urbanMSP

On 1/30's PC Committee of the Whole Meeting:

2. Eclipse - multiple properties on the block bounded by Washington Ave N, Hennepin Ave, 3rd St N, and 1st Ave N (Discussion)
20-story mixed use building with 360 units and ground floor retail
(Staff: Janelle Widmeier)

FINALLY!!! I wonder if this would include the empty lot as well as the Dolphin Staffing building. Hopefully those two older buildings remain. 20 stories here would be a great fit. I vision 20 stories facing Hennepin, with less where the Dolphin Staffing building is. But what do I know. Great news. Hopefully a lot of glass.

Also, is this in the new taxing capture district for the streetcar line?

Wow. Given that it's about 30 more units than 222 Hennepin, but 4x the height, I'm guessing this is only about a quarter of the block, presumably the unused grassy area on Hennepin. Are there normally preliminary renderings at CoW meetings?

Edit: Missed the "multiple properties" part. I'm now guessing that it'll be similar to the Nic on Fifth, with the tower taking up a quarter of the block, but a parking deck/retail portion extending to another quarter, hopefully along Washington.

Keep in mind that IF this is a condo building and it's still Shamrock / Jim Stanton building it, their units are typically larger than the average condo unit.

Just looked at the old project. That included only the current open area, but was still 3 lots. So that could very well still be the new footprint.

The staff report document has a trove of renderings, drawings, and other information. Two towers, the one to the north slightly taller than the one to the south. All condos. It's listed as two phases, with the taller of the towers considered phase 2, but only from the 4th through 20th floors. Sounds like the street level retail, parking, and four floors of residential covering the entire site would be common to both phases. Black and gold color scheme, not unlike Stonebridge.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 119641.pdf

I had my eye on this when it was first proposed 10 years ago and I thought it would be a perfect location, maybe this time around it'll come around at the same time I'm ready to buy.

First reactions: Hooray! *Yawn. Grrr, If Jim Stanton tints the windows on the first floor...

I really want to like this project but its design is problematic. The architecture is too severe in its boxiness. The street level is more introverted than it should be. I'm a little skeptical of the overwhelming dominance of dark colored glass facade. It seems cold and uninviting. Needs some lighter tonality added. The city should recommend some design revisions.

I think it looks classy with the svelte tan stone lines dominating the view.

First reactions: Hooray! *Yawn. Grrr, If Jim Stanton tints the windows on the first floor...

HA! Exactly this.

^^^Yep, the street level is the biggest concern. I'm not sure Stanton or Oertel architects understand the concept of a pedestrian friendly street level. That's lacking in their other projects.

Any timeline?

I dunno, only looks like 2 curb cuts for the entire project which is basically half a city block. Retail, lobby, and workout facility facing streets with windows. If the retail is active along the sidewalk and the glass isn't tinted, I'd say this would be a huge addition to Hennepin and 3rd St.

It would be great for the area to get this site developed. It is a decievingly large site with a lot of wasted space. I didn't realize how big it was until I walked by it a few years ago.

About the phasing, does it seem correct to interpret that they'll build the podium and the 16-story tower first, then the 20-story tower at some later date? Otherwise what would phase 1 and phase 2 refer to?

That's how I interpreted it. Here's hoping they do both phases at the same time.

Here is a little more info from the Biz Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/b ... condo.html

FINALLY!!! I wonder if this would include the empty lot as well as the Dolphin Staffing building. Hopefully those two older buildings remain. 20 stories here would be a great fit. I vision 20 stories facing Hennepin, with less where the Dolphin Staffing building is. But what do I know. Great news. Hopefully a lot of glass.

I would as the other way around so you have more river views from both the north and south buildings. Also a better step down from taller to the 6 story 222.