Alia Tower - 200 Central - 483' / 40 Stories

[seanrichardryan]

That's the conference room in the Bank's building, not the old Pillsbury branch.

[Nathan]

So I think it's a pretty great tower, it totally creates that dual skyline on the other side of the river. It does remind me a lot of buildings in TO. I like that the top half has a subtle angle to it, and we can't beat the town homes (or anything) disguising the ramp. This is going to be just blocks from the Nicollet/Central street car... does that mean it would contribute to that transit tax thing set up for that route?

[mattaudio]

No, the legislation last year was pretty specific which parcels would comprise the "value capture" district.

[bapster2006]

It sure will dwarf Phoenix, La Rive, and Falls / Pinnacle.

Blurb in the StarTribune about the three projects being discussed by the city on Thursday.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/269116241.html

[xandrex]

Speaking of the Phillips Foundation renovation, they make their conference room available (for free!) to other groups. It looks really nice. http://phillipsfamilymn.org/contact-us/conference-room/ They also fund transit/equity initiatives. Clearly a civic/urban minded foundation, so maybe they'd be open to moving part of the building to their parking lot if it was no skin off their back.

Just wanted to say (as someone who has in the past been affiliated with the Phillips Foundation) that the organization is indeed civic-minded and puts a very heavy focus on issues such as poverty, transit, and housing issues. However, they no longer have a presence at the corner in question. They did utilize the meeting space there (not pictured) and it was absolutely gorgeous, but have moved from a Riverplace location to the Banks Building. Their current office, pictured, is stunning as well.

The building at the corner is owned by the same family but is largely used for personal/business uses, including the gelato company Talenti.

Not sure that contributes a whole lot, but I wanted to clarify.

[uptown067]

I was really hoping that this one was going to be condos; I would have bought a place here in a heartbeat.

[Minneboy]

I was really hoping that this one was going to be condos; I would have bought a place here in a heartbeat.

It might be according to the Strib article.

[mplsjaromir]

Should be taller.

[ECtransplant]

Too much parking

[acs]

Definitely needs more walkability.

[David Greene]

I really want to see a chain restaurant and chain coffee shop go in here. An Applebee's and a Starbucks would be perfect. And extra-wide parking lanes on the adjoining streets.

[Nick]

Move the historic building to Nicollet Island?

[John]

Agree with the comments that it has the look of recent residential high rises in Toronto and Vancouver. The roof is great with its "hats off" gesture to downtown. Can't help but wonder if the Nimbys will be opposed to it due to its height. Hope it influences Opus to up the ante with their Ritz Block project as Alatus has just raised the bar. I'm thrilled a developer has finally proposed something significantly tall in this city.

[m b p]

Here's a rough initial model, I made, for the project.
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model. ... c44aa4315e



I counted 41 floors.
3 floor base... 16'+12'+12'................ 40'
+ 17 floors at 10 ft/floor................ 170'
+ 1 taller residential floor................ 12'
+ 18 floors at 10 ft/floor................ 180'
+ 2 taller residential floors... 2 x 12'... 24'
.............................................426 ft.

add the crown and I got 456 ft.

[Avian]

There is an interesting "mirror" dynamic going on here. A modernist tower on the east bank of the 3rd Avenue bridge with the almost equally-tall historicist Carlyle on the west bank of the bridge. Kinda fun.

[John]

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/b ... ml?ana=twt

Interesting side note in this article is it also refers to the "Rampton" project, which appears to be still in the works and not a dead proposal.

[Silophant]

Hard to see how it could be in the works as anything besides a backup if this project gets shot down, since they have conflicting visions for around the ramp. Though I suppose they could still build the two floors of apartments on top of the ramp. That would be cool to see that part happen.

[Minneboy]

Nice job mbp. Avian can't say I've ever heard the word historcist but I get it. Now that I've looked it up I was right. I rather like the term.

[Nathan]

There is an interesting "mirror" dynamic going on here. A modernist tower on the east bank of the 3rd Avenue bridge with the almost equally-tall historicist Carlyle on the west bank of the bridge. Kinda fun.

That's how I feel when looking at mols from the west, LPM on the right Carlyle on the left but Loring is the more historic neighborhood and Gateway more modern... funny dynamics, but fun too... I think NE could be a great place for a lot of diverse architectural residential towers... would be cool to have a whimsical side of the river, and the way art and craft have taken off over there it would be perfect.

[uptowncarag]

I sure hope this gets built. Something needs to be done about those empty parking lots. Are those for General Mills or Cargill? At least build a one level ramp with housing/retail above. Even though it is close to Dinkytown a Target Express would do well over here. If they are trying to be Walgreens/CVS, there is either one of those on every corner.