urbanMSP

A proposed six-story mixed use, retail on first and five stories residential proposed for 1730 Plymouth Rd in Minnetonka. Across from Ridgedale on one side and Target on the other.

http://www.eminnetonka.com/community_de ... d=Planning

Here's a story. No rendering yet. http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/b ... etail.html

The drawings of the property don't inspire much for pedestrian "neighborhood" connections, hope that is brought up when the city discusses it.

A nice looking rendering presented to the Minnetonka City Council June 2. http://bizj.us/vuzgt/i/1

More detailed architectural drawings available, apparently uploaded yesterday.

[link to a 8+MB .pdf]

http://eminnetonka.com/news_events/proj ... _plans.pdf

This block is roughly the size of a long city block in Minneapolis, and this developer is planning on plopping this building in the middle of the parcel rather than in one of the corners so that the land and street frontage could be maximized. Minnetonka actually produced a wishy-washy mixed-use plan for the Ridgedale area in 2012:

http://eminnetonka.com/news_events/show ... k_id=Other

This plan would provide some policy support for requiring the developer to build closer to at least one of the streets, but I'm dubious they will use it. Minnetonka's actual support for urbanism is indicated by its decision to spend $1.6m adding a new exit to 394 rather than construct missing sidewalks in the Ridgedale area.

Could start this year?

http://finance-commerce.com/2014/08/rid ... this-year/

Minnetonka home owners say the proposed apartments on the Highland Bank site threaten the woodsy idyllic character they moved to Minnetonka for. Seriously.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2014/09/20/lett ... e-blinked/

I just don't even ...

Where is Perry Mason when you need him?

For those of us who aren't retired, Perry Mason was a TV character in the 50s and 60s.

I think that encapsulates the opposition you're seeing here.

That is on a big stroad with strip malls all around it. There are no woods that are with in a 1/2 mile of this site to even make such a stupid claim!!

The city council unanimously approved an ordinance to rezone the properties in front of huge turn out of angry residents speaking against the proposed project that needed the rezone.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2014/09/25/proj ... ridgedale/

I don't think hyperbole about this ruining a neighborhood hundreds of feet helps the cause of limiting development.

Some thought the notice area wasn’t broad enough. Others wanted better pedestrian access. But the author apparently could only find one resident who’d go on record as against the project. She lives 900 ft. away and thinks it should be shorter so it doesn’t ruin her view. Not exactly a groundswell of opposition.

Minnetonka residents fighting for Minnetonka's values.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/2 ... page=1&c=y

These idiots are no different than the idiots in the Franklin/Lyndale area or anywhere else in Minneapolis that oppose density.

I didn't realize 6 (residential) floors were considered a hi-rise. Also, this wouldn't set a new precedent there, would it? The nearby Marriott is around the same height --maybe taller!

It's got to be so frustrating for developers with the money necessary to fund a project for citizens' knee-jerk reactions potentially kill their projects. It's part of the biz, but it's a part I hate most!

These idiots are no different than the idiots in the Franklin/Lyndale area or anywhere else in Minneapolis that oppose density.

Nah, they're actually be worse since the development is nowhere near any of their houses and couldn't possibly affect them whatsoever. With Franklin-Lyndale (and other urban development), at least some of the whiners actually live next to the project and have some legit concerns.

Anyone think this hysteria is more about "renters" than it is about height and traffic?

I mean, this is a pretty developed area. Does Minnetonka not have office towers nearby that are way over 6 stories? Would these same folks oppose a new office tower in Minnetonka (which would be taller and produce more peak hour traffic)?

The good thing is it sounds like the Mayor is totally on board with the project and not going to listen to these CAVE people.

There is a new 6-story apartment building called The Ridge about half a mile from this location (across 394). So this is not exactly "unprecedented."

This story reads like something out of The Onion. These people live next to a shopping mall!

This project was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission last night.