Nic on Fifth - (290' - 26 Stories)

[mplsjaromir]

at least it doesn't look so bad when you can't see the whole thing...

https://db.tt/Vg5nQd4O

which will hopefully be soon from every angle.

Yeah 4Marq will be much better with MagicPaks up the entire facade..

If the developers spring for the architectural louvers if wont be so bad. Which is to say they will not.

[mnmike]

Just walked by this...it looks like no colorful panels on the podium like in the renderings. Instead they are gray and black corrugated metal.

[Nick]

Colorful panels are MIA.

[VAStationDude]

The sidewalk/lrt platform construction was in full tilt when I walked by earlier today.

[Minneboy]

Thanks for the updated pics. It's growing on me.

[Nick]

Got to go on a site tour of this today, which was pretty neat. Can't share any interior photos, but I got some from the penthouse.

[Minneboy]

sweet pics Nick. I think I could handle living there.

[kregger22]

Terrific pictures. Would be interesting to see pictures once 4Marq is up.

[jennifat]

The views from this monstrosity are amazing, especially because you can't see Nic on Fifth. Their marketing team needs to push that as a selling point!

[John]

Jenifat, I know its easy to dislike this project as I have been a critic of it in the past. It does have design issues, especially with it's proportion. However, I think it's turning out better than I thought, and will be an asset to downtown bringing several hundred new residents living right on Nicollet Mall. I can tell the architects made a strong effort to make it look as good as possible given the unfortunate scaling back of the original proposal. Also, Marq4 and Xcel will fill the block up so it won't stand out so much. Time to move on...

[Aville_37]

I guess my concern is that from the early images it appeared the building would be further set back from Nicollet providing more space for outdoor dining, greenspace, etc. I don't understand what every building has to abut the sidewalk so closely. We are really getting a canyon effect down Nicollet.

[Anondson]

The canyon is precisely what I hate most about the central Mall. The lack of a canyon is what I love the south end of the Mall.

[nate]

This is the most central part of the central business district. If the canyon effect is appropriate anywhere, it's here. Keep building, I say.

[mplser]

i like the canyon effect too

[nickmgray]

I guess my concern is that from the early images it appeared the building would be further set back from Nicollet providing more space for outdoor dining, greenspace, etc. I don't understand what every building has to abut the sidewalk so closely. We are really getting a canyon effect down Nicollet.

If you were building a half block tower in downtown Minneapolis, I doubt you'd be willing to pull the building back an extra five feet to make the sidewalk a bit wider. Imagine the financial implications of losing 750 square feet of floor space for each floor. If the city was willing to pay developers for the extra sidewalk space, I'm sure a few of them would consider it.

[MNdible]

Well, that sort of misses the point. Buildings in downtown are controlled by FAR (floor area ratios); essentially a ratio of the total building square footage divided by the square footage of the site that it sits on. Which means that there are a lot of different ways to play with building mass and height. Just because you give a building more generous setbacks doesn't mean that you're giving up square footage; it just means that you'll arrange your allowed square footage on the site differently.

[Nick]

There are also some specific zoning requirements for buildings on Nicollet Mall:

http://library.municode.com/HTML/11490/ ... AOVDI.html

551.910. Building placement.

The placement of buildings shall reinforce the street wall, maximize natural surveillance and visibility, and facilitate pedestrian access and circulation. The first floor of buildings shall be located not more than eight (8) feet from Nicollet Mall, except where a greater yard is required by this zoning ordinance or where the building is separated from Nicollet Mall by outdoor open space that conforms to the standards for the urban open space premium, established in Chapter 549, Downtown Districts. In the case of a corner lot, the building wall abutting each street shall be located not more than eight (8) feet from the lot line, except where a greater yard is required by this zoning ordinance or where the building is separated from the lot line by outdoor open space that conforms to the standards for the urban open space premium. The area between the building and the lot line, and all other areas not occupied by buildings or used for parking and loading purposes, shall include amenities such as landscaping, tables and seating. Buildings shall be oriented so that at least one (1) principal entrance faces Nicollet Mall. The main lobby of the building and main elevator access shall be located at street level. On-site accessory parking facilities shall be located to the rear or interior side of the site, within the principal building served, or entirely below grade.

551.920. Building height and scale.

In order to minimize the impact of shadowing and wind currents upon Nicollet Mall, and to maintain pedestrian scale and character, portions of buildings over ten (10) stories or one hundred forty (140) feet, whichever is less, that comprise more than two hundred (200) feet of frontage on Nicollet Mall shall be set back from Nicollet Mall not less than thirty (30) feet. Such setback shall begin no lower than the third (3rd) story or forty-two (42) feet, whichever is less, and no higher than the tenth (10th) story or one hundred forty (140) feet, whichever is less. Where the first floor of a building or a portion of a building is separated from Nicollet Mall by open space, the required setback shall be reduced by the depth of such open space.

[grant1simons2]

Just posted from the Opus Group
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlxDLEZCYAAAl9h.jpg:large

[bubzki2]

Just posted from the Opus Group
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlxDLEZCYAAAl9h.jpg:large

So, they're tearing down the skyway to Fifth Street Towers I see...?

[Silophant]

Hope not. They spent so much time cleaning it up and hooking it into the building.