I've taken a long, voluntary absence from posting here but I thought I'd step in and comment on this one.
* The last election results in Bloomington mean this is going through unless something unexpected pops out of left field. A lot of major agreements are to be signed this month.
* There's already way too much retail at MOA, or at least the proportion is wrong. The Mall owners think the future is more 50/50 retail vs entertainment like American Dream. MOA is more like 75/25 and this entire project is to change that balance closer to American Dream. Considering there's already vacant space in the mall proper I don't think it makes sense to build anything but a few shops selling snowcones and swimming suits to waterpark visitors.
* Those pictures suggest the worst of both worlds as far as convenience. Not being attached to the mall you have to get out in all kinds of weather to access them, but you can't park your car right in front of them either. No Mall tourist is going to go to a Victoria's Secret or Caribou outdoors here when you can go to one while indoors. And someone local is going to go to one that's more convenient.
* A plaza on the northeast side would be contingent on future plans for Sears, as well as having to deal with crossing Lindeau Lane. LL was already lowered on the north central side at great expense in order to build what will be the main north side plaza.
* Yes those hotels are crappy. But Disney World can rent crappy hotel rooms (that are no better than a Super 8 and you need to take a slow bus to the parks if you don't have a car) for outrageous prices just because people want to stay at Disney. I think the Mall will be the same way. The kids aren't going to complain about the view when the family can walk down to the waterpark next door, probably being able to change in their swimming suits in their hotel rooms so no fooling around with lockers. If you care about the view from the hotel on vacation find a water view hotel on the beach someplace. It's not like a typical view of a parking lot from a hotel is much better.
* Having said that, yes, I'd like to see something more inspiring here than those office buildings. Maybe an indoor ski slope like American Dream? Maybe the Bass Pro shops they've been talking about for the past 20 years? I'm sure these are just back of napkin level sketches rather than serious proposals at this point.
* It's notable the parking ramp is being built with future conversion to other uses in mind should self-driving cars reduce the need for on-site parking.
* All the buildings are shown with skyways. People are going to use those rather than step outside into the snow to cross the street.
Maybe there's a place to build new urbanist "paradises" where people are forced to park a long ways away from the store and are forced to walk outside in the snow, ice, rain, cold, and sun just to get a cup of coffee. I don't think this is the place.
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* Here's an interesting comparison of the waterparks at West Edmonton vs American Dream vs Mall of America. Seems like AD and MOA have bigger overall pool areas, with the extra space at AD going to a lazy river and bigger pool while the MOA for more lounge chairs. Also MOA will have dual pools, presumably so they can only run one in non-peak times and only need to close one when there's a "guest illness".