Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

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Nathan
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by Nathan »

The lobby opened today, the cafe is to be called Penny's
grant1simons2
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by grant1simons2 »

Spyhouse and La Colombe coffee will be served

http://minneapolis.eater.com/2016/8/5/1 ... ons-owners

More entrepreneurial spirit in Minneapolis please! Let's spread the creative world of North Loop eastward into the Gateway!
grant1simons2
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by grant1simons2 »

Okay Penny's looks amazing. 28 foot ceilings, brass lighting, that iconic marble. It definitely fits right in.
VAStationDude
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by VAStationDude »

I'm going to miss the artistic value of the former wind swept overhang.
grant1simons2
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by grant1simons2 »

They put some neat color changing sculptures out in front of 111 Washington

ImageDSC_0761 by grant.simons, on Flickr

And I tried getting a neat shot of 100 Washington with traffic

ImageDSC_0759 by grant.simons, on Flickr
amiller92
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by amiller92 »

That sculpture was inside when I was last in that lobby.
proverfent
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by proverfent »

Penny's is great!! :)
Anondson
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by Anondson »

I work in the 100 building now. It is a real pleasure that it has really nice, practically unobstructed, views of the urbanizing city from so many sides. Especially nice views of Washington Ave in each direction.

I really like the lobby and I wish I had more time to eat at Penny’s. Their sweet crepes are going to be my vice.
Anondson
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by Anondson »

The three buildings are on the market.

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... -hits.html

Huh!
twincitizen
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by twincitizen »

Anything going on with 20 Washington? Voya vacated the building, consolidating their offices in 250 Marquette. The website for Washington Square no longer includes 20 Washington, now marketing it as a two-building campus consisting of 100 and 111 Washington. I found a fairly recent leasing brochure for Washington Square that included all 3 buildings, so 20 Washington being excluded is a change. At the moment it's still owned by Shorenstein along with the other two buildings. Various commercial leasing websites list it as vacant. The assessed value dropped from $17mm to $10mm for taxes payable 2025.

Washington Square website not mentioning 20 Washington: https://www.washingtonsquare-mn.com/

I don't know if it's even feasible, but that would be a very interesting high-end condo conversion to say the least. The building looks to be about 120' wide, almost twice the width of a typical multifamily building, so that's why I'd assume large condos over apartments. The easy explanation could be that Shorenstein is looking for another tenant to occupy the whole building, but if that were the case, why would they no longer market it as part of Washington Square?
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by MNdible »

Do we know if the building has HPC protection yet? The exterior, with its gorgeous bookmatched marble panels, really doesn't have much in the way of windows and we probably don't want it to be messed with. I'm not sure if carving a lightwell into the building interior would help matters.

I'd agree that the best solution is to find a unicorn corporate tenant who would take over the whole building and make it their cool modernist clubhouse. But it's sneaky big -- about 150k sf above grade.
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by twincitizen »

MNdible wrote: April 23rd, 2024, 12:46 pm Do we know if the building has HPC protection yet? The exterior, with its gorgeous bookmatched marble panels, really doesn't have much in the way of windows and we probably don't want it to be messed with. I'm not sure if carving a lightwell into the building interior would help matters.

I'd agree that the best solution is to find a unicorn corporate tenant who would take over the whole building and make it their cool modernist clubhouse. But it's sneaky big -- about 150k sf above grade.
Apparently the top floor is like untouched Mad Men era boardroom. Anyone been up there? They need to get this building on next year's 'Doors Open Minneapolis' event before it finds a new tenant or becomes a hotel.
MidwayLuke
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by MidwayLuke »

twincitizen wrote: June 7th, 2024, 3:04 pm
MNdible wrote: April 23rd, 2024, 12:46 pm Do we know if the building has HPC protection yet? The exterior, with its gorgeous bookmatched marble panels, really doesn't have much in the way of windows and we probably don't want it to be messed with. I'm not sure if carving a lightwell into the building interior would help matters.

