I feel like I remember hearing in some community meeting a year or two ago that there were plans at some point to put some more of those 1+5 buildings with retail on the first floor, housing up above around the edges of that big empty Target parking lot as well once all the stuff over here by the ALDI was done. Basically putting stuff right up to the sidewalks all the way around that big empty parking space.Same here, I have mixed feelings on this one. Almost anything is better than what's there now. Adding the tree islands to the parking lot will make it a little less hostile to life. However, since no structured parking is being included with the building it limits any future development of the lot.
Also - really hoping this catalyzes pressure for Target (and the trust group that owns the land) to release some of unused parking across the street for development. Hundreds of those spaces haven't had a car park in them for years if ever!
If I recall, the parking lots encompassing Cub, Target, and the ALDI are the largest empty chunk of concrete in the city aside from the impound lot, so it's definitely sorely needed.