Minneapolis Armory

[grant1simons2]

Finally bought for $6 million by Ned Abdul? Shea design will be doing the interior design for it!? If this doesn't make you excited that a historical building is being re-purposed from being technically "surface parking", then I don't know what will. Time to run some more pedestrian connection plans by the city. Being able to easily get from the park to a concert should be easy!

[trkaiser]

Nice! Shea does such great work - can't wait to see some plans. I'd think there would be many benefits to this being finished before the Super Bowl.

[acs]

Can't wait for this, any investment that will restore this and bring it up to code opens up so many uses in the future. In an ideal world I'd say this needs 3 things done to it, none of which may fly because of historic preservation rules.
1. A skyway connection from the HCMC Campus to the government center ramp and the rest of the system.
2. Extend the skylights on the side facing the commons all the way down to ground level
3. construct a grand pedestrian entrance facing 5th and the park.

[Silophant]

Time to run some more pedestrian connection plans by the city. Being able to easily get from the park to a concert should be easy!

If the Armory isn't parking, is there any reason to have that block of 5th St. remain open to cars? Presumably it could be laid out so the loading docks use any of the other three streets.

[grant1simons2]

Thats exactly what my plans were last year. Closing that section of 5th off to cars and making it a bike/ped connection that flows in and out from the armory to the park.

[PigsEye]

Can't wait for this, any investment that will restore this and bring it up to code opens up so many uses in the future. In an ideal world I'd say this needs 3 things done to it, none of which may fly because of historic preservation rules.
1. A skyway connection from the HCMC Campus to the government center ramp and the rest of the system.
2. Extend the skylights on the side facing the commons all the way down to ground level
3. construct a grand pedestrian entrance facing 5th and the park.

There was a tidbit of information released from the vikings a while back that suggested such a skyway connection. In the url description it suggested the segment would be connected by tunnel. Would that be realistic in this portion of downtown to make a tunnel connection if a skyway would upset the preservation rules?

[Silophant]

It could happen. City Hall has tunnels to the Hennepin County Government Center and the Federal Courthouse for just that reason. I don't think that the parking ramp across 5th has a basement, though, does it?

[grrdanko]

The Haff Ramp is connected to the tunnels.

[Wedgeguy]

The Haff Ramp is connected to the tunnels.

Is the ramp its self connected to the tunnels, or just that the ramp is connected to the Grain exchange which is connected to the tunnels?

[grrdanko]

The Haff Ramp is connected to the tunnels.

Is the ramp its self connected to the tunnels, or just that the ramp is connected to the Grain exchange which is connected to the tunnels?

The ramp itself. Take the elevator or stairs to the basement and you can take it to the Federal Courthouse.

[Archiapolis]

Thats exactly what my plans were last year. Closing that section of 5th off to cars and making it a bike/ped connection that flows in and out from the armory to the park.

Oh my god. I don't understand you people...there will be PILES of dead bodies in the Mill District if every street isn't a thoroughfare for ambulances!

[PigsEye]

Thats exactly what my plans were last year. Closing that section of 5th off to cars and making it a bike/ped connection that flows in and out from the armory to the park.

Couldn't they close it all the way from Chicago to 3rd without having to much impact? Also would it be possible around like the US Bank Plaza to switch the sidewalks into access roads (both a one way. Entrance from 2nd Exit from 3rd) then using the existing roadway as a walkway/bikeway and still keeping the south sidewalk too. That might be a way to greatly push to turning the roadway into a carfree thorofare.

[grant1simons2]

Arch, don't clump a big group of people together just because they all believe in urban well being. My concept is wide enough to allow emergency vehicles though.

[Silophant]

Preeeeety sure he was joking.

[grant1simons2]

Even better example of what can be done on 5th and even Portland

https://youtu.be/QSOxRiq1cSE?t=13s

[Archiapolis]

Even better example of what can be done on 5th and even Portland

https://youtu.be/QSOxRiq1cSE?t=13s

I was "joking"...my pessimistic side reared its very ugly head (again). Of COURSE this should be closed to car traffic but I can already hear the complaints of whoever owns this piece of road that it "isn't feasible" because <insert completely bullsh1t car related sticking point here>.

[trigonalmayhem]

I had a dream where the park would slope up as it went west and then cross 5th to come right up to the armory entrance. You could use the slope to cross Portland too and have a natural pedestrian flow with a gentle grade all the way from the light rail station.

[grant1simons2]

Huh. Looks like work has already begun. Grinding and sanding away!

[jet777]

It'd be nice if Ned Abdul finishes this project. Can we get an update on why his project on N 3rd St in the north loop has been stalled for a year?

[Wedgeguy]

It'd be nice if Ned Abdul finishes this project. Can we get an update on why his project on N 3rd St in the north loop has been stalled for a year?

My guess there is a partnership or divorce suit that is possibly going on and tying it up in court.. It seems that about the time he was taking on this project he had some other issues going on. This is only my guess from what little I remember about that time period now.