I have been starting to talk a bit more about the residential element to the skyway system over on
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1798916 Yet, I will bring a bit of that conversation over here for those who may not be a member of that site.
I was curious as to how realistic the residential element of the skyway network was changing. So below is a list of the current Minneapolis skyway connected units (black) the recent/under construction units (blue) and the proposed and yet to be built (red)
OK, so here is what list I have gather right now.. (blue means they are new)
Marquette Place 240 Units
Symphony Place 250 Units
Centre Village 235 Units
The Churchill 360 Units
The Crossing 305 Units
Nic on Fifth 253 Units
4 Marq 262 Units
Soo Line 254 Units
Lasalle Apartments 121 Units
Latitude 45 45 Units
Downtown East Wells Fargo 400 Units
Ritz block (Phase 1 ONLY) 364 Units
The Eclipse 360 Units
Nicollet Hotel Block (Gateway) 300 Units
I'm sure I am missing a few but that means that 1,511 units were on the market but as of recent. 1214 units were recently added or are under construction to be added soon. While another 1024 proposed units are going to be added to the market soon.
so to sum up...
a few years ago we had about 1511 skyway connected residential units and in a few years we are expected to have 2238 additional units added to the skyway network. That sure seems like one heck of a growth rate even if we are talking about a 5-10 year period. Not to mention Phase 2 of the Ritz project but we would have at least 3,749 skyway connected residential units.
Perhaps that would mean that on average each units holds 1.5 people considering many are two bedroom units, though that might be a bit to high... so 1-1.5 people per unit would mean Downtown Minneapolis would have about 3,800-5,600 downtown residents skyway connected compared to a few years ago with (1,511units) of about 1,500-2,250 downtown residents
Which would support the argument that there IS a growing residential element to the skyway. I'm not sure how the growth would be able to keep pace after these proposed projects are all built. Perhaps downtown East will support for more expansion but at the same rate would be extremely impressive IMO.
Secondly, using Skyscrapercity's other tabs I was able to have a discussion of the +15 network in Calgary Canada. Which until recently was a disconnected system, yet the expanded they system and connected the segments and now holds the title as the largest indoor connected elevated transit system. Based on the information provided from the locals the +15 network only has about 900 existing +15 connected residential units, while current construction and proposed projects would only add an additional 250 units as the +15 network is strictly limited to the central business district, so any potential expanded residential units will have to come from mixed usage properties. Which suggest the +15 network won't have an substantial growth in having a residential element to there network.
Another observation I noticed (in watching the online Youtube +15 network tour) is the +15 network does not seem to have the same design organization that Minneapolis has as doors require PULLing action which can greatly limit the flow of traffic if there is congestion. I know Minneapolis recently did a study on the usage of the skyway (right before city center landed Sports Authority and Saks Off Fifth, due to the report findings stating the City Center had greater volume than the IDS) I think I will have to try to track these numbers down and see if I can find more information about Calgary's +15 usage numbers to compare. As I am jumping to the assumption that the usage of the +15 network is greatly smaller than our Skyway network. Not to mention that the +15 network is better designed and have tons of street to +15 access points via stairs that line the street and a well marked transition points. Making it easier for people to exit and enter the system, while in Minneapolis usage tends to require either you take the skyway or the street.
Beyond that I wanted to better compare what elements the +15 network has that could encourage more residential usage compared to our skyway network which has the following elements (blue are under construction/proposed)
Library
Church (Catholic Church)
K-12 School and Daycare
Target
Downtown Market
Retail (clothing, glasses, books, pharmacy)
Banks
Hair Salons
Fast casual dinning, sit down table service dinning, fast food, and convenience shops
University of St. Thomas
City Hall (DMV)
Entertainment (Performing arts, concert venues, sporting venues, trade show events)
Access to Park (Loring,
The Commons Riverfront (kinda direct))
Gyms
Liquor store and bars
I have yet to specifically identify which features the Calgary's +15 network has yet, I have a inkling they are very limited and don't have the same culture built we have as our skyway system is transiting towards being more residential. My purpose of this post has been to break the concept that well if other skyway like systems don't have an residential element they why would Minneapolis develop one? As explained above Calgary is a very different city while bigger and holds a much larger network they don't have the residential connected units to encourage residential elements to the network. I do think I want to also compare residential unit numbers to St. Paul as they may also have a respectable amount but I wonder if they have nearly as much as Minneapolis does to encourage more residential usage, which I highly doubt.
The proposed Armory redevelopment may connect into the skyway system bringing in the HCMC and there skyway connecting different buildings and parking lots into the system. Additionally the Post Office suggestion of being redeveloped into some type of market, if a skyway connection ever makes it into the project that would result in a skyway connected post office and market being added, plus it would make a direct skyway connection to the riverfront. Not to forget Whole Foods which will be just one street crossing away, yet considering it won't be directly connected I didn't list it above. There is a lot of existing, and potential additions that help encourage further development of a residential element to the skyway system that is unlike other networks.
I will have to keep looking into this in my free time but, as of yet I think Minneapolis is the only city that has such features that would encourage further residential development, and has been rapidly expanding it's connected units. If the city continues to expand it's downtown west and east residential units with developers opting into the system imagine the potential! Perhaps in 10 years there will be 10,000-20,000 skyway connected residents! Maybe more skyway connected schools, churches, and daycares will help further encourage residential usage. Either way, I have yet to find any other indoor network as supportive as residential usage as the Minneapolis Skyway network. I think it's truly unique and one of a kind. Thoughts?