urbanMSP

There was no special plan. It rained pretty heavy Monday and Tuesday. The building is now completely demolished.

The Alatus project in Rochester is nearing the site clearing, and digging is going to start in a few weeks.

Don’t forget Nord Haus 2...they said they were moving forward with that... plus there is that 15 story building proposed in the last month or so... on that triangular site...

That's not all Alatus. In fact none of it is.

That's not all Alatus. In fact none of it is.

This was in response to a potential tower crane count I north east... it seems possible that there could be 5 or 6 substantial projects going up at once...

Top floor condo in Carlyle just sold for $2M. Sales like that show developers the market is still there for a tower like this.

In St. Anthony Falls District, former funeral home comes down for condo tower
http://www.startribune.com/real-estate- ... 449647183/

Not much new from what we've already heard. But I did like the last sentence of the article:

"Osmundson said Alatus is willing to start construction without meeting any presale requirements."

NEBL wants their $100,000 bond money back. I find that funny since the order clearly states you only get the money back if you WIN.

Of course, the developer and the city have filed objections with the court stating that NEBL wants a free ride of delaying the project for several months and not costing them any money. At least the lawyer won't give back NEBL's money.

What are the chances they get it back? Also does this signify that generally their fight is pretty much at it's end?

For anyone wondering, this is completely gone. Only a little rubble is still on site.

Update: the District Court judge has denied NEBL’s request to return the $100,000 bond money. If they win the MERA claim in appeals court, ha ha, the money will be returned to them. Otherwise, they lose that money forever.

No decision yet from the Appeals court.

There are a ton of pallets of sod on site now. That's kind of weird, right?

There are a ton of pallets of sod on site now. That's kind of weird, right?

Not really, it's probably a more cost effective means for long term erosion control than something like silt fence or waddles. I would guess this is a good sign they are not planning on breaking ground for a while.

There are a ton of pallets of sod on site now. That's kind of weird, right?

Not really, it's probably a more cost effective means for long term erosion control than something like silt fence or waddles. I would guess this is a good sign they are not planning on breaking ground for a while.

The last press release said spring of 2018 (maybe May?). But sod doesn't cost much & it'll make the lot 'look' better I guess.

It may be a part of the art installation that was mentioned a few pages back...

I would guess at this point Alatus is probably wanting to wait until spring to break ground. That way they don't have to deal with frozen ground and the sod is just a winter long way to control erosion and improve the look of the lot over the winter even though it will likely be covered with snow.

I have heard repeatedly that excavation is preferred in cold months because it can make dealing with ground water situations much more simple.

After this whole legal process, I highly doubt Alatus would do anything but build the proposed tower. Obviously the finances work for this project, so to give into the people they most likely really hate, would not be something they would want to do.

I have heard repeatedly that excavation is preferred in cold months because it can make dealing with ground water situations much more simple.

Only till the frost line I would imagine, but I'm no civil expert.

I haven't seen any sub-grade plans for the building yet, but I would imagine with it being so close to the river, and what I've seen in sub-grades of condo's nearby, that some kind of sheet piling or coffer dam setup would need to be used irrespective of the season for any open excavation.

Last oral arguments February 6 in the Appeals court. This would be for the height and variances and so forth. It can take weeks after that for the three judges to agree and do the write up.

Still waiting for the 3 judge’s decision on the MERA environmental argument.