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Seward Commons
Posted: July 6th, 2012, 1:51 pm
by mulad
Looks like there's some activity going on in the Seward Commons area, a TOD site which is a bit on the fringe of the Franklin Avenue station area. There are several connected/adjacent buildings along Minneapolis's Snelling Avenue between Cedar Avenue and East 24th Street. Free Geek Twin Cities had moved out a couple months ago, and Sisters Camelot also recently moved. I think they had both been at 2310 Snelling Ave, and it looks like the small office building on that lot has been demolished.
Some images from
this PDF at Seward Redesign/Redesign, Inc.
seward-commons-aerial.jpg
seward-commons-site.png
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: July 11th, 2012, 10:42 am
by 4-d
It looks like most of the plan revolves around water maintenance, which is pretty cool. Are they planning a walking bridge across franklin to the platform?
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: July 11th, 2012, 12:07 pm
by mulad
I presume most folks would just wander west to the Hiawatha LRT Trail and take that to the station.
There have been some improvements to the sidewalks at the Cedar-Franklin-Minnehaha-20th Ave intersection. The little island between Minnehaha and 20th has been enlarged a lot, and the sidewalk on the south side of Franklin seemed to be 15 to 20 feet wide. That makes me wonder if someone is planning to redevelop the plot right there (the site of the white, slightly "+" shaped building) -- having a building right up against the sidewalk would probably help the intersection feel a bit more civilized...
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: August 5th, 2012, 5:36 pm
by 1200onthemall
Biked by on the LRT trail today, they are pouring footings at 2310 Snelling.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: August 6th, 2012, 9:21 am
by mattaudio
While I like the idea of more density around the Franklin Ave station, I hope this development doesn't encroach upon future opportunity to change the layout of the neighborhood to reconnect the grid and make Hiawatha less of a freeway north of 26th. Those highway bridges at Cedar and Franklin look like they must be from the 40s or 50s. They've likely already been rehabbed a few times (maybe in the late 80's or 90's with the Hiawatha project). The exits have moved from Franklin to Cedar (maybe with the same project?).
I realize it is sometimes pointless to think about what our infrastructure may look like in 30 or 50 or 70 years, given that we don't have money to change much. But even a little foresight may pay dividends down the line. (think the LRT tracks near HERC which were removed after 2 years, or the 169/610 ramps which were removed after about 5 years).
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: August 31st, 2012, 9:24 am
by Tcmetro
2304 Snelling is proposed for a 60-unit Senior Housing development
3. Seward Senior Housing - 2304 Snelling Ave (Discussion)
A new 4-story, multiple-family dwelling with 60 units.
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/p ... S1P-097599
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: October 7th, 2012, 5:06 pm
by Nick
Didn't even remember this was happening until I saw it off Hiawatha yesterday.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: October 24th, 2012, 7:48 am
by Nick
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 099999.pdf
Site plan and rendering for the next phase of this are up. Pretty plain but luckily much less cartoonish than the first building.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: November 16th, 2012, 2:22 pm
by mulad
This received a $1.1 million Livable Communities grant from the Metropolitan Council:
http://metrocouncil.org/news/2012/LCDAGrantsNov2012.htm
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: January 17th, 2013, 12:33 pm
by lordmoke
Has anyone else been by here lately? There's a pretty sizable new building that's almost finished. It looks like it's going to be fairly ugly, and I can't find it in any of the renderings.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: January 17th, 2013, 12:50 pm
by mattaudio
Honestly we need to reconsider the entire network of streets/roads in this area, Cedar/Franklin/Minnehaha/Hiawatha/24th St/20th Ave S.... this area would have a much stronger sense of place if the mistakes of the mid-50s were reversed.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: May 23rd, 2013, 10:42 pm
by gobezlij
The first building in the Seward Commons area - Touchstone Mental Health's building - is getting closer to done. Landscaping work has begun.
IMAG0441.jpg
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: June 8th, 2013, 7:09 pm
by Nick
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: October 24th, 2013, 6:18 am
by schmitzm03
I couldn't find another thread for the senior housing development proposed for 2304 Snelling (directly adjacent to the finished senior housing development in the picture above).
They started work on it a few weeks ago. Info from the planning commission is here:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/p ... S1P-099991
This area is going to feel dramatically different in a couple of years.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: October 24th, 2013, 11:27 am
by woofner
In other Seward Commons news, they are already applying for
environmental remediation grants for Phase III, which will be at 22nd & Snelling and is described thusly:
Seward Commons (Phase III) (2200-2218 Snelling Ave.)
Projected DEED Request: $235,000
Projected Metropolitan Council TBRA Request: $200,000
Projected Hennepin County ERF Request: $200,000
The developer, Seward Redesign, Inc., has indicated that this third phase of the Seward Commons project (at the former Bystrom Brothers site) will include 84 units of market rate housing, 1500 square feet of new commercial space (designed to accommodate a community bike center), and a large green space that will serve all Seward Commons residents and function as a bike connection to/for the Seward neighborhood. The total projected development cost is $23,920,000. Grant funds, if awarded, will be used for soil remediation and for the abatement of asbestos and lead-based paint. The Seward Commons Phase III site is zoned I2 Medium Industrial District, PO Pedestrian Oriented Overlay District, and IL Industrial Living Overlay District. It is classified as a “multiple-family dwelling, five (5) units or more,” which is a conditional use in the IL district. The current proposal will require at a minimum site plan review and a conditional use permit. In general, the project design is supportable, but there may be changes recommended by staff during the public hearing review and approval process. The development site is south of the Franklin Avenue Blue Line LRT station on Snelling Avenue and 22nd Street. The site is located in the Franklin Avenue Transit Station Area as identified in The Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth. The future land use map in The Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth designates the site as Transitional Industrial, which supports residential development. A multiple-family dwelling would be an appropriate use in a transit station area and would be in conformance with the comprehensive plan for land use.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: October 24th, 2013, 4:38 pm
by mplser
anyone know where to find the site plan for phase 2?
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: November 22nd, 2013, 3:04 pm
by lordmoke
The second building is well underway now, for those who haven't been by.
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: February 17th, 2014, 8:22 pm
by mplser
Construction update (the building you can barely see along the left side is phase 1)
I really hope phase 3 of this will have retail on, or at least acknowledge the existence of Cedar Ave
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: February 4th, 2016, 4:04 pm
by seanrichardryan
Here comes phase III
First market rate housing in the area in years. Great TOD. This block looks great!
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 173255.pdf
Re: Seward Commons
Posted: February 4th, 2016, 6:09 pm
by Nathan
Yeah not much to complain about. Great housing stock, simple clean design and material usage, good use of the lot. You have to admire the community they are starting to create!
