Block E (archive)

[MNdible]

AMC theatre left Block E because of a landlord-tenant dispute and that AMC would have liked to stay put.

As I understand it, AMC had a lease that allowed them to operate there essentially lease free, as long as they weren't very profitable. So, it was a great deal for them and no wonder they wanted to stay. I don't see anybody else offering to lease them space for free, though.

[John]

They talked about it briefly again on MPR. They seemed to make an inference that it was going to be a law firm, but who knows.

Really hope it's not Dorsey & Whitney, who is also looking to lease new space (or build it) from their current HQ in their 28-story office building on 6th & Nicollet.

I was wondering if Dorsey and Whitney was the law firm. They are looking for a new space. However, I know Hines owns the 10th and Marquette half block and then I thought maybe Dorsey would go there and build a true skyscraper. Then I thought maybe WCCO will go on Block E if Target plans to build a tower on their current site. Pure speculation, but fun to think about!

[Nick]

I would be pretty surprised if a classy law firm hopped over to that side of Hennepin from their existing, nice building on Nicollet Mall. Even if it's just a move of two blocks. Corporate law firms have lots of business traffic and that view isn't quite stellar in most respects.

[mattaudio]

And Dorsey was the anchor tenant for 50 South Sixth when it was first built (although I forget the reason they downsized so quickly.

[Nordeastmpls]

Sounds pretty boring if it ends up being a law firm. I was hoping like they originally said that they wanted it to be a visible space for a Media company. Perhaps an Ad Agency or maybe the Star Tribune or one of the TV stations. With a re-skinning of the exterior, I could see an Ad Agency also heavily branding the exterior to make their presence known. Or, with the Star Trib or a TV station, I could picture news tickers on the exterior.....something similar to what you might see in Times Square, I think, would look good on this stretch of Hennepin.

But, I guess I'll settle for any tenant, as long as they open up the street level more, include some retail and re-do the exterior.

[John]

But, I guess I'll settle for any tenant, as long as they open up the street level more, include some retail and re-do the exterior.

It can't help but be a dramatic improvement from its present condition...lol. I think its better to view Hennepin Ave and the Theater District as a whole rather than this block as the focal point. There are many great infill projects that have occured which are (or will) dramatically improve the area. I think it would be good for the city and others to focus on redeveloping some of the vacant blocks north of Block E into housing, hotel, and smaller scale entertainment retail. The old Skyway theater could use a new adaptive reuse. A few more of these types of projects would have a very positive synergistic effect on this district.

[Nordeastmpls]

Agreed....I think one of the problems with this most recent version of block e is that they tried making it a focal point rather than just making it into something that works and compliments the vibrancy of Hennepin.

[John]

In my fantasy urban redevelopment of Hennepin Ave, I would love to see the old art deco Forum Cafeteria in City Center reinstalled on the new Block E development in a way so you can see the art deco interior as you walk by along the street. The amazing art deco interior of The Forum is one of the nation's best preserved art deco interiors, and one of our city's greatest architectural treasures. It needs a new and visible home.

[Nathan]

Don't even tease John... that place should but out on display. amazing.

[John]

One way or another, The Forum needs a new location to free it from its dismal imprisonment in City Center. Block E would be the perfect spot to put it, preferably at one of the intersections.

[Aville_37]

From Downtown Journal: World of Beer coming to Mpls.

http://journalmpls.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... nneapolis/

I am not a huge beer drinker myself, but think it will be a great addition to the Warehouse District. I think it could be a perfect fit for one of the larger first floor retail spaces on Hennepin in Block E.

World of Beer coming to Mpls.

[John]

From Downtown Journal: World of Beer coming to Mpls.

http://journalmpls.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... nneapolis/

I am not a huge beer drinker myself, but think it will be a great addition to the Warehouse District. I think it could be a perfect fit for one of the larger first floor retail spaces on Hennepin in Block E.

World of Beer coming to Mpls.

It sounds like a decent chain to enter our market as they try to fit in with the character ( and craft beers) of each city. My feeling is they could put it just about anywhere downtown and be successful. It will be fun to see where they go.

[min-chi-cbus]

DTE successful??? IDK...maybe AFTER 2016/2017.

[PhilmerPhil]

Unrevealing article with little to no new information, but still a good read if you are interested.

http://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2012/ ... de-cubicle

One take-away that I got is that Alatus seems to have no interest in any major overhaul of Block E. That's unfortunate.

[Didier]

It's interesting to read all of the opinions of local "experts," if that's the right word. Personally almost all of those ideas are either underwhelming or seem like more of a stretch than the original plan.

I wanted to highlight one reader comment from the story, which I think is important to remember:

C) People have quickly lost track of what actually happened with Block E. Yes, the building is ugly and badly designed, but for the most part it was full of tenants before Alatus bought the building and forced them out for the casino proposal. We lost the two big corner tenants to the market, which was a problem, but other than that much of the touting of Block E as a "failure" is at least a little misleading, if not outright untrue.

[Nick]

It's interesting to read all of the opinions of local "experts," if that's the right word. Personally almost all of those ideas are either underwhelming or seem like more of a stretch than the original plan.

I wanted to highlight one reader comment from the story, which I think is important to remember:

C) People have quickly lost track of what actually happened with Block E. Yes, the building is ugly and badly designed, but for the most part it was full of tenants before Alatus bought the building and forced them out for the casino proposal. We lost the two big corner tenants to the market, which was a problem, but other than that much of the touting of Block E as a "failure" is at least a little misleading, if not outright untrue.

Hey, that was me!

[mnmike]

Thanks for posting that...that is what I always want to say when I see articles like that!

[NickP]

To be honest, I feel like we don't even have to say the market is the reason we lost the two corner tenants (At least the local market). I know every Borders in the nation is gone. Is the same true for Gameworks?

[min-chi-cbus]

To be honest, I feel like we don't even have to say the market is the reason we lost the two corner tenants (At least the local market). I know every Borders in the nation is gone. Is the same true for Gameworks?

I can only say that I hardly ever (if ever) see Gameworks but instead see lots of Dave & Busters.......so it SEEMS that way, yes.

[reeckman]

FWIW:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameWorks