm wondering if that's because it's less efficient.

[mister.shoes]

I think Nicollet actually is busier. Even if the vehicle count is comparable, Nicollet seems to have more pedestrians and more frequent buses.

[MNdible]

NIcollet and 46th is probably also busier. Technically, I guess the eastern leg of 46th has more than lane, but one of those is a defacto right turn lane.

I may not be at Lyndale and 54th at the right times of day, but it seems like the traffic on 54th coming from the west is pretty light, and there aren't as many left turn movements as the Nicollet examples.

[twincitizen]

^True, at Lyn/54th there is very light traffic coming from the west.

Even moving WB on 54th (from 35W) during rush hour is pretty smooth sailing. Despite it being packed at 5PM, it is easy enough getting to and from Kowalski's, even if it's hell on Earth once you're inside the parking lot. I'm sometimes just avoid it entirely and park further north on Lyndale, trading a short walk for the hassle.

The one movement that seems to experience severe delays is NB Lyndale through traffic. I don't know if the NB movement isn't getting enough green time or what, but it backs up for blocks.

[Archiapolis]

No news in a long time, but breaking ground soon apparently: http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/de ... nstruction

Wasted opportunity for a bigger/denser project that would occupy the clinic, the Beek's site and the vet on a good corridor that isn't Uptown/North Loop/DTE.

First floor retail/commercial could reinsert the clinic , the vet and Beek's Pizza.

Ugh...I was hoping that this project was dead.

[mister.shoes]

twincitizen, if you need an evening Kowalski's fix, use the one on Chicago instead. No, it's not as big as the Lyndale store, but your blood pressure will thank you.

As for NB Lyndale in the evenings, I've always assumed a good portion of that backup is due precisely to people trying to get into/out of the Kowalski's parking lot and has little to do with the green time of the light itself. I also suspect that the MN121 connector makes Lyndale a little too convenient for NB commuters who might otherwise use a slightly different route home. But that's merely a hunch.

[mattaudio]

^this. And do it on a Wednesday night when you can also hit up the Nokomis Farmers Market a few blocks north.

[RailBaronYarr]

We drive pretty rarely, but since my family mostly lives down in Lakeville (and non-Mpls shopping usually takes us south as well), we hit Lyndale to get up to 36th most times we come home. A 25-30 mph drive along a tree-lined street is way more pleasant than 35W through the Commons (then dealing with the 35th/36th exit and one-way swap). I guess Lyndale at 54th never really seems that bad to me. If anything, the lights at 53rd and Minnehaha Pkwy seem to cause upstream issues more than the Kowalski's area. Just my perception though.

[twincitizen]

http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/PIApp/ ... 2824440048
A building permit was issued for the Beek's site in January. $1.75MM project value.
$37,000 in total permit fees to the City, Park Board & Met Council