urbanMSP

I haven't been to Bogart's yet because it's always closed when I roll by as well, although I get the distinct impression they are closed because they've run out of donuts!

New Franklin Theater has much more of its interior intact than I imagined:
https://www.facebook.com/Firstandfirstm ... =1&theater

The Rainbow at Lake & 27th Ave is closing. It's a big parcel of land, and a big parking lot. http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_2 ... oods-close

I would love for the City to find a way to take back 27th Ave, which somehow became part of Rainbow's parking lot. It's unclear if Rainbow owns that stretch of 27th or maybe they have some sort of easement on it.

From the metes and bounds notes on the hen county property map... it sounds like they own the parts of 27th

According to Hennepin County's property map, Minnehaha/Lake Partners owns the Rainbow Store parcel (green), an the lots out to 26th (yellow & pink).

Seems pretty weird that the Wendy's restaurant is on the southern bit of the yellow parcel, and then half of the pink parcel is used for Wendy's parking, plus other bits for a driveway up toward Rainbow and part of the main Rainbow parking lot. Must be some pretty messy easement agreements behind all of this.

Seems pretty weird that the Wendy's restaurant is on the southern bit of the yellow parcel, and then half of the pink parcel is used for Wendy's parking, plus other bits for a driveway up toward Rainbow and part of the main Rainbow parking lot. Must be some pretty messy easement agreements behind all of this.

Yes, I thought that too. I really wonder what will happen here... could it become another grocery store (seems unlikely given Cub and Target across the street). But if not a grocer, will the owner of these parcels actually redevelop?
Guess all we can do is wait and see.

This area is East Lake Street's version of West Lake Street's K-Mart.

This area is East Lake Street's version of West Lake Street's K-Mart.

Not really. Before all this it was a giant factory and tractor storage area.

It's a gigantic missed opportunity, but it wasn't like the city shut down an active commercial corridor.

This area is East Lake Street's version of West Lake Street's K-Mart.

With the anonymous, distant, detached, unreachable, uncaring (except for reliable income) landowners, maybe a worse mess in some ways. :/

From what minimal information I've gathered off of the Loopnet page, it looks like that long vacant lot on 36th and Nicollet will be developed into retail. 3,600 SF of it.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Li ... StepID=101

"Possible rendering":

Prime for a coffee, fast casual, restaurant, cell phone, etc or a medical use (i.e. dentist, chiropractor, minute clinic, etc.) Drive-thru and / or patio is possible at this location.

Also they said that they would be very open to changes so whoever picks this spot up will be able to play with the design a bit

Anyone know what is happening with the Beek's Pizza (nee) site? It has been a hole in the ground for what seems like three months. I never liked the plan to begin with; much too small, shared access with the vet next door, etc. It just made no sense and had "rookie developer" written all over it. This project should have at LEAST included the vet site and at best the corner lot with the one story clinic.

The 36th and Nicollet site plan shows a drive-thru. Are these still allowed?

Aside from being terribly gauche, it would really make a mess of the circulation at the site.

Beeks site:


Former Beeks Pizza site by twincitizen, on Flickr

Considering how long it took them to tear down the burned-out building, I think it gives us a sense of the timeline.

Considering how long it took them to tear down the burned-out building, I think it gives us a sense of the timeline.

That's true but usually the city is loathe to issue a demo permit if there is any uncertainty about the new construction. This is why things usually move "fast" in the early phase (demo to foundation/footings) - there usually isn't a lag between the demo and new construction, it is very linear.

I see that the Wendy's on Lake and Pleasant closed here at the end of August. Will be interesting to see how long that sits empty before they get a new tenant in.

I am a bit surprised Wendy's closed

Well ever since Popeyes showed up its probably been slow

Well ever since Popeyes showed up its probably been slow

That Popeye's has been around for 25+ years...