urbanMSP

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... s_headline

I'm usually on the side of 'a building is always better than a parking lot', and I know the market in Downtown isn't as strong as Minneapolis, but it's it a bit disappointing to see brownfield sites with unlimited potential be used to build something that we'd expect to see next to Ridgedale.

If it includes decent retail spaces and street presence, I'll take it. That surface lot has been eyesore for too long. Wish they'd reconfigure the street grid in this area to make it more intuitive though. Some free-right turn lanes could come out IMO.

It's the "missing middle"!... in downtown StP.

It is good to see this lot going away, but the design really does look suburban at this point. Does anyone know if the hotel is still slated to be a Radison Red. If so, I would have expected a bit more flare in the hotel design. At this point , both the hotel and the apartment belong in the burbs.

Design drawings from the April 10th HRA Meeting indicate it'll be a Courtyard by Marriott.

https://stpaul.legistar.com/View.ashx?M ... 75609DF10F

Why is this not taller - I mean, for river view alone, height would be a winner.

Can't believe the value of the land at this location doesn't support taller building.

Are their height limitations I'm unaware of?

^ Just market limitations. Whether it's the speeding highway-like traffic on all sides or the spillover perception of the homeless shelter across the street, there just wasn't the necessary market forces to develop something more ambitious. I'm glad it won't be a surface lot anymore.

2-3 weeks before we start with site removals, I was told today.
It will be interesting to see a rendering of the project, it seems Opus and the city had a tough time coming to an agreement on this.

Work to begin on Monday.

Welp, this was looking really good...

$69M hotel/apartments project near Xcel Center burns

https://m.startribune.com/69m-hotel-apa ... 572002092/

Anyone else think someone thought it was neat to see the Wellington Project go up in flames and did a copycat of some sort on this? Arsonists are somewhat twisted. (I happen to be reading, "The Library Book," by Susan Orleans about the LA Library fire.)

These things always terrify me when they're at that stage. It's like Burning Man, just a big assembly of sticks, with plenty of openings for airflow.

Hopefully the insurance companies will shorten the leash. If not, state and local government needs to act.

These things always terrify me when they're at that stage. It's like Burning Man, just a big assembly of sticks, with plenty of openings for airflow.

Hopefully the insurance companies will shorten the leash. If not, state and local government needs to act.

Any suggestions on how to lower the risk? Or specific policy proposals?

On site security, evenings and weekends.

Earth retention was removed just weeks ago, now we have to do it again. Not to mention the added demolition costs.

Further commentary left out to avoid being labeled a Neanderthal.

https://www.startribune.com/atf-fire-th ... 572081772/

ATF says it was set on fire on purpose. Very sad to hear but glad they will rebuild the hotel part.

Hotel is under construction. Equipment was back on site this weekend
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... riott.html