Uptown (and LynLake) Development & General Topics

[twincitizen]

Apartment building proposed on the 3500 block of Hennepin Avenue. 75 units, 90 parking spots. Would require the demolition of two houses, a commercial building, and another commercial building with a few apartments on the second floor. https://www.southwestjournal.com/news/d ... th-uptown/

More units in Uptown is great, but it's pretty disappointing to see the loss of two commercial storefronts (article doesn't indicate there will be commercial in the new building). Also 1.2 parking spots per unit isn't great.

Demolition of the 2-story brick building at 3513 is a minor bummer, but it includes the surface parking lot to the north. Gotta demo that building to make full use of the land. There's still going to be ample commercial space at the corner of 35th & Hennepin, unaffected by this project. I'm not against the removal of lightly-used, mid-block commercial. Having more people around will help boost business to the commercial space that remains.

[xandrex]

I agree it’s a net positive, but I still don’t love demolishing smaller-scale commercial (that appears to be in use?) on one of the relatively few corridors that allows it.

[MNdible]

I can't agree with you that losing the 3513 building is any kind of a good tradeoff just because you develop the parking lot. That parking is accessed off of the alley, doesn't have a Hennepin Avenue curbcut, and is screened by landscaping along the sidewalk.

Not my land, so I can't tell them what to do, but it's a real shame to lose this building just so the apartment can stretch out another 50 feet.

[EOst]

I'm with MNdible on this one. That kind of naturally-occurring affordable(ish) commercial space is a limited resource, especially in this part of town.

[Qhaberl]

I certainly see what people are saying about the importance of the retail at that corner. I don’t know much about commercial financing stuff, so I’m going to ask if you questions.


1. Why is there not going to be additional commercial space provided in the new building?

2. If there were to be additional commercial space, are there grants or other sources of money that could be used to help offset the cost of renting or leasing the space? I’m asking if there’s a way to keep any new commercial space affordable?


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[alexschief]

ESG Architecture’s Bob Loken told the South Uptown neighborhood’s land use committee that the project team wanted part of the apartment building to reach five stories to offset the cost of including city-mandated affordable units. A new Minneapolis policy requiring affordable housing in all new apartment projects over 20 units is due to be adopted by the City Council.

If every developer in the city takes the approach of adding more units to make the IZ math pencil out, it'll be a real success. The city also has to set a precedent of approving it though, and it'd also help Lander's pro forma if they didn't build two levels of underground parking and a 1.2 parking to unit ratio...

[thatchio]

A portion of the 3513 Hennepin site was identified for redevelopment back in 2005 or so. At the time it was a residential condo site, I believe involving the three properties (the white commercial building and the houses). It was "dead" by 2006, per an old file I found from OurUptown.com. I didn't even track it as a dead project after that time, meaning it likely hadn't made it very far along in the process.

[xandrex]

The Urban Outfitters space in Uptown is apparently up for lease: http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2019/de ... -for-lease

I won't lose any sleep over not having an UO nearby, but it would be nice for once to see a positive story coming out of Uptown...seems like we'll have to wait a while longer.

[schwinnletour]

MAC cosmetics at Hennepin/Lake is leaving:

http://citypages.com/arts/mac-cosmetics ... /565947861

From a commentor:
Sephora opening and having cruelty free options killed the Mac store. If Mac was cruelty free I bet they wouldn’t of had a problem keeping the space. ‍♀️ And Mac just recently started having a rewards system and small sales which was long overdue.

Other commentors blame parking in Uptown, parking fees, and online sales.

[QuietBlue]

I'm not positive, but I thought Sephora was generally less expensive and carried a number of brands, while MAC just sells their own cosmetics. So right off the bat, it's going to be more attractive to a wider range of customers.

For that matter, Ulta would probably do well in Uptown.

[mnmike]

The Sephora is doing very poorly...at least so far. I don't think they have said they are going to try to get out of the lease or anything yet, but wouldn't be surprised. That is the gossip from corporate.

Unrelated...apparently the new Times Square store is doing badly as well, but at least it is advertising.

[GILBball]

Looks like something could finally be going into the building at 3025 Lyndale, which has been vacant for......10? years.

[HiawathaGuy]

Looks like something could finally be going into the building at 3025 Lyndale, which has been vacant for......10? years.

Maybe this didn't get posted - thought it had?

Japanese barbecue restaurant aims for spring 2020 opening in long-vacant LynLake space

[rhettcarlson]

Well underway. Haven't noticed any marketing for completion date, but I would suspect summer 2020. Tons of white Tyvek in Uptown and Lyn-Lake right now, will be interesting to see how these things lease up.

