The Rail - (815 14th Avenue Southeast)

[mulad]

I'm not sure about that specific spot, but that rail line in general seems to get around 30 trains/day -- I think that'd be through traffic, so yard activity probably bumps that up a bit. The good thing is that it's grade-separated, so horns don't blow very often.

As for the ped bridge -- yeah, it'd make a lot more sense to build something at 13th Ave rather than rebuild the one at 14th. It doesn't make much sense to me to have a ped bridge a block away from 15th (although the railroad bridges over 15th are a century old and are deteriorating -- the sidewalk has been closed on one side lately).

[RailBaronYarr]

I'd be ok with leaving it in place and adding another one on 13th, maybe more bike friendly (spiral ramp or longer approach so you can ride and not get off).. adding connections to the Como neighborhood is a good thing, IMO. Other important connections north would include north of the stadium and IM fields but not worth discussing here..

While we're talking about buildings abutting those tracks... will there ever be some adaptive reuse of the BUNGE grain tower? It's a hazard as it stands and could be something cool.

[rcrades]

A notice has been affixed to the corners of the existing structure (the printing company's building) that says there is a meeting scheduled for May 20th regarding the application for changes in zoning

Here's a link to the picture: https://imgur.com/prqJlMm

[Nick]

Here's what's over here now.


IMG_3580 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr


IMG_3581 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr

[lordmoke]

This appears to be named "The Rail" now:
http://finance-commerce.com/2013/10/jus ... ast-track/

[Silophant]

Confirmed.

[min-chi-cbus]

I like that name!

[Silophant]

Yeah. It works, because if anyone asks a current resident what the worst part of living there is, they'll immediately say "The Rail!"

I realized I was moving next to an active rail line when I moved to my current place, but I didn't realize until I slept there the first night how ungodly noisy freight trains are. It might just be that my building is poorly soundproofed, though, in addition to being poorly heated and poorly bugproofed.

[min-chi-cbus]

No, freight trains are about the noisiest natural occurance in a city neighborhood (planes as well, and sometimes those cicadas or some other bug that screetches during the summer heat spikes). My father-in-law lives right next to the BNSF line in La Crosse, WI -- connecting the Twin Cities and Chicago -- and that thing zips by at like 50 mph and it is LOUD!

[nBode]

The print shop is gone. Looks like they're starting to dig.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ebf36mdl5ae9w ... .58.11.jpg

I live a block away from this one. The trains really aren't that bad where I am. They are noticeable, but since the tracks are grade-separated there's no horn. Not really a big deal in my opinion.

Also, I think that per bridge is kinda cool; it fits the character of the rail yard.

[TheUrbanGopher]

So... primary testing right on the site. Cue dramatic music and cutaway.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/he ... 28101.html

[srengtech]

Excavation began this week.

[Nick]

This is pretty much in an alley.

[mattaudio]

Toothpick construction next to an active rail line? Hope they have some good sound/vibration controls planned.

[MNdible]

It's just students. They'll put up with anything.

I'd be more concerned about the magic-paks on that side of the building sucking in all of the fumes from the trains' diesel exhaust.

[xandrex]

Maybe it's because I grew up hearing trains all the time, but I lived a block or so away from the rail line (except on the other side over in Como) and I never found it that loud. They seemed to be going pretty slow, so it was sometimes great white noise to cover up house parties nearby.

[nBode]

Say hello to The Rail.

[mplser]

Looks nice, but are those balconies overlooking the train yard?

[nBode]

The rail yard is located along the long side of the building not shown in the photo. There are units with windows overlooking the tracks, not sure if there will be balconies on that side.

[mplser]

I was looking at the left corner of the building. It looks like those might be corner balconies, or maybe they just havent put windows in yet