urbanMSP

Good to know. If this is something open later it would be a major win

A Walgreens 4 blocks from a brand (kinda) new Walgreens?

Yup, developer of it has several ongoing residential projects in the North Loop and has been trying to bring in something for awhile to support the growing population. Haven’t heard anything about the hours of operation so can’t speak to that.

Why block a skyway to this development? It would start a new link to buildings in the North Loop, and better access to the A ramp.

The Warehouse District historic guidelines are very clear about no skyways, and I think that's one that isn't likely to get overturned. So if they added a skyway here, it would be serving only that building. I can see why the developers might want it, but I don't think the city gets any greater good out of it.

Also, it would obstruct that great long vista down the avenue.

The tower, while running the length of the block, will be set back after the third floor - about 30' from Hennepin and about 60' from Washington.

I'm always confused as to why architects are insistent on doing this with the new product we're seeing. What's the precedent for 3 stories when most of the remaining original office stock on Hennepin (Lumber Exchange, Masonic Temple, etc.) is 8-12 stories? There is a good chance the original building on this site was higher than 3 stories. We need something to hold the corner and effectively "right size" the massive intersection of Washington and Hennepin. Continue the tight canyon of original Hennepin buildings instead of opening up the way the street does at the Gateway. Stanton's proposal years ago had height right up to the corner.

The architect at DMNA did say something about a setback requirement from Washington for lighting/shadow purposes, which would explain it, but I don't quite understand the reasoning.

Some very preliminary massings/renderings from DMNA:

That big setback at the corner may be out of respect to (and to accommodate future redevelopment of) the 21st Century Bank building, which the landowner also owns.

As I understood it, their original plan was for a 16-18 story tower without setbacks. Then the city planner suggested that a taller, narrower building would go over better, so it gained two stories and the setbacks. At that point, they shifted the mass of the tower south as far as possible to maximize the amount of building that wouldn't be shadowed by the Gateway Tower across Hennepin.

I'm always confused as to why architects are insistent on doing this with the new product we're seeing. What's the precedent for 3 stories when most of the remaining original office stock on Hennepin (Lumber Exchange, Masonic Temple, etc.) is 8-12 stories? There is a good chance the original building on this site was higher than 3 stories.

Temple Court

^ Beautiful! I'd like it if the architect could channel that presence on Wash/Henn. I suppose it's all a matter of opinion though.

Good ideas on the reasoning behind the setback...

Why is it that most of these beautiful old buildings were destroyed in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul when in Europe - if they dodged war - they were maintained and still persist to today and add lots of character to their cities? I feel like the Twin Cities' historic charm was lost when these buildings and the Nicollet Hotel were destroyed; could feel a lot more like an older city such as Boston or Philadelphia.

Cars.

^This and air conditioning. Air conditioning completely changed the way buildings were designed. All glass with no operable windows. Old buildings had to have operable windows and they would have fried in all glass so they had thick masonry walls. Many other factors of course but cars and air conditioning are the two major factors.

Also, the heart of downtown shifted half a mile southwest to around 7th St in the early 20th century. This left the Bridge Square/Gateway area isolated from most commercial/office activity, which led to the Skid Row thing.

A lot of the Victorian ornamentation wasn't well suited to our climate. A friend of mine was almost hit by a several ton piece of the facade that fell off the building next to It's Greek To Me, in Lynlake in the early '90s. The building was torn down soon after. I know that this has happened several times in the Warehouse District too. Macalester's historic Old Main was torn down in the '80s because it was too structurally unstable to renovate. We romanticize Victorian era buildings as being structurally solid and well designed but that is partially because the ones that weren't are already gone.

Stuff (not just buildings) generally goes through a period of being considered ugly/dated/tacky first before it becomes historical/vintage/cool. It's why people love the charm and style of houses from the early 20th century, but not ones from 30-40 years ago. Or why people are buying brand new furniture that looks like the 80's furniture my parents have in their basement.

Stuff (not just buildings) generally goes through a period of being considered ugly/dated/tacky first before it becomes historical/vintage/cool. It's why people love the charm and style of houses from the early 20th century, but not ones from 30-40 years ago. Or why people are buying brand new furniture that looks like the 80's furniture my parents have in their basement.

This. And in Europe, a lot of the old buildings have been around a lot longer than *our* old buildings, which give them a deeper cultural / sentimental value.

Frankly, while Victorian-era commercial architecture may have its charms, that style of residential architecture is something I find downright repulsive. It is born of the separation of human and the environment. Windows "frame" a view of nature that is to be regarded as distant, decorative, fit to be tamed by Man and not something that is to be inhabited. It's carved up rooms further the sense of class distinction. Romanticizing a repressive and stiffly formal way of living makes my skin crawl.

New images unveiled for Hennepin Av. apartment tower

I suppose there's a reason the tower is set back from Washington, but it looks weird in the rendering.