Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) Clinic Expansion

[BigIdeasGuy]

I'm just spitballing here but wouldn't it make financial sense for the county to sell ME site to a private developer and build a new ME building either in the surface parking lot or right next to existing parking ramp?

If the new block is going to cost $10M, the ME site is undoubtably worth more perhaps $15-$20M(???) and I really doubt a new ME building is going to cost anything in the neighborhood of $10M. County comes out ahead big time on the transaction plus the addition property tax revenue that would be generated by the development of a block in a prime location. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[MNdible]

It would be interesting to know how much overlap there is between HCMC and the ME. I'm no Quincy, but it seems like there's nothing particular about the ME facility that would require it to be downtown at all.

[FISHMANPET]

I've watched a lot of Law & Order lately, so easy access for police and sheriffs would be useful for the witty banter between detectives and the ME while the detectives ask the ME for the cause of death.

[mullen]

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/m ... llion.html

[schmitzm03]

Planning Commission COW has renderings: http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 138675.pdf

[grant1simons2]

One very small thing I'd like to see removed are the signs on the corners of 9th. I know they want to see an expansion on the Chicago Ave side, but there could be some small density building on the corner of 9th and Park.

[ndokken]

Just curious, but has there been discussions about connecting HCMC's skyway to the rest of downtown? I know they're really trying to target the people who work in downtown or at least make it more attractive, but I think that would become more of a reality if you could just walk there from the skyway

[twincitizen]

One very small thing I'd like to see removed are the signs on the corners of 9th. I know they want to see an expansion on the Chicago Ave side, but there could be some small density building on the corner of 9th and Park.

Agreed. The monument signs do not belong in the 9th Street historic district. It looks like the staff report already talks about eliminating one of them (I think...). They're requesting a variance for two, as code only allows one.

Going even further, the corner of 9th & Chicago should really be reserved for future housing, not more HCMC expansion. 9th Street should be lined with as much contiguous housing as possible.

[grant1simons2]

Going even further, the corner of 9th & Chicago should really be reserved for future housing, not more HCMC expansion. 9th Street should be lined with as much contiguous housing as possible.

Right? I feel like it'd just be one more lot in Elliot Park just waiting to be filled in for years to come. Elliot Park is Swiss cheese in terms of parking lots vs buildings. Could be infill heaven for someone. I know it's not popular here, but I would really really love to see some classic row houses in a lot of the area. Anyways, back to the hospital

[mattaudio]

I've said it elsewhere but I'll say it again: We need to do something to make 9th and/or 10th more of a human scale link between Elliot Park and the CBD. Two-way traffic, tree-lined, etc. Maybe with accommodations for future Chicago Ave streetcar connection over to Nicollet, etc. We need to build bridges between DTE, CBD, and the other periphery neighborhoods, and this would be a crucial link.

[fehler]

I noticed the skyway level of this new building leaves open possibilities for expansion to the west and to the south (HCMC owns the parking lot on Centennial Place?), both of which would skirt the edge of the 9th Street Historic District.

HCMC has long wished to be connected to the Skyway network, both for its own worker's convenience and to tap the downtown worker clinic market. With projects on the Sexton block and Kraus Anderson filling in, it no longer looks like a long-term pipe dream. Heck, a project on the Huberts/First Covenant block may even allow for a full loop to US Bank Stadium.

[grant1simons2]

They've already outgrown the planned space. Add some more space

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/b ... y-33m.html

[twincitizen]

The below image indicates that some of the expansion will be a buildout to the corner of Chicago & 9th. On previous plans, this was labeled as "future expansion" or something of that nature, so not too big of a surprise. The small building to the left is the existing apartment building, which will be retained. Property records have been updated to show that HCMC now owns every last parcel on this block except the apartment building.

[mattaudio]

1. Considering how atrocious the parking ramp is on the NE corner, I was really hoping for some sort of neighborhood use on the ground level on this corner once it got developed. Now seems less likely.
2. This would now be the time to undo the three-lane one-way known as 9th Street from Chicago Ave west to maybe 4th or 5th Ave.

[Andrew_F]

They must be doing some fairly intensive work to their existing building to prepare for the expansion-- a tower crane went up on the NE corner of Park & 8th yesterday.

[MinnMonkey]

They must be doing some fairly intensive work to their existing building to prepare for the expansion-- a tower crane went up on the NE corner of Park & 8th yesterday.

Last I heard is they are moving the helicopter landing pad to that end of the building so it is closer to the ER. Not sure if they are just going to modify the existing roof, or build a new structure.

[schmitzm03]

Hennepin County board approved funding for this yesterday and it looks like jersey barriers are going up today. The parking lot on this block (bordering Chicago) has been empty for the past few days. I'd say demolition/construction are imminent.

[Wedgeguy]

Hennepin County board approved funding for this yesterday and it looks like jersey barriers are going up today. The parking lot on this block (bordering Chicago) has been empty for the past few days. I'd say demolition/construction are imminent.

This is great news, The clinic will definitely help with the foot traffic in the area and hopefully housing for those that work at the clinic.

[EOst]

This still leaves out the apartment building on 9th, right?

Wish in retrospect that someone had gotten them to move the parking entrance from Park to Chicago. Hopefully it won't impact the design of the planned protected bikeway here too much, unlike that block on the 26th St bikeway at Abbott.

[fehler]

I've never seen "Mortenson" branded Jersey barriers before. They're nice, white, and clean, but obnoxious in branding.