urbanMSP

Hopkins movers and shakers are pushing the opening of a batch of new restaurants along a Mainstreet with a good number already as a sort of west Eat Street branding.

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... scene.html

Everyone forgets how the building of County 18 diverted Excelsior Blvd off Mainstreet just collapsed traffic, suffocating businesses and rents which over time those lowered rents made opening restaurants and bars more attractive.

I used to have several older coworkers who used to tell me a place called Boston garden used to be the best restaurant on mainstreet but never recovered after the main cook passed away. I think last time I checked there's 15 restaurants, 2 of which are the only chains. But I do have a suspicion some won't last long (there's a Chinese place off 15th I suspect that it's days are numbered due to it and a dollar tree are the only tenants in an abandoned strip mall and geven nearby developments I wouldn't be surprised if that property is being looked at)

twincitizen wrote:Here's the RPF packet for the city-owned properties: https://www.hopkinsmn.com/DocumentCente ... PDF?bidId=

The city received one proposal, from Footprint Development.

Odd remark from the latest council packet:

“Based on City feedback, the developer adjusted the site plan to **add additional parking**, and the proposal was discussed at the February 4, 2025, closed-door City Council meeting. The proposal is for two phases; the first phase (501 Mainstreet and 15 6th Avenue North) would have 38 housing units and 27 parking stalls. It would be built to Passive House Institute of the U.S. standards, meet the City's Inclusionary Housing Policy and **be designed to attract residents that want a car-light lifestyle**.”

My eyes stared at the walls for a moment seeing those two things:
- add parking at city request
- be designed for residents who want a car-light lifestyle.

In any case, it will be nice to see 3-story development that is not full-block behemoths. Wish single stair was in legal already.

I think I remember someone saying the city wants to market itself towards single vehicle families, families who would normally have 2 or 3 cars anywhere else but can get around fine in the city with just one.
I don't know If whoever said this is actually involved with planing or is just assuming, but it does feel half baked if it is.

Finance and Commerce covers the Mainstreet proposal by Footprint.

https://finance-commerce.com/2025/03/ho ... footprint/