Schafer Richardson Development - 747 Third St. N.

[HiawathaGuy]

One of North Loop’s last remaining surface parking lots could become apartments in $70M project
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... rking.html
*LOCKED*

Synopsis:
One of the largest blank canvases left in the North Loop — a 2.5-acre surface parking lot a block off Washington Avenue — might become a 207-unit apartment building.

An entity tied to Schafer Richardson is in the preliminary stages of a $69.7 million project at 747 Third St. N. That’s a large, rectangular surface parking lot on the block southwest of The Freehouse.

[SurlyLHT]

Considering if my memory serves me correctly that the Atlas tower has 230 units or so and it's 40 stories this is a pretty significant proposal. (I'm sure this project will be much less than 40 stories.)

[RailBaronYarr]

Gotta say, it'd be really nice if the city could try to preserve some ped ROW in the middle of this block (and also the undeveloped one between Washington and 3rd St) to provide connectivity. It's too bad the 720/730 lofts have the parking structure raised up a bit preventing easy (or at least ADA) connection down to 4th. Anyway.

[HiawathaGuy]

Considering if my memory serves me correctly that the Atlas tower has 230 units or so and it's 40 stories this is a pretty significant proposal. (I'm sure this project will be much less than 40 stories.)

Not exactly apples/oranges... this lot is 2.51 acres, the Atlas Tower at 200 Central is .8 acres (or over 3 times the size). I'd guess 4-6 stories though, like many of the other North Loop projects nearby.

The article also mentioned this:

The project would also have ground-floor commercial space and 242 parking stalls, according to a grant application description before the Minneapolis City Council.

[MNdible]

This really ought to be at least two separate projects. Too much frontage along 3rd to develop in one fell swoop.

As far as I know, the city still needs to extract the 8th Avenue ROW, right? That should be a higher priority, I'd think.

Also, isn't this site effectively the last best hope for the North Loop park?

[SurlyLHT]

I'm hoping the project will be a bit higher and be varied in height with a park over Bassett Creek to produce some green space.

[downfall]

Latest proposal is new six-story, mixed-use building with 139 market rate apartments and 3,600 square feet of commercial space.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 210595.pdf

[grant1simons2]

Update: It did. It's only taking up 1/3 of the lot too


Didn't this already pass planning and council?

[jtoemke]

3 bedroom units! This is good. And retail on a street I didn't expect it. And the facade is varied in terms of massing. I'm on board. The color is the only miss for me.

[transplant]

This appears to be starting. Heavy equipment on site and Frana construction trailer. No fencing yet but lots of activity. If this indeed is starting I am excited to see this area when it is done. Major change in last few years with Nordic, repaving and restoration of all the streets and this project. I am also curious to see how the proposed park over the creek works out. I imagine once this is done they can focus on handing that piece of property off to the Park Board.

[downfall]

Speaking of the proposed North Loop park: https://northloop.org/new-park-planned-north-loop/

[transplant]

Well - it started and then stopped for about a month and a half. Not sure what the delay was. They seem to be moving again today finally. Lots of trucks lined up to move dirt and asphalt out.

[Oreos&Milk]

Latest proposal is new six-story, mixed-use building with 139 market rate apartments and 3,600 square feet of commercial space.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 210595.pdf

I'm not a big fan of the "two step up to retail 1st floor from the sidewalk" concept. Seems like it creates more of a barrier from the sidewalk and the building. Reminds me of Laurel Village on Hennepin. Just absolutely unnecessary, and pointless waste of good sidewalk space with creating new barriers. That crap makes our sidewalks less pedestrian friendly IMO.

[transplant]

I don’t think many architects do this without some pressing reason. In this case it is likely to get the basement out of the water table. The Nordic across the street had to eliminate a planned second basement level due to high water table. That being said if it is done well it can create a nice urban space for people to relax in and eat while slightly elevating their view and separating them from the main circulation.