urbanMSP

It's just regional dialect. More important than perfect textbook English.

-1

It's just regional dialect. More important than perfect textbook English.

Zing!

It's just regional dialect. More important than perfect textbook English.

Zing!

When ignorance zings it zings loud.

So I drive by this daily and it appears they're always working/digging/pouring concrete. Are they just building the parking ramp portion for now? Or have they finalized any building atop the parking ramp?

Plans for the air rights development have neither been fully revealed by Ryan nor approved by the city. Plans had to be altered after the hotel component fell through, but they never actually announced a final height or unit count.

My understanding is that they are building out the the parking structure with beefed up column lines where the future development would bear on the garage.

It's a real bummer no one is holding Ryan's feet to the fire on this project. The Vikings stadium is going to be iconic in design, and getting close to half-way finished and there are still no details on what is going up here.

It's a real bummer no one is holding Ryan's feet to the fire on this project. The Vikings stadium is going to be iconic in design, and getting close to half-way finished and there are still no details on what is going up here.

I agree. If nothing gets decided, there will simply be a monstrous parking ramp. And there will be really nothing like it in terms of scale in the vicinity except for the justifiably reviled Gateway ramp. Even the HCMC ramp is only a half-block, as is the Haaf ramp and the two ramps on the block between the Armory (itself a parking structure) and the Government Center.

It's a shame, too, because if Trader Joe's really does go in across 3rd street, this would be an even more desirable location for more residences than it already is. I have been following this development since its inception, and I am freshly tempted every time I read about it to bang my head against the wall for the sheer idiocy of building such a monster ramp across the street from the LRT station. Oh well.

The Nicollet Hotel block will light a design fire under Ryan. They will have to have some great space and amenities to get people to move off Nicollet. Even with the Commons, there will have to be street activities and shops and restaurants for those people to go to which will help Ryan's project to compete. You can't use that you will be living next to a stadium as your marketing point. I'm hoping that Ryan/Magellan can design a signature tower to help bring some class to the area. How 3rd and especially 4th are addressed at street level will determine the make or break for all of these developments. You have to get it right in the design stage, because fixing it later will cost an arm and a leg if they screw it up. I'm pretty scared of what Wells Fargo will be like looking at the 5th, Portland, and Park Ave sides look like at the moment. I'm thinking a lot of blank walls along those street with only corporate doors and no retail.

I think it is safe to assume that because we haven't heard anything about this project, that Ryan has completely forgotten about it and hasn't done anything with it in the last several months. Probably some stern posts from us will remedy that situation.

I think it is safe to assume that because we haven't heard anything about this project, that Ryan has completely forgotten about it and hasn't done anything with it in the last several months. Probably some stern posts from us will remedy that situation.

And another ZING!
The city certainly can't force Ryan to build something uneconomical and unfeasible. They did however, change the language of the agreement to hold Ryan to more than the original plans. I think if the market continues to stay hot (which most predict it will) that the Ryan/Magellan proposal will be very thoughtful and beautiful. I think it's funny when the timing is as planned (parking ramp construction starting first, housing portions/option to come second), people forget that and worry when they don't have updates. It's winter - the ramp will be under construction for another 12 months. They have time and if the market stays hot, there will be a proposal.

The Vikings stadium is going to be iconic in design

I think "iconic" needs to start getting the "vibrant" treatment.

HEY, Signature will then be the new iconic!! LOL

I think it is safe to assume that because we haven't heard anything about this project, that Ryan has completely forgotten about it and hasn't done anything with it in the last several months. Probably some stern posts from us will remedy that situation.

And another ZING!
The city certainly can't force Ryan to build something uneconomical and unfeasible. They did however, change the language of the agreement to hold Ryan to more than the original plans. I think if the market continues to stay hot (which most predict it will) that the Ryan/Magellan proposal will be very thoughtful and beautiful. I think it's funny when the timing is as planned (parking ramp construction starting first, housing portions/option to come second), people forget that and worry when they don't have updates. It's winter - the ramp will be under construction for another 12 months. They have time and if the market stays hot, there will be a proposal.