[alexschief]

Sad to hear that Bradstreet Crafthouse is closing. I really liked that place. Both food and drinks were great. I'm curious to know what form it will take at the new airport hotel.

http://www.startribune.com/lowry-hill-s ... 422579284/

http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/de ... reet-site/

Now before the planning commission: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download ... ris%20Hill

"The applicant is proposing to construct a new four-story, mixed use building including 45 dwelling units and ground floor commercial space. There will also be five enclosed parking spaces on the first floor with access off of Colfax Avenue South. The parking will be lined on three sides with active uses including dwelling units, the commercial space, residential lobby and a dedicated bike room. The residential lobby will host a 24/7 concierge and provide access points off of Hennepin Avenue and Colfax Avenue South. The building has a mix of one bedroom and studio units. The units are intended to attract a mix of residents and range in size from 400 square feet to 770 square feet. One of the floors will be dedicated to the housing of foster youth coming out of juvenile foster care. These tenants will have the benefit of on-site support from the commercial office tenant which will provide the necessary means to transition these youth into independent residents. The concierge also helps support the youth program as well as the market rate tenants. The units will be geared to more affordable budgets with the smaller sizing and the possibility of reducing automobile dependence. The project will be promoting alternative transportation choices given its location."

[schwinnletour]

Egg and I is no more:

http://citypages.com/restaurants/minnea ... /569513071

Building and parking lot is for sale ($1.385M). 0.37 acre property:

https://www.edinarealty.com/commercial- ... 08-5550163

Will it get redeveloped as a 5+1?
Thoughts?

[twincitizen]

Strib reports on the closing as well, though they don't mention redevelopment: https://www.startribune.com/after-40-ye ... 569542532/

Appears the Egg & I owners are the owners/sellers of the property, so kudos to them on quickly putting it on the market for development. It could be developed on its own with a smaller scale project (on 0.35 acres), or combined with the larger (fmr) Intermedia Arts properties to make up a 1.15 acre site. Those sold to an investor after Intermedia tanked a few years back. Redevelopment would make more sense than re-use here. It would be nice if all/most vehicle access could occur via Aldrich rather than Lyndale.

EDIT: Looks like the former Intermedia Arts properties aren't in play for development. The new owner, RightSource Compliance, is using it as office space and moved a bunch of employees there just recently: https://www.startribune.com/intermedia- ... 501466321/

While the neighborhood has seen lots of teardowns and apartment/condo construction, RightSource’s CEO said there are no plans to raze the building and erect something new. “Our goal is that that space will afford our team an ability to grow,” Voss said. “And we are a good fit for the neighborhood. A lot of us live in south Minneapolis, and for me, the office is only a 10-minute bike ride on the [Midtown] Greenway.” He said RightSource “has been growing year over year, doubling in size,” and he expects it to add more than 100 jobs in the next two to three years.

So I guess it's more likely that just the Egg & I property will see development. Unless they can get an easement over the parking lot to their west, the Egg property only has access on Lyndale. There's already too many curb cuts on this block - it would be nice to see one go away here.

[Silophant]

Sad to hear that Bradstreet Crafthouse is closing. I really liked that place. Both food and drinks were great. I'm curious to know what form it will take at the new airport hotel.

http://www.startribune.com/lowry-hill-s ... 422579284/

http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/de ... reet-site/

Now before the planning commission: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download ... ris%20Hill

"The applicant is proposing to construct a new four-story, mixed use building including 45 dwelling units and ground floor commercial space. There will also be five enclosed parking spaces on the first floor with access off of Colfax Avenue South. The parking will be lined on three sides with active uses including dwelling units, the commercial space, residential lobby and a dedicated bike room. The residential lobby will host a 24/7 concierge and provide access points off of Hennepin Avenue and Colfax Avenue South. The building has a mix of one bedroom and studio units. The units are intended to attract a mix of residents and range in size from 400 square feet to 770 square feet. One of the floors will be dedicated to the housing of foster youth coming out of juvenile foster care. These tenants will have the benefit of on-site support from the commercial office tenant which will provide the necessary means to transition these youth into independent residents. The concierge also helps support the youth program as well as the market rate tenants. The units will be geared to more affordable budgets with the smaller sizing and the possibility of reducing automobile dependence. The project will be promoting alternative transportation choices given its location."

Passed the CPC on the consent agenda. Glad to see this finally moving after two years.

[twincitizen]

Saw a tweet about this today and assumed it was new but this story dates from August '19. I don't recall it being mentioned here then.

Joyce Church on 31st & Fremont is seeking historic designation and is slated to be converted to apartments: https://www.southwestjournal.com/news/d ... wn-church/

Staff report on the designation, but no details yet on the number of units, conversion plans, etc: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download ... t%20Church

[Anondson]

Was this posted elsewhere? Could be getting a proposal at 2828 Girard for 76 units from Yellow Tree as they just acquired the land.

https://finance-commerce.com/2020/06/ye ... t-project/