City Center

Downtown - North Loop - Mill District - Elliot Park - Loring Park
John
Capella Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby John » January 13th, 2014, 11:35 am

I think any restaurant would have a much better chance of success in the old Forum space if they gave it more streetfront presence. Even with signage and awnings, it really tends to get lost and overlooked. It would be wonderful if they could design a facade for the space that would reflect the interior design.
Agree. The Forum exterior is one of my pet peeves about City Center. They need to completely reinvent it stand out more. Or even better, I wish they would move it out of City Center altogether, and reinstall the interior into a more appropriate and prominent space.

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Avian
Union Depot
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Re: City Center

Postby Avian » January 13th, 2014, 1:20 pm

Is there any chance that they'd consider maybe adding some lights on the redone roof? It really wouldn't take much to make this building at least presentable. Personally, I'd like to see a new crown go up top, but that's probably not going to happen. Even just a light bar around the top would look so much better - and now might be the time with All-Star game coming up so soon. It's ridiculously visible from Target Field.
I can guarantee 100% that Shorenstein is looking at this possibility.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.”
― Plato

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Nick
Capella Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby Nick » January 13th, 2014, 5:47 pm

I saw that they were doing work out here this morning and was all excited that they saw this, but walking by this afternoon I'm guessing they had probably ordered the panels before last week, ha. Looks like a hint at a rendering of the remodel? Windows?!

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IMG_5088 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr

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IMG_5091 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr
Nick Magrino
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mattaudio
Stone Arch Bridge
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Re: City Center

Postby mattaudio » January 13th, 2014, 5:52 pm

If there's architecture so iconic as to merit a representative line art drawing, it's definitely City Center.

John
Capella Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby John » January 13th, 2014, 6:16 pm

^^^When I saw this today my feeling was they were going to reopen this entrance now that they moved the bus stop. Even that would be an improvement from being boarded up. I think Avian's statement above hints at the possibility of a fairly dramatic renovation of the complex with Shorenstein investing some big bucks to redo it. If that happens it could really live up to its name as "City Center" and become an asset to our city.

Aville_37
Union Depot
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Re: City Center

Postby Aville_37 » January 13th, 2014, 11:22 pm

Question - were there originally windows on the ground floors?

MplsSteve
Nicollet Mall
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Re: City Center

Postby MplsSteve » January 14th, 2014, 7:32 am

I believe that when Donaldson's was originally there most (but not all) of the ground floor bays along Nicollet and part way down 6th and 7th had display windows.

JackGrayson
City Center
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Re: City Center

Postby JackGrayson » February 13th, 2014, 2:24 pm

Until I happened to walk out of City Center on the street level one day and realized what building I was in, I never actually knew what City Center was from outside on the Nicolette [sic] Mall. Honest to god, I really did thinking it was a parking garage or a bus station or something. It is actually painful how ugly it is. Who would allow that to happen? Anyway, I did happen to notice the renovations happening around office max, hopefully its an improvement. As for the tower, I thought it would be cool for Target to put a giant, spinning, bulls-eye logo on the top. It would be iconic and could be seen for miles and talk about branding for Target. Probably thousands of reasons why that could never happen (before you annoying ass knit pickers take me to task) but what ever its my fantasy

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Avian
Union Depot
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Re: City Center

Postby Avian » February 14th, 2014, 6:32 pm

^Not to be an annoying nit-picker :) but Minneapolis has an ordinance against signs and logos atop buildings.

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.”
― Plato

Chauncey87
Nicollet Mall
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Re: City Center

Postby Chauncey87 » February 14th, 2014, 7:56 pm

With the exception of hotels. :D

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TommyT
Target Field
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Re: City Center

Postby TommyT » February 17th, 2014, 8:25 am

^Not to be an annoying nit-picker :) but Minneapolis has an ordinance against signs and logos atop buildings.
But isn't Wells Fargo proposing signage on top of their new buildings? I thought this was a big deal because of "aerial shots" from football games or whatever???

bubzki2
Foshay Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby bubzki2 » February 17th, 2014, 8:29 am

Well, where there's money, there is often a "variance." Laws & ordinances have an affinity for exceptions, when they want to have exceptions. :)

go4guy
Foshay Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby go4guy » February 17th, 2014, 9:38 am

^Not to be an annoying nit-picker :) but Minneapolis has an ordinance against signs and logos atop buildings.
But isn't Wells Fargo proposing signage on top of their new buildings? I thought this was a big deal because of "aerial shots" from football games or whatever???
The Wells Fargo signage you are thinking of is literally on the roof. Painted on the roof. Cannot see it unless you are flying over or looking at it from Google Earth. I belive the restriction is for signage on the face of the building. Signage that your average pedestrian or car driver could see. I think this is only above a certain height, so the signs on the face of the new Wells Fargo buildings would not be high enough to require a variance. I could be wrong, but that is my understanding.

JackGrayson
City Center
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Re: City Center

Postby JackGrayson » February 18th, 2014, 9:24 am

So who knows exactly what they are planning for this hideous complex? Are there renderings anywhere? I've seen the barricades but have not been able to find much online as far as details of the renovation. I personally would love to see a Movie Theater in City Center. Perhaps reconvert the old food court/ Anchor Department Store space back from office space to retrofit a multiplex. Never gonna happen but oh well. Downtown could use a movie theater, Nicolette [sic] Mall needs more entertainment options, and City Center just needs.

bubzki2
Foshay Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby bubzki2 » February 18th, 2014, 9:39 am

I think downtown could use a new cinema, but I'd like to know why Block E floundered before I suggested this idea. My thought is that a new theater should probably be nearer to where people are living, as opposed to the CBD (for the near future). With St. Anthony main nearby, perhaps something south or east of the CBD? I don't think City Center is the right placement for this, personally.

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FISHMANPET
IDS Center
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Re: City Center

Postby FISHMANPET » February 18th, 2014, 9:48 am

I thought Block E did well enough, they just got kicked out in anticipation of the casino?

mnmike
Wells Fargo Center
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Re: City Center

Postby mnmike » February 18th, 2014, 10:01 am

Yes and no...their lease was structured so that the rent was based on how much money the theater made...Revenue was low enough that basically they were staying for free, which is why Alatus wanted them out. I still think some sort of upgraded theater/bar could have worked there (like the west end), but doesn't matter now. Anyhooo...

go4guy
Foshay Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby go4guy » February 18th, 2014, 11:27 am

A concept like the West End theater would do much better. Plus, there are a lot more people living within walking distance.

bubzki2
Foshay Tower
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Re: City Center

Postby bubzki2 » February 18th, 2014, 11:28 am

I tend to agree. The ICON Showplace model, especially the premium seating options I think would fly well with the downtown, DINKs and Luxury folks.

mamundsen
Wells Fargo Center
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Re: City Center

Postby mamundsen » February 18th, 2014, 1:56 pm

For me the ICON showplace is the way ALL movie theaters will be in the near future. Reserved seating, alcohol and better food service. It is the only way theaters can stay relevant as home theaters get better and better.

I think it would be nice to have a high end theater in downtown. I'm not sure City Center is the place for it though...


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