urbanMSP

Some news regarding the renovations of the Wells Fargo building downtown.

Ryan Companies, which purchased the building earlier this year, is planning a $26.5 million renovation of the space. The updates will include a transparent glass replacement of the facade, plus a glass addition to the lobby that will provide an extension of the public space in Peace Plaza.

https://www.medcitybeat.com/news-blog/2 ... equest-tif

The DMC website has posted renderings for the Wells Fargo renovation. It looks substantially better than before.

Much better than that mirrored glass that acted more like a wall. Also interesting proposal off to the south.

I'm more interested in the two buildings in the background of the rendering. ☺

I'm more interested in the two buildings in the background of the rendering. ☺

That is the Harbor Bay proposal to replace the city owned parking ramp.

I'm more interested in the two buildings in the background of the rendering. ☺

That is what I am referring to however I think I got my bearings wrong.

I see they demolished the VFW and the small building next to it. Is anything going up soon on that site? Are they also going to take down the buildings to the south (e.g. Scharf)?

VFW was bought and torn down by UMR. No immediate plans, except I think turning it into green space for the time being.

So UMR is joining the anti-place ranks of Mayo in buying property and turning it into unactivated and unused plazas (at best) or surface parking.

So UMR is joining the anti-place ranks of Mayo in buying property and turning it into unactivated and unused plazas (at best) or surface parking.

Well, this space is already over by the large city park, and was an under utilized space, so not that big of a deal here. UMR is also filling space in the new Mortenson project, so they are aiding the development of those parking lots.

I'm more interested in the two buildings in the background of the rendering. ☺

That is the Harbor Bay proposal to replace the city owned parking ramp.

Isn't Harbor Bay over by the river and government center? These buildings are the Michael's site. Maybe that's what they're called...I dunno...

Harbor Bay is doing a few projects. They are also doing the hotel at the Virgil's site, right?

I believe Bloom Development is doing the river site, while Harbor Bay and Titan Development are doing the Michael's site. Do you know of any more details on the Virgil's site?

- Bloom has the river site
- Harbor Bay and Titan have the Michael's/Center Street ramp as well as the current Hilton project across the street
- EKN has the Virgil's site, along with the Legion hotel project, and the Holiday Inn redevelopment

Update from the DMC board meeting today.

Awesome! Still work to be done in downtown Rochester, but that's a great step forward. Next let's get some improvements to transit and bike system gaps in and around downtown.

Yes awesome news.

Work on the Holiday Inn renovation is about to begin:

"The plan is to close the Holiday Inn on Sept. 5, so work can start. The developer expects construction on the Broadway hotel to start in earnest in October or November with the re-opening happening in May or June 2019."

Amazing. This might actually have a greater impact on the downtown area than the Bloom project.

Ideally, I would have wanted the Holiday Inn building torn down and replaced as part of the an even larger Bloom project. This is the next best option though and makes much more sense economically. It will completely change the street level ambience of the building. Hope they also improve the rest of the facade at least a little. With this, the recently built H3 plaza, and the Bloom project, there will actually be more of a reason to visit this section of downtown.