The Bridges - (950 University Avenue SE)

[Nick]

But what about the free pArTY buSSSSS--$$<3?!

Yeah, this whole boom around the U feels like a crazy experiment. We'll see how it turns out. College has become much less of an educational experience and much more of something you go to so you can put it on your resume above your "leadership" experiences so you can get a job in human resources. Who knows where that's headed in the future. In the meantime, we may as well get some increased taxbase.

[Nathan]

Actually I think the U is behind on this sort of housing, so it's not much of an experiment anymore. When I went to ASU there was all sorts of 'resort style college residences" and it has actually forced ASU to build better dorms with amenities like courtyards and pools and such to compete, students were adamant about not living on campus, and the school was loosing a lot of $$$

[MNdible]

Must... resist... making stupid joke about ASU and party buses...

[widin007]

Well I know as a former prospective student that the U had the least amount of on campus or near campus housing in the big ten, soo its more of a catch up game. there are 50,000 students and all

[Nathan]

Must... resist... making stupid joke about ASU and party buses...

HA! never hold back.

[stock345]

Must... resist... making stupid joke about ASU and party buses...

HA! never hold back.

Seriously please speak freely.

[frenat]

College has become much less of an educational experience and much more of something you go to so you can put it on your resume above your "leadership" experiences so you can get a job in human resources.

How so?

[dmdhashw]

You know, I came across an entry on the Java Properties website several months ago regarding this site. Here it is: http://www.javaprop.com/prop/211-10th.html

Capture.JPG

Not sure if any of the information / renders on their website are still valid, but still interesting to see.

[Nathan]

While that is a pretty decent prospect, I just can't understand how they could possibly need that much surface parking with parking under both buildings. I would think they could use their space considerably more economically.

[Didier]

Is it just me, or does that rendering overstate how much space there is there?

[dmdhashw]

Is it just me, or does that rendering overstate how much space there is there?

I don't know, it is a fairly substantial chunk of land, and the residential building seems relatively tame in comparison to the superblock projects we have seen.

Here's an aerial to compare the block against the FloCo / original Florence Court buildings:

Capture.JPG

[mplser]

that is an extremely disappointing rendering

[Nick]

That doesn't seem like a likely outcome. Wasn't Kelly Doran talking like ten stories on this lot?

[dmdhashw]

That doesn't seem like a likely outcome. Wasn't Kelly Doran talking like ten stories on this lot?

Yeah, like I said in my initial post, I came across this a few months ago, so who knows if it is still valid.

[min-chi-cbus]

You'd think the neighboring residents would want a taller building too, since it'd do a much better job of blocking the noise from the freeway.

[Didier]

This is a pretty unique location with tons of visibility from the bridges, and the residents will forever have unobstructed skyline views.

So basically what I'm saying is that this site really shouldn't be wasted on something so lame. I don't even need height, but architecturally.

[Nick]

Rendering and site plans:

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 102314.pdf

Big meh. This is a super visible location and one of the gateways to campus. Reeeeal earthy. Disclaimer: I'm not Steve Minn

[twincitizen]

Still, 11 stories means concrete and not stick, right?

This is great for the surrounding area, they get a free sound/sight barrier from wide open 35W right there. Hopefully the neighborhood doesn't muck it up. There will be a fight over parking...that's quite the variance they're seeking. Proposing 140 spaces for 200 units/292 BRs (~200 required). Obviously I'm on the side of not requiring the same amount of parking for University/downtown adjacent housing as other parts of the city, so it should go forward as proposed. Isn't the easy solution to make the parking a (BIG) separate charge from the rent, so people will be discouraged from owning cars in a transit/ped/bike "friendly" environment?

The color choices are not ideal...that pale yellow is just gross. But otherwise it looks like they're proposing covering most of the building in prefab dark brick, much like our beloved Greenleaf.

They are doing a lot with a VERY challenging site.

[lordmoke]

Still, 11 stories means concrete and not stick, right?

Yep! A little tired of seeing all the stick construction, as I'm sure everyone is. If they pick the materials right (it looks like they're shooting for a nod to the University's building choices) this could look really nice. Either way, the size of this thing is massive- a lot more than I was expecting them to do with the site.

[mplser]

While it's definitely not a masterpiece, it is 20x better than the image posted above