urbanMSP

Height, schmeight. Isn't it all about how it's done, not how high it's done? Sure, some tall buildings are exciting landmarks, but some are dreck. Skim through this selection of relatively recent downtown apartment buildings and condos, decide which you most like to look at or, better yet, walk past...

So much of the flow of Bassett Creek has been diverted upstream of this point that there's no longer much of anything to daylight in the North Loop. Sometimes folks talk about some sort of dry stream bed "feature" where the stream once flowed but, sadly, bringing the creek back alive in th...

Take a look at pages 22-25 of the HKS presentation linked in Rich's posting on October 16. This shows an oval stadium withing the ribbon-roof design. This is still no proof that this will become the final design, but it does indicate that the baseball layout posted is not evidence that it won't be. ...

If it can stay clean, white = energy conservation. Packed with people, even in late fall the problem will be keeping the stadium cool inside. Hence, reflecting sunlight is a good thing. Of course, as we mentioned before, this might not look anything like the final design. Somehow, though, the way th...

Yikes! Not for me, personally.....I guess I'm more traditional than the average fan. This just doesn't scream "Minnesota" to me whatsoever. IDK, what do others think? Big honking snowdrifts. What could be Minnesota than that? At least until global warming really takes hold. Then we can im...

Jfuss, how did you get hold of this?

Hmm. The schematic design is due to be made public in April. I can't see much reason for throwing out a new rendering that might be irrelevant to what appears then. However, if this rendering was actually made available, say, last October when the architect was first selected, and this forum just ma...

Is this from the actual proposed design, or is this just an add-on to the rendering that's been floating about since the architect was first selected? If it's not just playing around, I'm very pleased. I've always liked that design best, since it seemed iconic in a way that's somehow reminded me of ...

I just looked... National Camera still has 5 Metro locations. http://www.natcam.com/camera-store-mn.html Speaking of National Camera, their former store at Hennepin an 10th would make a sweet restaurant IF the south side could serve as patio dining. However, looking at that setup, it seems that the...

Construction has begun on this long-fallow land on 50th near the ritzy 50th and France intersection. I believe that this lot, once occupied by a funeral home, was targeted as a condo development before the big bust. http://www.thewatersseniorliving.com/senior_living/Minneapolis_MN/zip_55410/the_wate...

The best thing to happen in the office market would be to see high-quality projects that reflect increased downtown employment and add to the city's vitality. The worst thing to happen would be bland new projects located in DTE largely because of the parking ramps required for the stadium and which ...

There is one way I might see this working. Portland and Park are each 3 lanes. Two lanes tunnel under the blocks between 3rd and 5th (I'm assuming). One lane each way becomes a turn lane onto 3rd or 5th. This layout creates no interference with any sidewalk, eases vehicle travel between Washington a...

Should we be starting a Minneapolis Central Library thread? Sticking on this subject, I spend a lot of time in the Central Library, and I'm very pleased with the new approach Security and staff are taking. I know many of the homeless there by sight and sometimes by name, and a majority are people wh...

A New Name Street

Tell it like it is, baby!

The Downtown Core is best defined by zoning. Check out this map: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/groups/public/@bis/documents/maps/convert_261235.pdf The area bordered by 3rd to 10th streets south, Hennepin, and 4th Ave. S. is as core as you can get. Downtown zoning gets progressively more restr...

How about avoiding all those left turns by adding an entrance from 13th Ave. S. to 35W southbound, connecting to the entrance ramp you show curving from 3rd St. S? Also, I don't understand why there are split exits to 3rd St. from 35W southbound, especially since 3rd St. is one way westbound and bot...

How about adding an entrance ramp from 13th Ave. S. to the 35W southbound entrance ramp you show curving from S. 3rd St? Also, I don't quite understand why there are split exits from southbound 35W to 3rd St. S, especially since 3rd St. is one way westbound and it seems both would end up heading the...

I very much like the way you recreated the street grid and opened up more area for development.

One point of confusion: Both the Washington Ave. and the 4th St. entrance ramps to southbound 35W from downtown are eliminated in your plan. What do you intend as a replacement?

Hey, that San Diego neighborhood looks nice. Screw the ball game. I'd just like to hang out there with a few friends at a sidewalk restaurant, and watch people walk by who aren't wearing too many clothes. (And didja notice? Nary a surface parking lot in sight!!) Maybe Target Field will feel somethin...

It all depends on the screening. If someone is homeless and poor because of continuing battles with drug or alcohol addiction or a record of being in and out of jail, yes, the crime risk is high and only special, strictly monitored facilities are appropriate. If someone is poor and homeless despite ...