Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Twin Cities Suburbs
Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » November 1st, 2016, 10:10 am

I'd heard complimentary things about the trails throughout this development and nearby.

seanrichardryan
IDS Center
Posts: 4092
Joined: June 3rd, 2012, 9:33 pm
Location: Merriam Park, St. Paul

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby seanrichardryan » November 1st, 2016, 11:23 am

Looks like 10101 Bren Rd.
Q. What, what? A. In da butt.

min-chi-cbus
Capella Tower
Posts: 2869
Joined: June 1st, 2012, 9:19 am

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby min-chi-cbus » November 1st, 2016, 12:30 pm

I don't get the appeal of living here....I just don't, but glad somebody does.
There are a lot of employers in the area, plus there are already a number of apartments and condos nearby, so the demand is there. I've known a few people over the years who found it convenient to live in the area due to their jobs.
I'm aware of UHG and other employer's presence nearby, but this setting and form seems like a hodgepodge of suburban and urban ideals, and in all the wrong ways (higher density but not walkable and is auto-dependent, mid-rise but has no real views, etc). It feels like a contradiction to me (which would be a better name for this thing than "RiZe"). BUT, if their target is upper-middle-class empty-nesters or business professionals with no children who like the suburban lifestyle without the hassle of taking care of their property, and/or just want a 2nd/3rd home (penthouse in the 'burbs), this is IT.

QuietBlue
Target Field
Posts: 579
Joined: September 14th, 2012, 8:50 am

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby QuietBlue » November 2nd, 2016, 7:23 am

Oh, I'm not defending the design or anything like that. But if someone works nearby, they probably already drive just due to the nature of the area. There are tons of suburbanites who live in apartments or condos but still drive a lot. Not everybody cares that much about having stuff in walking distance, while others may want that, but still base their decision for where to live on other reasons.

min-chi-cbus
Capella Tower
Posts: 2869
Joined: June 1st, 2012, 9:19 am

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby min-chi-cbus » November 2nd, 2016, 9:25 am

Agreed, but still don't get that appeal. I realize the beauty is in the eye of the beholder though.

Online
mattaudio
Stone Arch Bridge
Posts: 7752
Joined: June 19th, 2012, 2:04 pm
Location: NORI: NOrth of RIchfield

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby mattaudio » November 4th, 2016, 8:45 am

Developer proposes 'urban' apartments in Minnetonka
http://www.startribune.com/real-estate- ... 399877301/

"LeCesse Development Corporation told the Minnetonka City Council on Thursday night that it wants to build a 322-unit apartment complex that would replace a pair of industrial buildings along Bren Road."

grant1simons2
IDS Center
Posts: 4371
Joined: February 8th, 2014, 11:33 pm
Location: Marcy-Holmes

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby grant1simons2 » November 4th, 2016, 8:54 am

STOP. USING. MASSING. AS. "RENDERINGS".

Sorry, it's just a really dumb thing to do.

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... at.html#i1

Online
mattaudio
Stone Arch Bridge
Posts: 7752
Joined: June 19th, 2012, 2:04 pm
Location: NORI: NOrth of RIchfield

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby mattaudio » November 4th, 2016, 8:56 am

Looks like a ridiculously not-urban design. Blank walls hiding the parking podium face the "open space" behind the property. And there's no active frontage along the two primary streets, separated from the apartment block by a double-stacked row of parking.

twincitizen
Moderator
Posts: 6368
Joined: May 31st, 2012, 7:27 pm
Location: Standish-Ericsson

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby twincitizen » November 4th, 2016, 1:11 pm

I'm less concerned with the setbacks or frontages (given that nothing about this area is in a remotely urban context), but the fact that the building is oriented away from the SWLRT station is kinda disappointing. The station is just a bit northwest of this site, a very walkable <.5 mile distance away (assuming sidewalks will be installed at some point). The most logical building orientation for LRT riders would rotate the building into the west "wing" of the site and leave the east wing as the open space (opposite of what is planned). Seems that would obstruct the existing trail network in the area, which goes right through the middle of the site (the trail shown on the plans is existing).

