Dinkytown Hotel - (1300 block of 4th Ave SE)

[mplser]

I know it's totally unrelated to this project, but does anyone know why The buildings with the Hideaway and the post office are set back so far from the street? I always thought this was strange.

[RailBaronYarr]

No answer for that question... Maybe it's come up during the SAP process?

Another random question.. Is there any hope for this hotel to have ground-floor retail? If it's not an apartment they basically get all the space noted as office/mail room/package and the whole residential entrance walkway back. How much room does a lobby/desk/waiting area consume for an urban hotel like this (I've been in European hotels where the main level area was maybe 850 sqft)? Would be great to find a restaurant or 2 to take over that space (instead of providing a breakfast area and kitchen) and just give coupons to hotel guests for the area. Will we see new renderings/floorplans anytime soon?

[lordmoke]

New renderings, bigger, MUCH better looking:
http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/241161911.html

[RailBaronYarr]

Guess I shoulda been on the Strib site

Just gonna edit my post to save space here.

- Looks like they're keeping 4k sqft of retail (previous was 4,700)
- Seems the faux second story fronting the street is now a real second level with only 4 above it
- The building loses a lot of vertical massing with the big patio above the ramp entrance (which is also set further back from the street), but gains some back by building out to lower level building walls in the back
- Nice use of a second setback along the front for the top story, IMO, and also that both setbacks are proposed to have balconies - this should be a very active building front with the patio, retail, and balconies.

[Silophant]

Cool! If that second-level patio gets used a lot, I think this will be a cool addition to 4th.

I'm wondering why the house on 13th needs to be demolished, though, since the first rendering doesn't show the building extending east of the Post Office property line at all. Not that I'm particularly attached to it, but it would be a shame to tear it down just for construction access and leave it an empty lot.

[RailBaronYarr]

One of the articles has Doran saying it would be for a small surface parking lot - potentially ZipCar spaces or also for guests. I'm not wild about losing a (admittedly mediocre architecturally) old home just for some surface spots.

[Silophant]

Argh. More surface parking is the last thing Dinkytown needs. Though maybe it'll help blunt some of the SD fury? They do love their surface parking.

[min-chi-cbus]

I know the answer even before I ask the question ("cost"), but why don't more developers try to infuse the pre-existing infrastructure with any new developments -- in this case, keep the existing 1-2 story buildings that serve as street retail and build apartments above?

How much more could it be vs. how much easier would the project fly through approvals?

[min-chi-cbus]

One of the articles has Doran saying it would be for a small surface parking lot - potentially ZipCar spaces or also for guests. I'm not wild about losing a (admittedly mediocre architecturally) old home just for some surface spots.

I honestly thought that the city literally "outlawed" removing existing buildings for the sake of surface parking? Or maybe that was just a proposal??

[twincitizen]

Watch and see if historic preservation jumps the shark at 4:30 today: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/hpc/WCMS1P-119148

[RailBaronYarr]

Is this meeting webcast or not? I don't see a link..

[FISHMANPET]

SD claims is not. Is anybody there that can liveblog?

[FISHMANPET]

For what it's worth, a Daily report is there livetweeting, though either he's not very good at it or nothing is happening, because there have only been 4 tweets so far (plus one of RT when he came into office, I'm sure this kid was like 12 back then)
https://twitter.com/nicolashallett

[RailBaronYarr]

Eric Roper is now at the event as well:

https://twitter.com/StribRoper

[RailBaronYarr]

Roper:

HPC denies demolition permit, recommends interim protection of one building. Looks like this will be first test of new, pro-density Council

Not surprising. Seems CPED is quick to approve and HPC is quick to deny demolition and the real decision comes from the Council. Roper is right on this being their first test (even if it's for a hotel).

[Silophant]

If the Opus development got through the old council, I'm optimistic that this one will get through the new, more pro-development council.

[twincitizen]

Because the bar is set so incredibly low, good comments on Star Tribune articles are just breathtaking:

Old doesn't always mean historical. The problem is that a lot of people, especially those who went to the U, associate Dinktytown with their youth. They perceive changes to Dinkytown as destroying part of their youth and the memories they might have from spending time in Dinkytown. I understand those feelings but you can't stop development because of it. I'm not a huge fan of change either but I really don't see a problem with this plan.

Regarding this eventual vote that will take place at the Z&P committee, expect the opinions of Lisa Bender and Jacob Frey (not on committee, but represents the area) to weigh heavily.

[mattaudio]

Warms the heart on this, the coldest of days.

[Didier]

It honestly baffles me how people portray these changes as being inconsequential to the current vibe of Dinkytown. The entire nature of the neighborhood is going to change from tattoo parlors and dirty pizza joints to high rises and Target Expresses.

This change doesn't necessarily mean it's for the worse. That's for everyone to determine for themselves. But let's be honest, the character of the neighborhood is changing, and in the case of the Doran development this stretch is not exactly a surface parking lot in dire need of redevelopment.

[mattaudio]

It was before a board that analyzes structures for historical relevance, not categories of businesses.

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