urbanMSP

5-30-2013 - Construction Photos

Here are a couple of photos I took on lunch break Friday 7/5/2013. Hopefully this works.


West Side Flats by lync0167, on Flickr


West Side Flats by lync0167, on Flickr

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/50093971@N06/9266779376/]

I took some photos today, although they are similar to those posted above. There's a few more on my flickr, which I hope to add to over time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50093971@N06/

Good to see the courtyard isn't going to be as hulking as it looks by Scottie's photos... they just haven't completed the last leg of the U yet?

Actually I think they have completed the whole U shape. It's hard to tell since the only rendering, posted at the construction site, only shows the view from Wabasha. I'm not sure what the funky thing on the end is supposed to be. The courtyard seems a little large, and I hope they don't just pave the whole thing, although I know it will be served by a cul de sac road. Remember, though, that Sherman does plan (cross fingers) a second building, abutting Wabasha, just to the north of this apartment project, which may or may not change the way the whole courtyard area functions.

Some shots from last week. It looks like they've topped out (5 stories).

From this evening:


img_7117 by Mulad, on Flickr


img_7118 by Mulad, on Flickr

Thanks for the photo update mulad!! It's looking great, especially with the fall colors in the background!

It would be really cool if STP could start getting a "NE" vibe on that side of the river, have a complimentary residential and retail area across the river.

I agree that the West Side has a lot to offer and could totally be the next bohemian/arts neighborhood. I took some pics of West Side Flats (and its panoramic view of downtown) on Sept. 30th. In my imagination, this building was kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it is literally at the foot of the bridge, with an unbeatable view of downtown and the river. Hopefully it is just the first in a wave of development. For being a smallish area, the West Side actually has a bunch of old streetcar commercial areas, including along Smith and Stryker up above the bluff.

Exploring the West Side on a drizzly Saturday made me think this thought: Bill Lindeke (of Streets.MN) should write about his own neighborhood and possibly even organize a bike tour of the West Side. I think that would be really cool. Bill, sorry for name dropping and disclosing the vague whereabouts of your bat-cave.

Panoramic of WSF, rail, & partial skyline: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ehcy ... AG0522.jpg
Panoramic view of downtown from WSF: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FOF1 ... AG0524.jpg
Corner of Wabasha/Plato: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i5ca ... AG0528.jpg
Peeking out from the foot of the rail bridge: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BCeg ... AG0525.jpg

The Westside was a pretty big neighborhood that used to flood from time to time so the housing was replaced with warehouses,factories etc. The last house was torn down in like 1960? maybe. gotta research "St Paul's Westside".

Some nice light this evening let me be a bit artsy. The exterior colors of the building match the Wabasha Street Bridge pretty closely:


img_7477 by Mulad, on Flickr

It's taken a long time for the exterior to get completed, and they're still in the process of painting.


img_8283-edit by Mulad, on Flickr


img_8291-edit by Mulad, on Flickr


img_8293-edit by Mulad, on Flickr


img_8297-edit by Mulad, on Flickr

Not quite sure if this is an exercise facility or pool or what:


img_8301-edit by Mulad, on Flickr

Sure beats The Penfield (not hard to do that). So the sides of the building that are visible when looking toward the river are blue, and those visible when looking toward the bluffs are brown?

So the sides of the building that are visible when looking toward the river are blue, and those visible when looking toward the bluffs are brown?

Red, actually. I hope the next phases of this development happen soon, to get rid of that big parking lot next to this first building. I think this will rent fast, esp since the rents are lower than many of the newer buildings in downtown (even though the sq footage is also smaller).

The view to the flats from Downtown, combined with all the flags on the Wabasha bridge, makes this a rather patriotic development.

Also- http://finance-commerce.com/2014/06/bui ... ide-flats/

Love that blue!!

I walked by a few weeks ago and noticed signs for a Dunn Bros and "Restaurant" in the retail space along Wabasha. No indication of what the restaurant might be or when it is coming. It would be great if they filled those spaces so soon after opening.

I also peeked in the windows and there is nothing going on in there, just the signs. It would be nice to have a few more options for lunch in the neighborhood. There really is not much around there.

Phase II on the way - 266 units in two buildings, including market rate and affordable.
http://finance-commerce.com/2015/04/she ... partments/