urbanMSP

IMG_4524 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr


IMG_4525 by UrbanMSP, on Flickr

TONS of new renderings. Popped up as an ad in my facebook news feed. Looks like this is going to be a pretty cool place to live in terms of amenities, especially by comparison with the other developments that offer little more than a small workout facility.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 960&type=1

This is pretty much built as a structure now, and it is HUGE.

Meanwhile, a giant hole across the street is prepping for the Venue or whatever. The area feels completely different already.

I'd love to see some pics. Remember now, this is "only" 325-350 units, while this project in Bloomington is calling for over 400 in only 6 floors. I can't even fathom how massive something like that is going to look, and to think that in other cities like Denver, Houston or Dallas there are projects like these that are 500, 600, 700, and more units!!!

I almost wish there were codes against this type of development -- like a FAR minimum with a certain # of units.

FYI - it looks like the address in the thread title is out of date. That was the old building. According to the facebook page the permanent site location: 515 14th Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55414.

I was going to be super impressed for a second when I thought the address was actually 554.

from their fb page:

Well, that's certainly something, isn't it?

Starting to add cladding...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f4xu9spccd21t ... .03.47.jpg

Here's the garage entrance on 6th St.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/67etn2fe21t8y ... .04.47.jpg

And from the corner of 14th & 5th.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6dybqzf693g2w ... .07.20.jpg

This was...perhaps a bad decision.

Agreed. I was also in Dinkytown yesterday afternoon and thought that this was poorly conceived.

In retrospect, the fact that there was a huge fight over the Opus/HoH project while this monstrosity went largely unnoticed just months prior is unfortunate (and downright embarassing for SaveDinkytown). This project does far more to change the character of the area than any other project could possibly do. This is the only new construction in the entire city that carries a footprint larger than a whole city block. Literally the least the city could have done was acquire a bike/ped easement through the site to break it up a little.

Also, are we really not burying powerlines in this city? I feel like all large scale redevelopments should be burying powerlines or at least contributing to some fund for that purpose. Between this behemoth and The Venue, there should be no above ground lines anywhere around this intersection or along 5th Street once they're done.

Just based on those pictures and my limited understanding of utilities, it looks to me like those utility poles are no longer carrying electricity -- just telecomm, which may yet be buried separately.

That's correct. None of those pictures have power lines in them. That's just telecom. Well, the small wires at the top of the pole in the fourth picture might be service voltage (120V/240V), but that's probably just temporary.

Edit: I was only seeing the bottom two pictures.

Meh. The Marshall HS building could have definitely been saved, but density is better when it contains the amenities and businesses that this will host. I consider this like a modern dorm more than anything - if you look at the footprint, its actually comprable to something you would see in the Superblock. Not that they are similar in any fashion, but the comparisons could be made.

In the end, expanded retail, potential housing for BOTH students and faculty (The townhomes on the back side facing 6th Street could very much be for the latter) and a much desired grocery store will be a huge boon for the area.

As far as footprints go, I think it's saving grace will actually be the Venue across the street, and arguably the Chateau to the west too. If the project near the brownstones on the corner of 15th Ave and 5th St ever comes to fruition, it could also mitigate the size of this baby. This strip of 5th Street is going to look so dense and much more urban next year at this time.

Interesting post from somebody on The Marshall FB page. She said that she was very disappointed a bid for a grocery store fell through, and that she hopes there will not be a Walgreens.

If this ends up being the case, I would be extremely disappointed. A grocery store in this site is exactly what the neighborhood wants and needs. Anything other than a grocer and this project is a huge waste and a dud, in my opinion. Hopefully it ends up being speculation.

Would large quantities of posts on the FB page from the community help at all with trying to find a grocer? I would assume it wouldnt fall to completely deaf ears.

Don't worry, Henny Penny is obsessed and lacks any facts.

Unfortunately for everyone, she was not wrong: http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/ ... l-and-myst

God dammit if its another Walgreen's that will be so lame. Ugh.

I prefer Walgreens to CVS though! Kinda like Target over Wal-Mart or K-Mart.

This is genuinely disheartening news. An actual grocery store is something seriously needed by this community.

On the other hand, this Madison Fresh Market place seems (from my quick Yelp research) to be overpriced and too upscale for college students. I'm not sure they would have gotten sufficient business when the necessities can be bought at CVS/Walgreens.

But on a third hand, plenty of students somehow are able to live in $1000+/month apartments, so maybe it wouldn't have been a problem.

Which makes me wonder why something like a Cub Foods doesn't snag this location; because that kind of store would certainly thrive here. Seriously.