I'd agree that the best solution is to find a unicorn corporate tenant who would take over the whole building and make it their cool modernist clubhouse. But it's sneaky big -- about 150k sf above grade.
Apparently the top floor is like untouched Mad Men era boardroom. Anyone been up there? They need to get this building on next year's 'Doors Open Minneapolis' event before it finds a new tenant or becomes a hotel.

This building would make a cool art museum, if there was ever demand for another one of those in MPLS. I think it looks more like an important public building than an office.
TroyGBiv
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by TroyGBiv »

I love the idea of that building becoming a museum! That would be a perfect use for it!
mattaudio
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Re: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market

Post by mattaudio »

Yep, feels like it could have been a cool renovation into a library or public service center if we hadn't already done those.

Any other big civic spaces needing new homes? A hotel seems like a good private use. Could a developer have double-loaded room corridors along the length, and cut in skylights for an atrium running the length of the middle?

This article has some great details, but no photos: https://www.aia-mn.org/voya-financial-20-washington/
John Pillsbury’s office on the top floor contained a second Bertoia sculpture—a tree made of brass rods—as well as a fireplace, a teak desk and credenza, plush deep-green carpeting, and a door that was 15 feet tall, stretching from floor to ceiling. “Pillsbury had a commanding presence,” Guthard recalls. “He wasn’t a theatrical guy, but when he came through that door it was quite a picture.”

A boardroom on the same floor was carpeted in deep red, paneled in teak, fitted with ebony doors, and dominated by a 20-foot-long rosewood conference table. High-backed chairs with chrome stands encircled it. Concealed in one of the paneled walls were the presentation tools of the day: a projection screen, a blackboard, and a flannel board.

But it wasn’t just executives who enjoyed the spaciousness of the sixth floor. Yamasaki elevated the company cafeteria to that level as well. Secretaries, actuaries, and underwriters ate their lunches amid Danish-designed furnishings, under arched windows. “Extensive use of deep yellow and orange [helps] accentuate the sunlit gaiety” of the room, noted a pamphlet published at the time.
rhettcarlson
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by rhettcarlson »

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... -sale.html

Aaand they're on the market again. Interesting comparing the articles from 6 years ago and today. They were 80% leased in 2019, 67% today. 2019 sale price estimate was ~$175 psf. 2025, no guidance given. They never did trade 6 years ago.

I'm pushing for a Museum of the Minneapolis Sound at 20 Washington, just need a wealthy benefactor to step to the plate :D
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by MNdible »

What if... the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts used the building as a satellite location? They've pretty much built out they're existing site (or honestly, they've over built it, filling in several atriums that should have remained open).

Seattle split their primary and Asian collections; having a more visible downtown location could help attract visitors to the main campus.

The MIA has some deep pocketed donors who could help fund a move like this.
twincitizen
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by twincitizen »

I also like the idea of a public/quasi-public use at 20 Washington. It would be an easier conversion than hotel and it would be ideal for the grounds to be publicly owned. I assume/hope there are easements across the property today that allow the public to use the lawn area and walk between Washington Ave and Gateway Park (where Nicollet Ave used to be), but maybe there aren't? The private property line goes right up to the Hennepin Ave sidewalk despite that area feeling like it's part of Gateway Park.

I recommend visiting the LoopNet listing and clicking the links for 'Executive Summary' and 'Virtual Tour'.

Edit: another point in favor of public/quasi-public use of 20 Washington is its relatively low tax value since it just isn't that large. Currently assessed at just $10mil since it's vacant (down from $17.8mil last year), it could probably be had for $15mil or less(?) Taking a property of that value off the tax rolls wouldn't be a significant hit against the overall tax base. That's like less than a fraction of the recent reduction in value of Wells Fargo Center.
Anondson
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by Anondson »

I agree the MIA overfilled their block. Having a satellite location in this high visibility site for other collections would be really nice!
uptownbro
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Re: Washington Square - 20, 100, 111 Washington Avenue S

Post by uptownbro »

Im not sure this works for housing but it would make a truly great event or museum space. Im not sure what museum would fill it
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