urbanMSP

Can anyone who has firewall access to this F&C article provide some intel?

http://finance-commerce.com/2015/05/in- ... e-rentals/

Might actually break ground this year, so that's news

Still no retail planned for University directly across from a light rail station?

2014:


2015:


Yep, definitely lost some articulation on the angled face of the building. Some of the larger signage/artistic elements were probably just that - artsy for the sake of the rendering. I hope they reconsider doing something a little more imaginative with the angled building face. Hopefully the "Saint Paul" sign stays, and stands out a little more. That would be so cool to see as you head east on University.

Latest:

It is entirely possible that "rooftop signs" of yore are not permitted by the zoning code and that is the reason for its disappearance here. Otherwise this looks about the same as the previous rendering. If the "retail" space in previous renderings has indeed been converted to lobby/amenity space (as the narrative on their website hints) that's a huge bummer too.

The latest update (5/14/15) from the Pioneer Press on this project indicates the following:

2700 UNIVERSITY
Indianapolis-based Flaherty and Collins plans a five-level, 248-unit housing complex at 2700 W. University Ave. The $54.7 million building includes 3,000 square feet of retail, and 20 percent of the units will be affordable housing. The city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority approved tax increment financing and HOME funds for the project in the fall. The Met Council is providing a $1.95 million transit-oriented development grant.

The rest of the associated article seems fairly well-researched and up-to-date, so I would think the 3,000 square feet of retail is still in play.

[quote="twincitizen"][quote="twincitizen"]2014:
Latest:

quote]

I like it.

Groundbreaking has been set for June 23.

Per the website, the 3,000 square feet appears to be apartment amenities, not retail.

Approximately 3,000 square feet of first floor “storefront” amenity space will be wireless throughout and will include a state of the art fitness center, tanning salon, cyber café with commercial grade coffee service, business center, game and leisure room, and leasing office. A resort style pool, wet deck, and surrounding landscaped/ hardscaped area will be located on the interior of the project. This area will provide residents with an “outdoor living room” inclusive of fire pits, commercial grade grills, and outdoor furniture.

http://flco.com/company-properties/2700-university/#

How strange. Maybe down the road the the "storefront" space will be re-purposed into actual stores. Not counting the prospect park neighborhood, there will be approx 700 units of newer housing in the area (808 Berry, Emerald Gardens, Metro Lofts, and 2700 University) and the only thing besides a SNAP fitness will be a Dunn Bros coffee shop that closes at 6pm. So much for walkability the walkability score.

Looks like this one is finally ready to walk down the aisle: http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/m ... -line.html

Good to see this getting started. Better yet, it is good to see the 3,000 SF of retail that has been added to the ground floor!! Good bye to another big hole in the urban fabric!

But they're using an old rendering! Bait and switch!

But they're using an old rendering! Bait and switch!

Can't bait and switch 3,000 sf of retail. I'm happy to have this hole filled and to improve the odds that more redevelopment will follow. Unless the Biz J did such a lousy job of fact checking that they got the retail part wrong, then SHAME on them. I understand they took an old file pic to have something to show, which is not good on their part. It is possible that the revised rendering was not available to use. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. If they got the retail part wrong then they have a lousy reporter and editor for not having the correct facts when they printed this story.

As far as the details, they were just copying and pasting from the original PiPress article, per their normal practice. Credit and blame should go to them.

This is still what everyone should be assuming. It's a storefront-ish space that won't actually hold a retailer. And yes, that's a damn shame that they're choosing to go this route.

Per the website, the 3,000 square feet appears to be apartment amenities, not retail.

Approximately 3,000 square feet of first floor “storefront” amenity space will be wireless throughout and will include a state of the art fitness center, tanning salon, cyber café with commercial grade coffee service, business center, game and leisure room, and leasing office. A resort style pool, wet deck, and surrounding landscaped/ hardscaped area will be located on the interior of the project. This area will provide residents with an “outdoor living room” inclusive of fire pits, commercial grade grills, and outdoor furniture.

http://flco.com/company-properties/2700-university/#

If the city did not press for retail, then the city is to blame for the fiasco. Apparently fact checking in the age of the internet is no longer needed. Make up your own details and then spin it after that!! Hopefully we can find some city documents that will give us facts soon.

I was hoping they'd change to walk-ups along Emerald Street, since all of the other buildings in the area have them. Here's hoping they're still planning some sort of signage along the St. Paul border.

More repetition of the same details from the local rag that suggests the retail space is a bike shop. Hard to tell. In any case, better to build with the flexibility of retail to come later and use the space for something in the interim.

Form, not function, people.

http://www.parkbugle.org/new-apartment- ... l-station/

Per the website, I'm thinking "The Bike Shop" is just going to be an indoor space for tenants to store their bikes, fill up their tires, etc. There's something similar in Metro Park East just down the road.

2700 will also include “The Bike Shop,” which includes premium indoor bike parking, bike stands, pumps, tools, water bottle filling station, work bench, trainers, TV and lounging area. Environmental friendly elements will be considered throughout the community during development and construction.

http://flco.com/company-properties/2700-university/

In any case, better to build with the flexibility of retail to come later and use the space for something in the interim.

As long as we're being patient, why not just reject this building entirely and wait for the various legalistic barriers against better development (smaller-scale, less geared toward luxurious sh*theads who need "resort-style pools") to be overcome as the political situation in the city progresses?