Dinky "tower" - McDonalds redevelopment

[trkaiser]

I'm pleasantly surprised by this and see it as a totally appropriate, nice step forward for that part of town.

[nBode]

It certainly is very very ugly.

[Bob Stinson's Ghost]

It certainly is very very ugly.

Looks very profitable.

[bapster2006]

The latest planning documents. Recommending to deny the site plan.

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/gro ... 221901.pdf

[talindsay]

I'm most impressed by the staff recommended denial of the FAR, because they go to the trouble to (a) specifically call out the new Minneapolis 2040 plan and how this could have been made to comply with it; and (b) point to the massing of the building as a specific reason for not supporting the ten-story design, stating that setbacks to mitigate the appearance of bulk could have made the staff supportive. It's interesting, but appropriate that this critique falls under FAR - they recommend granting the 10-story height variance, and denying the accompanying FAR since it results in a building with too much bulk. That's a good bit of nuance for a staff review.

[MNdible]

Any word as to whether they've appealed this denial? I'm wondering if their decision to purchase the 200 Central site was at least in part a reaction to this project not being shovel ready.

[jtoemke]

They got rid of that strange split crown at the corner.

[Silophant]

[alexschief]

I initially wondered if all of the work they had done in site assembly might make it difficult to walk away from this. But then I figured the other huge development proposed by the railroad tracks would take the wind out of their sails. Glad to see that may not be the case. Hope this comes back with a better design so that everyone can get behind it.

[scottmann]

This is now down to 6 stories, should probably take the "tower" part off Dinkytower:
https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/download ... McDonald's

[Anondson]

Well, 6 stories is kind of a dinky tower.

[Nathan]

A significantly better looking project. The scale is humane, the materials of decent quality, pedestrian spaces and lots of retail. I'm very glad that previous monstrosity (and I'm a fan of brutalism ) is a thing of the past.

[Tcmetro]

Annoying to see another six story project. The street engagement is pretty nice, though. Looking forward to this coming to fruition.

[alexschief]

I would've liked an actual tower, because that would've been the most intense land use.

But I prefer this version over the one that the CPC rejected. The design is better, even though it's one building, it successfully looks like three without being a Frankenstein. Adding the Subway lot is an additional win, because that lot is bad, and may have been more difficult to develop if the rejected plan had been approved. The ground flood amenities are as strong as the earlier version.

The lost height isn't a big deal, and it's more than paid off by the improvements listed above.

[blo442]

Word on the street is the Dinkytown Mcdonald's closed its doors permanently today. RIP DrunkDonalds, gone but not forgotten.

[mamundsen]

Tweet about the closure.

https://twitter.com/barstoolumn/status/ ... 73670?s=21

[talindsay]

I assumed the closure was for construction. Any evidence that it's not reopening after the rebuild?

[nBode]

It's expected to reopen in the new building.

https://mndaily.com/264556/news/dinkyto ... -business/

[twincitizen]

Moving forward: https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... ce=twitter

CA Ventures spent nearly $24.9 million last month acquiring most of a block in Dinkytown where it plans a mixed-use redevelopment, according to state records made public this week.

The Chicago-based real estate company last year won city approvals to construct a seven-story building at the intersection of 15th Avenue Southeast and 4th Street Southeast. Plans call for 308 residential units and more than 27,000 square feet of commercial space.

1. The land acquisition costs on this project might be the highest per acre in city history(?) The site is right around 2 acres, so $12.5MM per acre, and that doesn't include the costs to demolish the numerous structures.

2. Dang, I did not realize the extent of restaurant/retail displacement this project would cause. While McD's is slated to return, Pagoda, Himalayan, Five Guys, Subway and Pizza Hut, as well as TCF Bank and the liquor store are all up in the air. McD's will probably ensure in their lease that Five Guys won't reopen in this project, and that wouldn't be atypical. And I assume that specific liquor store ownership group won't return, but certainly there's an opportunity in the Dinkytown market for a liquor store.

[COLSLAW5]

TCF bank is moving into the old gina and wills space across the street by starbucks apparently