Nordic House - 729 Washington Av N

[Gman12]

CoV may be the worst place in the state of Minnesota.

That's a strong statement. Why?

[MNdible]

Take Redstone and then make everybody in the place (staff and customers) think that they're about 90% more special and important.

Serve overpriced, unremarkable food and drinks.

YRMV.

[Chava]

Take Redstone and then make everybody in the place (staff and customers) think that they're about 90% more special and important.

Serve overpriced, unremarkable food and drinks.

YRMV.

Hey, what a minute, that sounds like the Freehouse next door!

[Mikey]

That's 11 floors.

The first floor is reallllly tall - check out the front side renderings. The extra mezzanie windows are throwing it off

[grant1simons2]

729 Washington by grant.simons, on Flickr

[Jddroske]

Does anyone know the timeline for this project? The construction will almost certainly require that I find an alternative route to walk my dog.

[Silophant]

Welcome to the forum, Jddroske. Looks like the most recent info we have is that construction is planned to start in the first quarter of 2016, and end by summer 2017. So, you've got some time to figure out alternate routes, at least.

[grant1simons2]

Updated design plans: http://minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/pub ... 149223.pdf

The fire department must really really not like caged in rooftops.

[MNdible]

So, they're going to be building this right over the top of the Bassett Creek tunnel? I don't see what could possibly go wrong with that plan.

[ztr421]

They're retaining the existing trees! I'm really happy about that... They're the mature-est trees along the stretch of Washington, so it'll be nice to try to save them.

Edit - I should specify, I mean the trees on the sidewalk...

[mister.shoes]

So, they're going to be building this right over the top of the Bassett Creek tunnel? I don't see what could possibly go wrong with that plan.

Target Field is built over the top of the Bassett Creek tunnel. Seems to be going just fine.

[MNdible]

Not sure about the details of that tunnel (I thought it was more of a culvert than a tunnel), but I understand that the tunnel that runs through the North Loop is a 100-some year old masonry construction that, per the plans posted, they'll be driving piles immediately adjacent to. It may well be fine, but it certainly would give me pause.

Aside from the complications of actually driving the piles in such close proximity, it raises the question of how future repairs will be done (I know that there are some other buildings built atop it, so this problem wouldn't be unique).

[Wedgeguy]

They may possibly rebuild the creek tunnel and upgrade it to current standards. But from Google maps, they show the creek running basically under 8th avenue, which would be at least 30 yards away from 729's closest pilings. If there was to be any damage done, 800 3rd Street when it was built would have cause any damage as the creek runs right next to their foundation walls.

[MNdible]

Google is apparently incorrect about the location of Bassett Creek, as the PDF linked to above includes a surveyed location of the tunnel that runs right underneath the middle of the building, to the point that the structural grid gets skewed so as not to drop a column dead in the middle of the thing.

[Wedgeguy]

Google is apparently incorrect about the location of Bassett Creek, as the PDF linked to above includes a surveyed location of the tunnel that runs right underneath the middle of the building, to the point that the structural grid gets skewed so as not to drop a column dead in the middle of the thing.

If it does in fact go under the building. I think that they would spend the money to upgrade the tunnel so it does not become a future sink hole in the middle of the building. Spend some money now and avoid a very costly and disruptive headache in he future.

[seanrichardryan]

Its just basically a regular storm sewer now. The creek has a new tunnel that intersects north of there.
The new tunnel runs under the ballpark and exits under the river.
Also, is there still a glass floor at Acme where you can peep into it? When the building was renovated in the 80s, they opened it only to discover the tunnel reeked and glassed over the whole thing.

http://minneapolisparkhistory.com/2011/ ... tts-creek/
http://minneapolisparkhistory.com/2011/ ... tts-creek/

[Wedgeguy]

According to the Journal's development tracker the HPC gave approval on Sept 29th. They plan to start work in the first quarter of 2016. I'll be glad to get that big open parking lot filled up. Not sure they will need another coffee house with Spyhouse just up Washington from them 2 blocks. But the restaurant space will be nice to have, especially if it has that outdoor patio.

[ztr421]

Bunkers has posted on its Facebook page saying "Protect Bunkers" "Respect the warehouse district" and to contact Jacob Frey "to oppose the 11 story development" next door.

Huh.

[kirby96]

Re: Bunkers. My guess is their beef is with, you guessed it parking. Haven't been there in a long while but I think they get a lot of drivers who park (illegally) in the adjacent lot when they have live music.

Funny story: a buddy of mine has an office condo across the street and got two spots in the lot with it (and has been informed are going away). One night he went to park there for a Twins game or a night out or something after business hours and the lot was full of (presumably) Bunker's customers. So he went into Bunker's told the bouncer there were cars parked in his two spots and he was going to have them towed. And by the way, he's not gonna tell the bouncer which two spots. Cleared the place out in about 10 minutes.

[Anondson]

That made me smile!