urbanMSP

I usually take the express buses between Hopkins and downtown for the past four months. But the couple times I’ve had to take the 12 I’ve gotten to see this and I like it.

This is kinda interesting - the developers bought out the entire condo building at 3014 Holmes (2.5 story, 10 units, built 1926). That's a good thing since the development fully surrounds and towers over this building on 3 sides. They are currently using the building as their construction offices. Once the project is complete, I'd guess they will either hold the building as rentals or sell it whole as an apartment building, rather than sell as individual condos again. I'm betting on the 1st option - they'll just incorporate the building as part of the overall development...possibly giving future renters here access to the amenities, etc.

Sons of Norway construction Minneapolis 2 7-11-19 by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

the spindle thing on the top of this project looks pretty cool. I can't figure out how to upload a picture.

This is now called "Daymark" and has a website https://minnesota.weidner.com/apartment ... rk-uptown/

This is now called "Daymark" and has a website https://minnesota.weidner.com/apartment ... rk-uptown/

"you’ll live just a short drive from Target and The Mall Of America for your shopping needs."

The prices are outrageous. Subtract a grand from what they are charging and it would be reasonable.

So shockingly expensive!

DAYMARK.
(ahh ahh ahh)
FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMARK.
(ahh ahh ahh)
CHAMPION OF THE YUPS.

DAYMARK.
(ahh ahh ahh)
FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMARK.
(ahh ahh ahh)
CHAMPION OF THE YUPS.

Ok - now that is funny!

Is it just me or are a ton of those layouts super weird?

It's all the angles. For a living room, they are not as big a deal, but it makes it harder to fit a bed in a bedroom and still have much space left over. I also don't get the double sinks in the bathrooms.

Sons of Norway Daymark apartment construction Minneapolis 2-22-20 by Matt Bappe, on Flickr

It will be interesting to see what kind of retail is able to fill the main floor if any. The landscape has changed dramatically in Uptown. There are more people moving into overpriced apartments which leaves less money to spend in the shops in the neighborhood.

[Mod note: replies to this post were moved over to the Uptown Retail & Restaurant News thread]

Some of this building is listed at $2.75-$3.30 a sf instead of $2.25-$2.50 that we are used to seeing... Let alone that some the units are insanely configured.

I think this will struggle to fill and honestly worries me about the commercial space prices as well.

For example, The Girard wastes a ton of space and results in a tiny kitchen. The jump from the smallest studio Lagoon $1304 (386 sf, $3.30 a sf) to the next Newton $1512 (563 sf, $2.68 a sf) seems random?

I know they don't straight price these and floor and views play a role but it seems pretty inconsistent.

The largest units were clearly laid out first and best - maybe that strategy will pay off?

So this is essentially complete. I have to admit something. The big corner rotunda originally struck me as a pretty ridiculous design idea. I've come around to thinking that the big corner rotunda is absolutely a ridiculous design idea that is also a great addition for this part of town.

The reason I've come around on this is that I discovered that this dumb thing is visible from basically everywhere. You can see it from across Bde Maka Ska, you can see it from Kenwood across Lake of the Isles, you can see it down Lake Street. It's a local landmark that is deeply silly and also really big and in your face. It's good to have landmarks like these, even if they are absurd.

The rotunda isn't as ridiculous as putting 19th century styled cornices on a 21st century building. I don't mine the three exterior finishes since it looks like they're using them to break up the facade rather than to try to fake history.

Don’t you live in Philadelphia? How do you know all of this?