urbanMSP

Gutted and being renovated. The iconic marquee remains as does the lime stone. New interior includes a bar and new screen as I am told. Not sure if they are keeping the cockroaches or not.

Was across the street from the Uptown today. Looks like they have finished tuck pointing the exterior of the building. It also look like that cleaned the exterior of the Kasota stone facade. Was not able to peak inside to see how they are coming along on the inside of the building!

I was able to see in the other day, The new screen was up and huge, and all sorts of spaces were set up in steel stud... exciting to see coming along!

I haven't been paying attention to this, but I love that the theatre is getting a face lift. I especially like that it will include a bar, something every theatre should have.


Anyone know what the plans are (if any) for the marquee and sign? I imagine they are just leaving the sign as-is, although I would love to see it restored.

It's been painted, though it appears they are waiting for the glass for the marquee. It's not a restoration per say, it is just retaining what's there including the ugly green and burgundy paint colors... It looks better than before.

Last time I saw, the tower sign had been restored, but they hadn't started on the marquee yet. I assume that'll be next. I'm really excited to see if they fixed the rotating beacon on the top of the tower.

She's looking great! I'm hoping this works, bear with me its my first time trying to post a photo...

I would hope that they will use soem LED replacements for the lighting to save on electicity and for a brighter Marquee.

http://twitter.com/UptownTheatre/status ... 52/photo/1

Interior shot of progress from their Twitter account.

Nice. I was worried about the corrugated proscenium wall being removed for the larger screen. The yellow is a nice touch too, a favorite color of Jack Liebenberg.

A wonderful project that reasserts the theater as the focal point of Uptown. From what I can see from the rendering, The new Walker Library's low slung roof is angled in a way that gestures and greets the theater looking south on Hennepin. The Library quietly defers to the iconic presence of the theater. Will create very nice visual continuity between these two buildings despite their very different character.

Doesn't the roof angle out over the sidewalk on that corner? I would think it would block the pedestrian view of the marquee for people? (walking south on the west side of Hen)

Doesn't the roof angle out over the sidewalk on that corner? I would think it would block the pedestrian view of the marquee for people? (walking south on the west side of Hen)

I think you are right, but I'm not sure it will block the view.

I can't believe there's no 3+ story development on either side of Hennepin between Lake and Lagoon.

I can't believe there's no 3+ story development on either side of Hennepin between Lake and Lagoon.

Not until we tear down that Mc Donalds brick by brick.

I can't believe there's no 3+ story development on either side of Hennepin between Lake and Lagoon.

Not until we tear down that Mc Donalds brick by brick.

I think McDonald's days are numbered...just don't know when to start counting.

I thought the McDonalds was the heart of some uptown music scene that existed before a lot of us were born, so people think it is historic or culturally significant.

I can't believe there's no 3+ story development on either side of Hennepin between Lake and Lagoon.

Which just goes to show you that you don't need height for interesting and successful urban places.

I thought the McDonalds was the heart of some uptown music scene that existed before a lot of us were born, so people think it is historic or culturally significant.

It was the hangout for the punk rock culture in Minneapolis. They were called "McPunks". Uptown in general had a very lively bohemian ambiance at that time. It was sort of the next generation countercultural neighborhood after The West Bank in the 1960's. The McDonald's that was there at that time was torn down to make way for the current one so the building is not directly connected to that era.

If that's the case maybe they fill in the lot behind it with a new uptown bar, have rock shows and apartments above (a very sound-proof level of concrete lol) fantasies maybe...