urbanMSP

Almost as good as the Thrivent "exit only" stairs to the sidewalk!

Seems like any new development that is *skyway connected* and *more than a quarter block in size* should have a clear vertical circulation with prominent markings on the sidewalk including hours of access. Is that unreasonable?

It is not, and it drives me nuts that it wasn't included in the updated skyway standards passed a couple years ago, or pushed by the DT Council pre Super Bowl.

I'm relatively new to this forum and these issues. Are there people who think the existing skyways should be removed, or new ones should not be built?

Rather than rehashing (please everyone, please don't!), I'd encourage Mr. Ghost to read this thread from the top. Pretty please.

I'm relatively new to this forum and these issues. Are there people who think the existing skyways should be removed, or new ones should not be built?

http://www.startribune.com/a-farewell-t ... 420124113/

Yes, I saw the Eric Dayton article.

Can't park a food truck in a skyway.

Maybe we need a unified sign to label our public skyway access points.

Can't park a food truck in a skyway.

Maybe we need a unified sign to label our public skyway access points.

Landlords don't want to do that because the riff raff gets inside. I agree with the earlier post, the idea of making them more public space seems like a good idea on paper, however extra responsibilities of the city does not always seem like a good idea. During the superbowl many of the bigger skyway blocks banded together and introduced a skyway security block. I wonder if that is still in effect or if it was disbanded. Seems logical they could enhance security by having it work together as a cohesive network.

If security was enhanced more landlords would be welcoming and helping encourage entrances and exits from and to the street below. Careful what you wish for guys. ...Skyways might get even more packed if entrances from the street were actually marked. I'm surprised local businesses inside the skyway don't raise more of a fuss with there landlords demanding better street promotion. Perhaps they to only view the "others" who don't know how to get into the skyway as the riff raff.

Which I guess kinda makes the skyway a secret hidden passageway that only the locals understand (although many don't given the advanced learning curve to navigation) Dosen't that make it even more cooler, and only encourages more people on searching far and wide on the ways to get inside! eh? Maybe the exclusivity is what makes the skyways so dang popular while our sidewalks go unwalked by most..

One of the weird things about trying to keep the riff raff out is does that really work? Tourist and people who don't come downtown are certainly kept out, but aren't they the people business actually want?

Meanwhile, the homeless population of downtown not only knows where to get in, they know where they can sleep without being seen on security cameras.

For those who work(ed) near the US Bank Plaza. The longtime shoeshine man recently passed away.

http://www.startribune.com/lovell-tims- ... 505249352/

A map app of the skyway system, but allowed you to dial in a day and time, and it would show you which parts of the skyway were open at that hour.

http://www.startribune.com/proposed-min ... 563998492/

Curious about these variances...

I'm picturing something akin to the HCGC to the US Bank plaza diagonal connection. I think this ramp's ped access is basically only at the corner, but not sure about the other building. The ramping up/down part is fairly common though. On their face the variances would seem relatively grantable, but I could see them used as a means to kill the connection dependent on policy.

Yeah, because the parking garage has comparatively short floors, it doesn't line up well with the other buildings. You can see from the existing connection that the Skyway will likely use the third floor of the garage.

The variances were approved yesterday.

Approval docs, for those interested.

Looks unremarkable, and mostly unoffensive.

Ugh, sad that they finally get a connection after I no longer work there. Every winter I was so jealous of the sky-way connected buildings.

Per a library worker at Central, as of this morning, the Minneapolis Central Library is officially connected to the downtown Minneapolis skyway system. The segments that connect MC cross Nicollet to connect with the 365 Nicollet building, as well as 3rd St, connecting to the RBC Gateway building. The skyway segment that connects MC opens at 6:30 am, though the Library atrium does not open until 8 am. https://twitter.com/Jabrwcky/status/1493273909688475656

Mod Note: I moved the HCMC ramp discussion to that thread, since we were having parallel discussions.