Hiawatha-Lake - Minnehaha - Downtown Longfellow

[John21]

Got a card in the mail from USPS today about a potential relocation of the burned down Minnehaha post office. Says USPS proposes a potential relocation to a 13k SF building with 91+ parking spaces or retail 2500 SF and USPS 10k SF. Doesn't specify an exact location. No public meeting because of the pandemic but you can mail any comments to an address in North Carolina. No email address provided. Strange way to sell stamps.

[seanrichardryan]

US Bank sent a letter that they have acquired a site at 36th & E Lake St. and will open by summer 2021. Looks like it's the former Tim Horton's/ White Castle site.

[grandpastyle]

Any news on what the final project of the form Auto Zone site 2610 E Lake? looks like the architect is https://www.sra-mn.com/ Reiners, and the builders are ENGELSMA CONSTRUCTION who did the Tesla dealership in Maplewood. Some activity on the site preparing a foundation. Only the property info site with the city had any reference... http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/PIApp/ ... 2924430060

[seanrichardryan]

It says 1 story auto parts store in the permit description.

[mulad]

I believe the Midtown Corner project (2615 29th St E) has now progressed further than where it was when it burned in the protests last year, with brick going up in a few places, particularly the southeast corner, and some other materials being applied on the north side.


PXL_20210306_195918248 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr


PXL_20210306_201928622 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr

[mulad]

I'm going to assume this is going to become an Auto Zone again, unless proven otherwise. The new building is pushed to the corner, though.


PXL_20210306_195720511 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr

[uptownbro]

Yes it will be

[mulad]

Here's an 18-unit apartment building going in at 3136 Minnehaha Ave, replacing what appeared to be a single-family home.


PXL_20210306_194643892 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr


PXL_20210306_194838724 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr


PXL_20210306_194940669 by Michael Hicks, on Flickr

[twincitizen]

Longfellow Community Council has released a planning document called "Rebuild Longfellow: Existing Conditions Assessment".
https://longfellow.org/2021/02/28/rebui ... -complete/

Minnehaha Lake Liquors plans to rebuild, more or less as it was before. They're planning a fun lighting element instead of the big ol' red canopy they had before, and a mural to homage the cool retro neon they lost in the fire. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t456qdzd0r3es ... s.pdf?dl=0

Here's an 18-unit apartment building going in at 3136 Minnehaha Ave, replacing what appeared to be a single-family home.

18 units on a 50' x 150' lot - impressive! Plans: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download ... haha%20Ave

[John21]

I was hopeful they could somewhat replicate the old building. Looks like a pretty good job of that.

[minneboom]

Raising Canes is hoping to take over the old Arby’s spot at Hiawatha and Lake. Too bad there might be another drive thru right next to a transit station. Hopefully the city can find a way to block this.

https://thedevelopmenttracker.com/mpls/ ... _Jkmm93HR4

[SurlyLHT]

Raising Canes is hoping to take over the old Arby’s spot at Hiawatha and Lake. Too bad there might be another drive thru right next to a transit station. Hopefully the city can find a way to block this.

https://thedevelopmenttracker.com/mpls/ ... _Jkmm93HR4

This is also the intersection of two busy roads. I'm guessing the city will deny it and then the lot will sit vacant until we hopefully get a mixed used development. Drive Thrus are still really popular, all you have to do is look at the long line of cars at the place on W. Broadway. People don't want to walk into fast food places.

[Tiller]

I wanna see a walk-up raising cane's.

[mulad]

Yeah, there are at least two in the city already, in Dinkytown and Stadium Village

[Didier]

Was it ever an option to try to change the zoning (or whatever) to try to encourage more mixed use in the rebuilding here?

Specifically the giant parking lot just north of Lake that had a Wendy’s and AutoZone. That space is begging for something bigger, and if so there would almost be a little urban node there.

Is it purely legal, that owners have right to rebuild what was burned down? Or is it more of a political thing, the city not wanting to use a riot to force a bunch of changes?

[seanrichardryan]

Well, a property owner that was well-insured can easily just replace their valued asset for little effort. Organizing and financing a larger redevelopment carries a lot more risk. The area is already zoned for higher intensity use, and under a Pedestrian Overlay district.

[Silophant]

Was it ever an option to try to change the zoning (or whatever) to try to encourage more mixed use in the rebuilding here?

Specifically the giant parking lot just north of Lake that had a Wendy’s and AutoZone. That space is begging for something bigger, and if so there would almost be a little urban node there.

Is it purely legal, that owners have right to rebuild what was burned down? Or is it more of a political thing, the city not wanting to use a riot to force a bunch of changes?

My understanding is that property owners have a year to start rebuilding before losing their legal non-conforming status, which is probably why everything's happening now as we approach the 10-month mark.

[amiller92]

Was it ever an option to try to change the zoning (or whatever) to try to encourage more mixed use in the rebuilding here?

Specifically the giant parking lot just north of Lake that had a Wendy’s and AutoZone. That space is begging for something bigger, and if so there would almost be a little urban node there.

Is it purely legal, that owners have right to rebuild what was burned down? Or is it more of a political thing, the city not wanting to use a riot to force a bunch of changes?

The AutoZone is already under construction. Better placement of the building near the sidewalk, but still just a one story auto parts store with a parking lot. Small improvement, but not much.

I think the Wendy's is under construction too. Or at least I assume what's being built is going to be a Wendy's.

[talindsay]

The Wendy's / AutoZone area is disappointing, but totally understandable, to be rebuilt just as they were given the circumstances of their demolition. But these low-intensity uses are still better than the barren sea of Target's outer parking lot right at the corner, which never has any cars in it (even at Christmas time) and has no reason to exist except that it's easier for Target to leave it like that. Getting that developed in to *anything* would be my first priority, before raising the intensity of any existing active-use spots in this area.

[SurlyLHT]

The Wendy's / AutoZone area is disappointing, but totally understandable, to be rebuilt just as they were given the circumstances of their demolition. But these low-intensity uses are still better than the barren sea of Target's outer parking lot right at the corner, which never has any cars in it (even at Christmas time) and has no reason to exist except that it's easier for Target to leave it like that. Getting that developed in to *anything* would be my first priority, before raising the intensity of any existing active-use spots in this area.

Someone commented previously on here that there were other reasons that space was there besides Target. It's owned by Thomas Burton Et Al Trustees. Looks like the Strib had an article about it in 2014. Target and the Owners were pointing fingers at each other and they have Easements with Minnehaha Mall. Unless the Council Member or someone steps in and starts brokering something this isn't changing. The best hope might be to get Target to see it as a PR advantage and put a mixed used affordable housing building there for the BIPOC community and partner with local affordable housing providers. But, then you see how complicated this is getting?

It would be maybe easier to have some art erected and planters put in and maybe a skate park with help of someone like Juxtaposition Arts from the Northside. Target could pay for it and partner with others.

https://www.startribune.com/development ... 247877321/