What a strange area this is, with the looping one-way road network and surprisingly robust trail system running through dozens of private properties and tunneling under most roads.

MNdible
is great.
Posts: 5989
Joined: June 8th, 2012, 8:14 pm
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby MNdible » November 4th, 2016, 1:16 pm

Did all of the newspapers agree to use snark quotation marks around urban?

seanrichardryan
IDS Center
Posts: 4092
Joined: June 3rd, 2012, 9:33 pm
Location: Merriam Park, St. Paul

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby seanrichardryan » November 4th, 2016, 8:44 pm

Oooh, the Texas Donut combined with the Portland Claw! Nice design!
Q. What, what? A. In da butt.

Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » November 4th, 2016, 9:16 pm

What is a Portland Claw?

seanrichardryan
IDS Center
Posts: 4092
Joined: June 3rd, 2012, 9:33 pm
Location: Merriam Park, St. Paul

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby seanrichardryan » November 4th, 2016, 9:53 pm

An ell shaped 6 story apartment complex? I made it up.
Q. What, what? A. In da butt.

Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » November 24th, 2016, 9:31 pm

322-unit Lacesse proposal on Bren Road in the Opus business park approved unanimously.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2016/11/23/tonk ... bren-road/

10% of units will be set for "affordable", meaning accessible to people at 80% of area median income.

Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » January 31st, 2017, 9:41 pm

The long delayed Music Barn Apartments along Shady Oak Road was approved in 2015, the city just re-approved them because the permit expired in December 2016.

http://sailor.mnsun.com/2017/01/30/musi ... -concerns/

Residents nearby are very upset "affordable" apartments will be anywhere close to them.

Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » February 13th, 2017, 5:29 pm

Another parcel in the Opus II business park to be converted to 240 unit apartments.

http://finance-commerce.com/2017/02/min ... ight-rail/

This one right next to future SWLRT station.

HiawathaGuy
Wells Fargo Center
Posts: 1636
Joined: June 4th, 2012, 12:03 pm

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby HiawathaGuy » February 21st, 2017, 8:58 am

Cheesecake Factory planned for Ridgedale Center
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... enter.html

I think it's strange that they chose another west metro location over one in the east. But I think this new location will suite them well.

Anondson
IDS Center
Posts: 4646
Joined: July 21st, 2013, 8:57 pm
Location: Where West Minneapolis Once Was

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby Anondson » February 22nd, 2017, 6:18 pm

At the very west end of Hopkins' Mainstreet, on the Minnetonka side of Shady Oak Road, the city bought the land a business was on because Hennepin County insisted the 11,000 AADT road would climb to 15,000. This "required" widening a winding 2-lane road to four lanes plus median and turn lanes. The old street car business district was too close to the future widened ROW, "requiring" the cities to buy out the land owners.

Minnetonka wants to redevelop the property now with some use to make the price the city paid worth it. A three story apartment of $800-1200 rents (aka affordable) is proposed.

http://finance-commerce.com/2017/02/ren ... -lrt-line/ Image

There have been loud complaints of towers, criminals, threats to neighborhood character. To beware of people who can afford such low rents.

Online
mattaudio
Stone Arch Bridge
Posts: 7752
Joined: June 19th, 2012, 2:04 pm
Location: NORI: NOrth of RIchfield

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby mattaudio » February 28th, 2017, 5:12 pm

Hennepin County really knows how to make an appealing and walkable commercial corridor: https://goo.gl/maps/ZFKbvBLDiNt

MNdible
is great.
Posts: 5989
Joined: June 8th, 2012, 8:14 pm
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Minnetonka Area – General Topics

Postby MNdible » February 28th, 2017, 5:27 pm

Yep, they really ruined what used to be a pedestrian wonderland: https://goo.gl/maps/mWyJGyiV5C12


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 26 guests