Highland Bridge: Ford Site Redevelopment

[datasage]

I think there was more interest when the initial price estimates put it between 300k-400k. At 650k+ for not a particularly large house (2000-3000 sq ft), the product appeals to a much smaller market segment.

It is definitely unique, and I think demand will increase as more restaurants and other amenities move into the area.

[COLSLAW5]

I toured the model units over the weekend and was surprised at how small some of the spaces were. The main living and kitchen areas were very nice but the bedrooms were very small. The finishes also didn't seem super nice for 700k. Also with the amount of stairs I feel like it might be a hard sell for older folks

[datasage]

Recent article related to the project and rent control changes:

https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities ... l-overhaul

[Cat385]

Does anyone know when they will remove the fencing atop Hidden Falls (and in front of the trail-access tunnel)?

Possibly next week, if the city will sign off on it. 15 months after prepping that area for finish, and they still can’t decide what to do with the patio area below the south retaining wall. It is currently crushed stone. I think the idea of a concrete patio has been floated (continuously) numerous times. They are also still considering a stairway to access the lookout from the west side, also.

[Br4dM]

Thanks for the insight! I had thought that the western access stairway was part of Hidden Falls Park's second phase of improvements. Hopefully, in either case, the patio and northern access trail will open before they choose to address it.

[luigipaladio]

Drove through the site yesterday and the piles of trusses, framing material, plywood and other construction materials was impressive. It looks like most or all of it is for the continued construction of the row houses - or the "here's an exercise plan for you" houses with four floors. In my youth they would have looked fun to live in. There are a lot of footings in for the row houses and a lot more that are staked out. Anyone have any word on how sales of the single family home lots have been going along the river and when we might see some construction there?

[Cat385]

The single family model home on the corner of Montreal and Mississippi River Boulevard was supposed to start October 1st. I’ll ask.

[Didier]

https://tommiesports.com/news/2022/10/1 ... -test.aspx

St. Thomas' as-yet unfunded sports facilities plans:

Hockey
I am excited to share we are now focusing efforts to bring hockey to campus. We've said from the start we would examine every option to find a solution to best suit the university's needs. After exploring multiple off-campus sites, we can confidently say a new on-campus home for hockey is the best path forward. This arena will operate as a multipurpose facility that serves as an asset for our entire campus by offering student life and community engagement opportunities, in addition to serving as a home for our men's and women's hockey programs.

South campus is the likely destination for such a facility, and earlier this month we issued a formal request for proposal (RFP) to invite prospective design-build partners to submit for the opportunity to bring this to life. We will receive these proposals soon and expect to select our partner by semester's end to keep the process moving. More information will be shared as available.

Baseball/Softball
We are taking next steps to explore Highland Bridge – specifically the old Canadian Pacific Railway property – as a potential site for new baseball and softball fields, as well as indoor training and parking facilities. We believe this site would serve the university well, and will allow the current baseball and softball field space to be repurposed for other athletic and campus recreation needs. In order to keep this site a possibility, we are entering into an agreement with the St. Paul Port Authority to begin an environmental cleanup process of the property, and we have agreed to purchase the property following environmental remediation. This allows us to proceed with exploration, as the Port Authority serves as an important partner in site remediation for properties across the city of St. Paul.

[Cat385]

Common Bond Lumin has started. Block 3, Lot 2, which is the south end of the Lunds. Footings will start next week.

It is a five story, 60 unit building.

[Cat385]

The single family model home on the corner of Montreal and Mississippi River Boulevard was supposed to start October 1st. I’ll ask.

It’s complicated.

[Didier]

Are the single-family homes going to have unique architecture, or is one company going to build a bunch of similar-looking houses for that stretch?

[COLSLAW5]

there are a bunch of pre approved builders and architects. I also believe that someone could theoretically build up to a triplex on the lots if they wanted to.

https://highlandbridgecustomhomes.com/

[MattW]

https://tommiesports.com/news/2022/10/1 ... -test.aspx

St. Thomas' as-yet unfunded sports facilities plans:

Hockey
I am excited to share we are now focusing efforts to bring hockey to campus. We've said from the start we would examine every option to find a solution to best suit the university's needs. After exploring multiple off-campus sites, we can confidently say a new on-campus home for hockey is the best path forward. This arena will operate as a multipurpose facility that serves as an asset for our entire campus by offering student life and community engagement opportunities, in addition to serving as a home for our men's and women's hockey programs.

South campus is the likely destination for such a facility, and earlier this month we issued a formal request for proposal (RFP) to invite prospective design-build partners to submit for the opportunity to bring this to life. We will receive these proposals soon and expect to select our partner by semester's end to keep the process moving. More information will be shared as available.

Baseball/Softball
We are taking next steps to explore Highland Bridge – specifically the old Canadian Pacific Railway property – as a potential site for new baseball and softball fields, as well as indoor training and parking facilities. We believe this site would serve the university well, and will allow the current baseball and softball field space to be repurposed for other athletic and campus recreation needs. In order to keep this site a possibility, we are entering into an agreement with the St. Paul Port Authority to begin an environmental cleanup process of the property, and we have agreed to purchase the property following environmental remediation. This allows us to proceed with exploration, as the Port Authority serves as an important partner in site remediation for properties across the city of St. Paul.

UST just announced a $75 million donation for a combined basketball and hockey arena. They said it will be "on campus" which could mean a lot of things.

[Anondson]

This says the “south campus”. https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... arena.html

[MNdible]

[Tom H.]

From a purely land-use perspective, it seems like a lot of that footprint is currently surface parking, so at least it's apparently a net densitification and upgrade in intensity.

[COLSLAW5]

Centro is opening a third location at Highland park by the movie theater. I really enjoy their food and their set up so its cool to see them expanding

[twincitizen]

The new medical office building managed to be both kinda ugly and completely underwhelming as a gateway to the project. A small wart on what is otherwise a masterfully planned and designed development. The building basically turns its back to the river and has ugly internally-lit box signs mucking it up.

[COLSLAW5]

I was out there this weekend too and was looking at the prices of the townhomes. They are now starting in the high 700s with some of the move in ready ones sitting at over $1 million. Just kinda crazy when they first were announced they were supposed to start in the 400s.

[Cat385]

Assembly Union Park, 875 Mount Curve Boulevard, has its grand opening ceremony tomorrow at 11:00. It has pickle ball, basketball, and a platground.