urbanMSP

Excellent! We don't have a page for this, do we?

https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1873

The balcony model is making its way to Union Depot:
https://www.facebook.com/uniondepot/pos ... 6368044305

The Balcony open house was basically a bust while I was there. Saw Tom Fisher and a few other St. Paul big wigs who were answering question. But it was many old white folks that you would have thought were looking at maps and a model of a city in a different state. Many could not wrap their heads around the concept I guess. Was hard to get a good look at the models due to many people that just stood there and did not make room for others. Maybe it was the displays of the High Line in NYC that they were trying to compare it to, that threw them off. I was frankly disappointed. But I did get a better sense of how they plan on tying in the river side of Shepard Road which until I got a better glimpse of the model made no sense. I wish them luck with their 6 phases.

But it was many old white folks that you would have thought were looking at maps and a model of a city in a different state.

Careful, my wife and I were part of that old white folks crowd. I thought there was a decent turnout, but we left before the main event, not sure how many others also departed early. It looked like what it was, an early design concept to test public reaction. Not much in the way of details. I agree, lots of people having trouble wrapping their head around it but I don't think it was an age thing. To me, the Olympic Sculpture garden in Seattle is a better comparison, showing what can be done with a challenging site. That was one of the examples they cited. We walked the area the Saturday morning after the Union Depot unveiling, trying to imagine how you would build a land bridge across the tracks and Sheppard. We didn't solve it.

Hey folks, If you're supportive of Mayor Coleman's parking meter plan, please come on down to Linwood Community Center at 7pm .
http://www.summithillassociation.org/ev ... nd-avenue/
You know the crazies will be out in full force... should be a good time.

One thing I was thinking about regarding Viking river cruises coming to St. Paul; I know in the announcement they said they would be running cruises from New Orleans to St. Paul, but what about the other way around? Surely they wouldn't send the ships all the way back down the river empty when they could turn around and start another fresh cruise? If that's the case, then I was wondering what kind of docking facilities will be needed for these ships since we'll be a terminal city rather than just a stop. I've never done a river cruise, only an ocean one and those have pretty substantial terminals for re-stocking fuel and provisions and boarding passengers. A causeway connected to SPUD might not cut it.

It wouldn't surprise me if they only do one-way. From what I recall from looking into some European cruise options this spring, that's exactly what Viking does there.

I have no knowledge of river cruises, but if it were a one way, I would think that they would want revenue from the southerners coming north and then have revenue from northerners heading south. I'd think that the cost whether filled or empty for fuel would be about the same. Just as well get some money both ways.

yeah that seems like a huge waste to essentially deadhead the entire way back. I was hoping to see people fly in to St. Paul from around the world for these trips. Many would likely fly in the night before and stay downtown so as not to miss early morning departures. That doesn't really happen on the end of these trips in my experience with cruising. Usually the final arrival is early enough in the morning that you can get on a flight home.

Downtown St. Paul Office occupancy is up to 90% according to BOMA:

http://www.startribune.com/downtown-st- ... 330779641/

That's the best rate since 2001, which sounds great except is mainly from conversion to residential space. Still, the downtown population is up to 8200 from 4,800 from five years ago with more on the way.

http://goldenrulebuilding.com/golden-rule-tower/

Somehow found this while looking at some old Saint Paul proposals. Apparently it was a project from the 1990's according to Emporis. But, I think it may be back from the dead since I found this on loopnet:

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/13740...Saint-Paul-MN/

And it was updated 3 days ago.

There's a couple Google matches:

http://www.showcase.com/property/81-7th ... ta/6474071
http://www.officespace.com/st-paul-mn/b ... nth-street

Someone should call one of these brokers.

Working link

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/13740944 ... t-Paul-MN/

Interesting coincidental article:

http://www.startribune.com/downtown-st- ... 330779641/

"Downtown St. Paul offices are fuller than any time since 2001
Demand helps, but decline mostly due to conversions of offices to housing"

Another take: http://finance-commerce.com/2015/10/do- ... downtowns/

I know where and what the Sibley Square conversion is. Does anyone have any info on where the second, Liberty Square is located? First I remember ever hearing about this project??

Liberty Square: http://www.emporis.com/buildings/362205 ... aul-mn-usa

I don't know anything about a residential conversion either. Appears that it was (or still is) a charter school.

I saw today on the Historic St Paul Facebook page that the renovation work has begun on the Palace theater.

Liberty Square: http://www.emporis.com/buildings/362205 ... aul-mn-usa

I don't know anything about a residential conversion either. Appears that it was (or still is) a charter school.

Thanks for the heads up on which building it is at least. Hope they can get some retail fitted into that ground floor fronting 7th at least. That section of 7th is a no mans land. Needs some doors and windows onto it.

Well the parking meters on Grand idea was nice while it lasted.

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_ ... s-official

Remarkable so many Grand residents and businesses are on record that there is no parking problem.

Noted.