urbanMSP

Depressing article containing the even more depressing news that UTEC comes down next month:
http://www.mndaily.com/2012/11/27/man-behind-dinkytown

So...does he want to ban new development and not allow anything but small business so the area can keep a "small town" feel? I don't see how else things could really stay the same. I'm sorry, I guess I think this article is kind of lame. It kind of seems like he is trying to blame new development for his leaving, when really he needs to take care of his mother, and he likes the country, and it's "sweet smell".

Don't get me wrong...I am all for independent businesses in the area...but this article is over romanticizing it, and the whole area.

I'd be interested in hearing what's happening to the 90 businesses currently in UTEC. Has anything been done to help them find new digs? How many are able to stay in Dinkytown? How many are headed elsewhere? How many will have to close doors because of being forced out?

I'm sad to see a bustling community of small business demolished and am very much hoping that a good part of it can be somehow maintained.

I personally can't think of any new developments that do a good job of incorporating "Ma and Pop" type of establishments and businesses. But I too would like to see that done well.

Small businesses? My experience with UTEC was MPIRG, Minnesota's wing of NPIRG, which was subject to a class-action lawsuit for working its employees 60 hours a week, no overtime.

If the rest of the "small businesses" are anything like that, well....good riddance.

I can add that my worst work experience was in that building at a place called Marketline Research. Ugh... that place was a sweatshop! Or, maybe I wasn't cut out for over-the-phone research ... or both.

^^^That's kinda what I mean. I wasn't under the impression that "mom and pop" own any bakeries or general stores in UTEC. If they do, it is waaaay out of my frame of reference.

Pretty sure it's a lot of marketing and sales things....maybe a few small political consultants. Maybe, *maybe* some tech guys. I don't think they add a lot to the Dinkytown experience (as far as the average person passing through is concerned), and I'm pretty sure they'll be just as successful in new digs...

I was speaking in generalities, not specifically about the UTEC site.

Sorry, I should clarify:

I wasn't really taking issue with your use of the term "ma and pa." I'm more taking issue with the guy profiled in the article and his idea that losing UTEC is going to really damage the community by driving small businesses out.

Isn't the U/city/state trying to promote the idea of a technology business park of some sort near the railyard? It's not their job to hold the hands of private businesses but you'd think someone would have maybe at least thrown a blurb out that Minneapolis wants to keep these jobs. I don't know what the "90" businesses in the building translates into in terms of jobs (seems like a ton for the building?) but I'm a little surprised no one from CPED or another organization has at least talked about it.

A few thoughts on that:

1.) Again, I think the use of "Technology" in the name is a bit misleading, and that a good portion of these businesses are not tech start-ups.
2.) UTEC's occupancy rates have been steadily declining for some time. It is described as an "incubator space," and although I don't know much about this, my friends with Bio Business Alliance always gave me the impression that successful tech start-ups really need more room than UTEC has to offer individual tenants...

I personally can't think of any new developments that do a good job of incorporating "Ma and Pop" type of establishments and businesses. But I too would like to see that done well.

New space is expensive to develop. Developers need to cover costs, so they do what is rational - they find the tenant who will pay the most. More times than not, these are not small, local businesses. Think positive thought, in 20 years when the space being built today ages, small business will re-emerge in these spaces.

Noodles & Co. will be a great fit for Dinkytown. Derp.

isnt there already one in stadium villiage?

Noodles is blah, IMO.

isnt there already one in stadium villiage?

There is. But that didn't stop Jimmy John's.

MN Daily reports: Small business Dinkytown gem closes

The developer that bought the site, GEM Realty Capital, plans to recycle parts of the building’s gym floor, light fixtures and cabinetry to incorporate into the new building. [The former owner] said this homage made it easier to let the building go.

But not the concrete construction, bricks, carved stone or history. Thanks for the cheap homage.

Looks like this is happening. Site is surrounded by jersey barriers and fencing, and the sidewalks look torn up. There are some bikes in the racks still! Free bikes!

What a waste of a highly reusable building.