urbanMSP

I am super excited because I am having my 1980's downtown slides and film reprocessed digitally. They look like they were taken TODAY. I wanted to start a new thread so I had somewhere organized to put them. You will not even believe the difference when you compare to the few scanned yellowing 3x5 prints I have posted previously. I also am going to do a THEN and NOW series from as close to the original positions as possible.

Can't wait to see them!

This is the Accenture tower, or Lincoln Center in 1988 when it was new. Check out the brand new park! This park was originally to be the site of the twin tower. I have created a folder on Flickr with the full size versions that I will add.

Accenture tower (Lincoln Center) Spring 1988 by bapster2006, on Flickr

That park is great... at least it was until they put the skyway over it. I still hope we can see a twin tower on that site once things heat up. Though hopefully the steam plant block to the south gets redeveloped first. This tower was possibly my favorite to work in during my downtown days.

Found this rando article (c. 2011) about that skyway link being added - and a comment from mattaudio of course!

http://finance-commerce.com/2011/11/new ... ure-tower/

I am very excited for the future of this thread!

I am very excited for the future of this thread!

Likewise! If anyone is interested in more then and now photos, the Mill City Museum has a nice display in the public area.

I was absolutely giddy to discover this photo I took of the Minnegasco building. For years, I had remembered taking a pic and now I have found it! This building was an attractive example of its style. The Minnegasco building was demolished to make way for the Ameriprise Financial Center at 7th St and 3rd Ave S.

Notice the banner for the 6th Twin Cities marathon for October 1987.

Minnegasco building 1987 7th St - 3rd Ave S by bapster2006, on Flickr

That was the original Lutheran Brotherhood (now Thrivent) building before they built their 1980s building across 4th Ave.

That's good to know, thank you. Am I remembering right that Minnegasco was the last tenant? I want to make sure my notes attached to these pics are accurate

Edit: I do see that Minnegasco was in there too. Cool info.

I didn't know that. It stuck around long after the 80s LB building was constructed, so it would make sense they had other tenants. But that building is definitely known as the old Lutheran Brotherhood building. http://lileks.com/mpls/lutheran/

It was torn down long before I remember. Anyone know when it was torn down?

I took this photo in 1987 on a parking lot where the Hilton Hotel would be built a few years later at 11th Street and Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. A few blocks up Marquette Ave, the Norwest Center (Wells Fargo) is being built. In the photo today would be the US Bancorp Center on the far left, Metro Apartments in the middle, RBC Plaza poking up to the left of Wells Fargo, AT&T tower taking up the right portion of the photo, and the Hilton Hotel on the near parking lot. No SUVs in sight.

Norwest Center construction - Marquette Ave - 11th St 1987 by bapster2006, on Flickr

(Present day: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.97337,- ... e0!6m1!1e1)

I know it's a parking ramp, but the Mar-Ten ramp does have really nice urban frontage.

Related, someone needs to do an investigative report on why retail vacancy rates are always so high. Why don't owners lower prices to fill spaces that have been vacant for years?

I'll start my THEN and NOW with 10th and Marquette. I positioned myself in the front turn-around of the Hilton. As you can see, the half block parking lot behind Schmidt Music was there in 1987 also. Yes, it would certainly be nice to see the retail in that parking ramp filled up again.

1987 2015 Comparison 10th ST - Marquette Ave Minneapolis by bapster2006, on Flickr

I took this photo from the highest sky bridge in the Hennepin County Government Center in 1988. Notice the banner for the Twins rally after they had just won the World Series last fall.

There used to be a great view of the river. Also, the Milwaukee Road train building and sheds are not remodeled yet. Also notice all the run down buildings to the right of the clock tower. Then compare to the THEN and NOW photo.

View north from Hennepin Co Govt Center 1988 by bapster2006, on Flickr

I took both photos from the same position on the highest sky bridge in the Hennepin County Government Center. The buildings to note are the Carlyle tower on the left, the Federal Courthouse and Latitude 45 apartment building (under construction) behind the clock tower, and Riverwest on the right. The Milwaukee Road building and train shed have since been remodeled but are no longer visible. It is nearly impossible to see the river now.

1988 2015 Comparison - View north from Hennepin Co Govt Center by bapster2006, on Flickr

I wonder who was buying downtown condos in the 1980s? Like at The Crossings, etc. It must have been so desolate.

Yeah, I would take the bus downtown and either go to Shinder's on block E or go to the bookstore that used to be on the ground floor of City Center. It was pretty dead on the weekends. I would never walk into the north loop or mill district because there was just absolutely nothing there to see.

Man, I hope in 30 years they rebuild that stupid federal court building on top of the parking ramps to the east. I miss seeing City Hall from the riverfront.

Here I stood on 4th Ave S to the south of 10th St. The parking lot in front is where the IDS Operations Center was built. The ramp to the right was demolished and the Ameriprise Client Service Center built. Notice the block straight ahead with the Standard gas station and stores. This block is now largely a surface parking lot.

View northwest from 10th St and 4th Ave S. 1987 by bapster2006, on Flickr