Let's hope your faith in Ryan is well placed. I just wouldn't be shocked if (i) the hostility of the Vikings to the development generally and (ii) the need to pay the city $3 million and (iii) their current pre-occupation with the Wells Fargo buildings distracted them from a project that they don't have to build if they don't want to. I would be very happy if I'm wrong.

I will, however, continue to blather on about the idiocy of the MSFA ramp until it is eventually torn down at which time I will rejoice in its demise.

Helsinki, while I have some your reservations, I think that Ryan knows if they fail to develop a quality product on this site, that they will face the rath of politicians and community leaders that went to bat for them over the Wilfs. (i) let the Vikings try and screw things up, they will face backlash thru the political and business community. Not to mention the Wilfs are not looking very good with their PR. Any negative, no matter how small, will allow the detractors in the public realm fresh meat to go after them. They still have more public dollar they want, and no politician will folk over money when the public is upset with them. Politicians knows who votes them in and out of office. (ii) The city needs that revenue to pay for the park. Their failing to follow thru will be a sign to investors that their word is no longer golden. The city, county, and state will think twice before awarding future projects to them. (iii) While their preoccupation with WF maybe true. Magellan can work on the apartment tower design aspect. They can find a REAL Quality architectural firm to give us a signature building we are all hoping for.

I believe that they should take their time and to design this project right. This is a complicated project that could easily become a wall of driveways and blank walls. Even I know what the end product should and should not have, and I did not go to school for that. They design another Nic on 5th and they too will be looked down upon for future projects. Future work is riding on what they bring forth or the lack of what they bring forth. Ryan does not have a lot of land stockpiled like Opus. So they will be up against other developers in the future for their livelihood. They mess this up they will be kissing future opportunities goodbye!! IMHO

The Nicollet Hotel block will light a design fire under Ryan. They will have to have some great space and amenities to get people to move off Nicollet. Even with the Commons, there will have to be street activities and shops and restaurants for those people to go to which will help Ryan's project to compete. You can't use that you will be living next to a stadium as your marketing point. I'm hoping that Ryan/Magellan can design a signature tower to help bring some class to the area. How 3rd and especially 4th are addressed at street level will determine the make or break for all of these developments. You have to get it right in the design stage, because fixing it later will cost an arm and a leg if they screw it up. I'm pretty scared of what Wells Fargo will be like looking at the 5th, Portland, and Park Ave sides look like at the moment. I'm thinking a lot of blank walls along those street with only corporate doors and no retail.

It looks like some kind of cocoa colored concrete material they are using on the Wells Fargo One Tower on the Park ave side.

The Nicollet Hotel block will light a design fire under Ryan. They will have to have some great space and amenities to get people to move off Nicollet. Even with the Commons, there will have to be street activities and shops and restaurants for those people to go to which will help Ryan's project to compete. You can't use that you will be living next to a stadium as your marketing point. I'm hoping that Ryan/Magellan can design a signature tower to help bring some class to the area. How 3rd and especially 4th are addressed at street level will determine the make or break for all of these developments. You have to get it right in the design stage, because fixing it later will cost an arm and a leg if they screw it up. I'm pretty scared of what Wells Fargo will be like looking at the 5th, Portland, and Park Ave sides look like at the moment. I'm thinking a lot of blank walls along those street with only corporate doors and no retail.

It looks like some kind of cocoa colored concrete material they are using on the Wells Fargo One Tower on the Park ave side.

Sorry, the 5th avenue side across from the Haaf ramp.

I've seen too many "build half now, build half later" projects fail in this city to have any optimism about a great future project built on top of this parking ramp. This block will be a crapper for decades to come.

Why would Ryan have fought the Wilfs for the development rights here if they intended to leave it a parking ramp?

Because that happened before the hotel pulled out.

This project is a cluster all the way 'round.