Coze Flats - (628 University Ave SE)

[lordmoke]

On the agenda for May 20, all variances recommended to be denied:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/meeting ... S1P-107647

On a less related note, does anyone have any information about the building presently on this site? Clearly it's very, very old.

[mulad]

Hennepin GIS property map says it was built in 1928, but who knows if that's accurate.

[MplsSteve]

According to a report by the Hertiage Preservation Comission it was built between 1860-1865

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/gro ... 101236.pdf

Too bad it's going to come down. Not many buildings in Minneapolis from that time anymore.

[lordmoke]

I love how neither this (one of the oldest structures in the city) nor the Totino's Building (one with a lot of history and significance) are "worth saving," and yet one of those stupid Healy houses that litter the city is apparently remarkable enough to keep. What a load of crap.

[mattaudio]

^this

[seanrichardryan]

I believe they all have merit and deserve protection. Why don't you appeal the staff findings?

[woofner]

I wish the city had a program to move historic houses to Nicollet Island. There's room for around a dozen more houses there just within and adjacent to the existing house cluster. They could move insignificant oldest existing houses in the city like this one there, and there would be room for both Queen Anne-influenced Colonial Revival structures and Colonial Revival-influenced Queen Annes. You could still walk around it and it would be pretty (prettier, even) but there wouldn't be tick-breeding vacant lots all over the place.

[MplsSteve]

I totally agree re: moving more historic homes to Nicollet Island, however the park board owns all the land and as I recall it was a major battle just getting them to agree to preserve the existing housing and moving five additional homes in.

[RailBaronYarr]

^^ This is a really good idea. There is definitely a TON of room there to have some houses from areas around the city where the potential for redevelopment is to high to justify keeping the existing structure.

I know I've come off as a curmudgeon regarding historic preservation, but this is a great compromise. I do see the appeal of having homes stay where they are built to preserve a bygone era, but the tradeoffs of growing the city to a place that can support real transit, businesses, and affordably house population of people is too great.

For some of the bigger mansions/houses, an adaptive re-use would make them financially viable while retaining the exterior and history. I think it's sad when we lose 2-3 story buildings that address the street really well (like the Totino building) because we really don't have a lot of good urbanism like that int he first place, and it seems like keeping what we have as possible would be better than tearing it down.

[mullen]

yes this is sad...1860-1865? i didn't know it was that old.

city used to have a program of moving homes to nicollet island. most of the homes on the island were moved there. most people just assume the island was this quaint residential neighborhood always.

[mattaudio]

Where's Nicole Curtis and when she could actually do something useful for our city?

[MNdible]

Meh. Just because it's old... have you looked at the house in question?

[woofner]

The Stevens and Ard Godfrey houses aren't exactly stunning, either. If they restored the window frames and replaced some of the missing cornice brackets, this would be a handsome house. Not that I care much about this or the Healy house at 24th & Colfax, but there is plenty of room at Nicollet Island, and frankly it could use a semi-detached house like this to add more activity.

[MNdible]

Looking at the house again, I can't tell at all what portion of the house is even original. It's clearly had some major additions put on it over the years.

[Didier]

How much does it cost to move an old crappy house a few miles down the road and then restore it?

Not that I'm anxious to bulldoze old houses or anything, but it seems like we're talking about a false option here.

[contrast]

Meh. Just because it's old... have you looked at the house in question?

Agree- this is not an impressive house and it is on busy Unviversity Ave- revedelopment is much better than preservation in this case. If historic preservation was based on age alone, a bunch of the downtown parking lots would probably also qualify as historic. Yes, it would be nice if it could be moved to Nicollet Island, but even though this house is quite old, it is not at the same level of importance as the houses two blocks north or the much younger but struggling mansions in South Mpls.

[frenat]

There's really not much to preserve with that old house. It certainly doesn't look historic from the outside. If it was moved to Nicollet Island, people would wonder why they built an old crappy looking house out there next to all the historic stuff.

[dmdhashw]

Are there any updates regarding this project?

[dmdhashw]

There is now a jersey barrier around this site, and there was some excavation equipment earlier this week, but it's gone now.


628 University Ave SE by dmd.hashw, on Flickr

[widin007]

House was reduced to rubble today.