Longfellow Station - (3801 Hiawatha Avenue)

[Aville_37]

I think a grocery store would be a good fit for the area.

[PhilmerPhil]

^yes please. Also, they haven't paved or landscaped anything where the commercial space will be yet. As of this afternoon the only parts that had been paved/landscaped were the public sidewalk, the immediate corner, and right up against the building. The entire space where the retail building will go is still a big ol' pile of dirt.

[Wedgeguy]

I'd say that a grocery store would have a tough go of it with Cub, Rainbow, Aldi's, and Target just 8 blocks away. There is really not a profitable niche which would fit into this area.

[VAStationDude]

Trader Joe's would be the only realistically profitable option, imo.

[Wedgeguy]

Again I think we would have the liquor thing. Not sure where the closest liquor store would be besides the one up on Minnehaha and Lake. Not really a Trader Joe's neighborhood by demographics. But the saving grace would be the light rail station and that it is on Hiawatha that get's a lot of traffic going by it.

[fehler]

The closest liquor store is two long blocks away, Elevated Wine and Spirits, 41st and Hiawatha (where Hiawatha Joes used to be)

[fehler]

I'd like to see a family restaurant. Not necessarily a Perkins, but something like it.

[Wedgeguy]

The closest liquor store is two long blocks away, Elevated Wine and Spirits, 41st and Hiawatha (where Hiawatha Joes used to be)

Thanks for that clarification. I thought there had to be another closer than the Lake street store. But I really don't know that area very well.

[twincitizen]

I sent an inquiry to Sherman Associates, asking about the timeline for construction and possible tenant mix (single grocery space vs. smaller multi-tenant spaces, etc.) We'll see what they have to say.

[uptowncarag]

I would say that the Longfellow neighborhood does have the demographics for a Trader Joes.

[blobs]

Going off http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer Longfellow incomes seems comparable to the area around the Trader Joe's in Saint Paul, so it seems to me the area would support a store like that.

[John21]

I'd love to have a walkable grocery option in the neighborhood. I hope that empty lot doesn't stay empty for too long.

[seanrichardryan]

This project looks complete. It's, um, okay? The retail portion on the corner has not been started and is currently a muddy lot.

[Nathan]

I like the look! I think they have segmented the different materials better than most of the projects around

[David Greene]

I didn't realize much of the street level is actually a parking garage. It looks pretty terrible from the street. The place looks dead and mostly empty. Sadly, I think this one's going to be a dud.

[Wedgeguy]

I'd say do to the constrains it is dealing with, that a ground level garage was probably to only economical option. Not how sure it would be to try and dig an underground garage next to a active RR. Would have had to have been highly reinforced to the walls would not shift and cause the track to shift also.

[John21]

I believe they dug down some on the southern 2/3 of the building if I remember correctly. I don't mind the look of the building. Living on the other side of Hiawatha from this one, I don't see a lot of activity coming from there unfortunately. I was really looking forward to some walkable retail coming in but it isn't looking good for the near future anyway.

[schmitzm03]

Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger reports this is 70% occupied already and they are still working on the retail component.

[John21]

Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger reports this is 70% occupied already and they are still working on the retail component.

http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.c ... full-gear/

[schmitzm03]

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I was snooping around Loopnet and came across this posting for the as yet un-built commercial component of this project: http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Li ... D=18175250

It says there is one 8,000 SF space available in the 10,000 SF building, which will be built sometime in 2015. The post was updated about 10 days ago.

Could this mean they have a commitment for 2,000 SF and that they actually plan to start construction soon with completion next year? Or, are they just looking for potential tenant and some of the details are really not that meaningful?

What does everybody think?