Cossetta's Alimentari

[spectre000]

Construction update from today.

DSCN1196 by spectre 000, on Flickr


DSCN1197 by spectre 000, on Flickr

[web]

the brickwork......eh

[seanrichardryan]

That's rather hideous, what happened to the street wall in the rendering?

[seanrichardryan]

And couldn't they have used some of that 7 million to actually restore the facade of the old building?

[dmdhashw]

Couldn't they have tried a little harder to match the original building?

[mplser]

whaaaat? Why even do a rendering if you aren't going to build it to look like that?

[Le Sueur]

Little bummed out with some of the details on this, but honestly I'm more excited about the food, and improved experience with this one. It was always so crowed inside on the main floor, and the areas for outdoor dinning will be a huge bonus. I agree the exterior could have meshed much better.

[spectre000]

The choice of color for the brick is a disappointment. But I do like the arches, the large windows, and the rooftop seating.

And it gets rid of another surface lot along W 7th. So overall it's a win. But still a shame about the brick.

[Wedgeguy]

Hopefully the awnings are still a go and they will help distract from the brick. Another, have to see the completed project before I pass my final judgement. But again, who need to be fired for the lousy choice of brick. Would have been better to have gone with a cream brick than the poor match that they used.

[THERAT]

Greetings,

I believe the current building was to be renovated also if I recall. This should look great at night with the large windows. Name of the new resturant has been revealed.
http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_20847 ... restaurant

Same name as in 'The Godfather' where Michael knocks off the turk and bad cop.

[Nathaniel]

http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_207 ... quirements

Cossetta's appeals denial of variance over storm water requirements

Cossetta's, the popular pizzeria and Italian market undergoing a three-story expansion, is fighting a Board of Zoning Appeals decision that denies the restaurant an exemption to storm water runoff requirements.

David Cossetta maintains that digging an underground tank trench to collect storm water from adjoining parking lots will add $250,000 to his construction expenses, which are partially covered by low-interest, market-rate and "forgivable" city loans.

He fears the system will overflow into his basement kitchen and food storage space. City officials say the trench would allow storm water to be released into the storm sewer system at a controlled rate, a requirement for publicly funded projects.

There appears to be a history here that I'm missing. I believe Cossetta's has had contentious issues with the City regarding living wage laws and an interest-free loan. I think there is a very reasonable reaction the City of St. Paul can have here: Cossetta's can be exempt from storm water regulations, but in turn, if there is any damage done to neighboring buildings as a result of their runoff, then they pay for those damages.

[THERAT]

The property accross the street(200 West 7th) is on the market - 10 million - good luck with that price.

[spectre000]

The property accross the street(200 West 7th) is on the market - 10 million - good luck with that price.

OMG. They've gotta be kidding. It's not even worth a tenth of that.

[spectre000]

DSCN1236 by spectre 000, on Flickr

[seanrichardryan]

What in the world is that huge grey box? Is he now just storing the rainwater on the roof? Seems like an awful lot of space for an HVAC penthouse.

[Wedgeguy]

What in the world is that huge grey box? Is he now just storing the rainwater on the roof? Seems like an awful lot of space for an HVAC penthouse.

I'd say that is a HVAC and probably partof the kitchen exhaust system. But yes it is awfully large!

[lordmoke]

Good lord, that thing is an abomination. I was hoping that it would start to look better as work progressed, but alas...

[Nathan]

Oh dear lord, it's hideous.

[Wedgeguy]

Oh dear lord, it's hideous.

Could be alot worse. Walked by it today. I wish that the facade was more 3 dimensional instead of so flat. So many small things that could have nake the building stand out and have some life. Like very dull and lifeless at this point.

[aguaman]

love the arches. so rare in construction these days...