urbanMSP

Are they planning on doing anything to extend the bike path that comes out of the tunnel under 35W? This seems like a great trade off to get some points when asking for the CUP.

I don't know if they can. I mean, it's useless to extend it unless it can go through the Stonebridge property as well, but Stanton doesn't own Stonebridge anymore - the condo board or whatever does.

With bikeways already on 2nd Ave and West River Road, I think the money would be better spent improving the connection on 13th Ave.

With bikeways already on 2nd Ave and West River Road, I think the money would be better spent improving the connection on 13th Ave.

Seconded. And 13th Ave is already a pretty decent connector with very little car traffic and wide bike lanes unencumbered by parked cars or anything. If and when the street needs a full reconstruction, we can talk about converting the painted bike lanes to protected bike lanes to formalize the link between 2nd St and West River Parkway

It seems reasonable to assume that those two office buildings and their acres of parking will be redeveloped eventually, in which case Legacy and Stonebridge may lose their river views as well.

Sort of related -- does anybody really know what the situation is with the MInnegasco property across the River Road here? My anecdotal (and perhaps mistaken) understanding is that it's a pollution clean-up of the massive coal gasification works that used to be in this area, run by Minnegasco's predecessors. But do we expect that this will need to be here basically in perpetuity? And does the Park Board have an agreement to acquire the land if it ever gets clean? Assuming we wouldn't want any private uses on that side of the River Road.

I was thinking that is actually the *main* gas facility for the city, as in pipe #1. All the coal gas was once produced from the flats there.

Yeah, the Central Mississippi Riverfront master plan calls it "critical to the city's gas infrastructure" and doesn't seem to anticipate it moving anytime soon.

Oh, great. Now the terrorists know.

EDIT: This 20 year old PDF has some information about the pollution at this site.

Yeah, I would guess that the Centerpoint facility is about as likely to be sold to the Park Board, or to developers, as Xcel's various riverfront substation properties. That is to say, never ever ever.


Although, there is a chance that in 40-50 years or so, we'll have gotten serious about saving the planet and weaned ourselves off fossil fuels entirely, in which case, it would be totally up for grabs. Start negotiations now, I suppose.

The hallways are strange in the Eitel. Feels like a dorm.

Grant made this comment in the "Apartment Boom" topic, and I responded that most large-footprint apartment buildings likely feel the same way, due to the long hallways, many units per floor, etc.

I then thought of this proposal and how you probably want to avoid that "dorm feel" in a high-buck condo building. Yet another reason that this would be better as two separate buildings - to have fewer units per floor, creating a greater sense of privacy. Two 14-story towers over a shared/common podium containing the lobby, amenities, etc. would seem to be more ideal here (other than on a pure cost basis for the developer, of course)

It seems reasonable to assume that those two office buildings and their acres of parking will be redeveloped eventually, in which case Legacy and Stonebridge may lose their river views as well.

I think both of those buildings are pretty new, though, aren't they?

Yep, I think that comment is rather relevant here. I've never been interested in apartment living that required a long walk down a hallway. Which is why I think the "Missing Middle" four/sixplexes to be much more humane and inviting, since you just walk up to your unit.

I'd rather see Stanton go even higher by a few floors (is he subject to a cap here?) than have a Riverwest-ish wall.

I think both of those buildings are pretty new, though, aren't they?

Phorio says 2000 for the Red Cross building and 2002 for the other one, so, yeah, redevelopment is probably a while out.

For height, looks like this is limited to 6 stories by right, due to the downtown height district, but getting a CUP doesn't seem to have been a problem for anything else in the area. Riverview is 26 stories tall, for example.

Increase to 17 floors and on the COW agenda for the 17th.
http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 175094.pdf

Hey, that's better. Not perfect, but better. Cool.

To the best of my knowledge the height restriction ends at 11th street. East of 11th I don't think there are any real restrictions. But the Mill District which ends at 11th does have height restrictions. How the Encore got the extra floors I'm not sure. But due to it being on 11th they probably gave them some leeway to change up, with everything being the same height.

One 17-story portion, one 14-story portion, each connected by an 8-story portion. Better variation making it appear as two towers.

Stanton going for approval on St. Patrick's Day ... I like his chances.

Here's renderings of the new design:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/millcityt ... 3587593463

more awful drivel from this developer. blocky prison like builldings on the riverfront yay!