urbanMSP

Ryan Cos. and Weidner Apartment Homes will redevelop the Sons of Norway site: https://www.ryancompanies.com/news/sons ... key-uptown

Wells Fargo owns part of the parking lot :/

I'm fully expecting acceptably mediocre. So pretty much the standard for a prime developable parcel in Minneapolis.

Really gotta believe Wells Fargo is willing to part with those two parcels for the right price. Their new building across Humboldt is so over-parked, it's not like they need the overflow.

http://www.startribune.com/sons-of-norw ... 41335323/

Can we always include a general summary of articles for those of us who are out of views?

One of the things I had hoped for was that lunds would move into the ground floor of some larger development, opening up that massive space for redevelopment. It seems more and more unlikely, but I'm still holding out hope!

http://www.startribune.com/sons-of-norw ... 41335323/

Can we always include a general summary of articles for those of us who are out of views?

Open up your browser in private or incognito mode and you can view all the articles your heart desires.

"Ryan Companies and Weidner Apartment Homes will purchase the building and its city block, on Lake Street between Holmes and Humboldt avenues, from the organization of descendants of Norwegian immigrants. They plan to demolish the building and redevelop the site, though plans are still forming."

...

"Sons of Norway will move back into the building when construction is completed and become an anchor tenant in time to celebrate the organization's 125th anniversary in 2020. The new headquarters will also serve as the office of the Honorary Consulate General of Norway in Minneapolis."

It would be nice to get something a little more noteworthy here than all the other similar looking buildings in the neighborhood.

So no love around here for Roy Thorshov, huh?

There was a previous discussion about this site when it was first announced (maybe a mod could find that and move it into this thread). In that discussion, I think a number of people felt that there would be value in preserving the modernist building. The site is certainly large enough that a major redevelopment could occur and not require its demolition.

It's an ugly as hell building.

Back in 1959, one of the HRA's attorneys called the Metropolitan Building "a monstrosity in the eyes of most observers."

And...drink!

I'm not seriously comparing the two as treasures; obviously the Met was a crown jewel. Just saying that current aesthetic values may not be 100% the best way to judge a building's worthiness. Sons of Norway is only a little more recent for us (55 years) than the Met was for them (70).

http://www.startribune.com/sons-of-norw ... 41335323/

Can we always include a general summary of articles for those of us who are out of views?

Open up your browser in private or incognito mode and you can view all the articles your heart desires.

Pro tips, thanks

And thanks for the summary Q

It's an ugly as hell building.

An opinion of ugly doesn't determine whether it's historic or worth saving. I happen to love the styling and the ground floor could easily be made more urban and street friendly without jeopardizing its character.

Well I will say the building looked better in the 1970's before that horizontal beam of concrete was added. To me it looks like a parking ramp with that.



Also I'm not real fond of the triangular-like piece on the top, especially with the blue border and decoration. Just looks out of place to me.

It's brutal as hell, and I love it. But the current building has been bastardized to a point of almost no return.

I can see how it would be incorporated into new construction though. It could be a rooftop space for a restaurant, with existing office space kept below. Making the first floor retail and bringing back a quasi plaza space that invites window shopping.