Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Religious Storage Space Available

The Community of Hope Lutheran Church's new building in Rosemount takes pains to graciously fit in with its neighborhood.

In other words, it looks like a warehouse:
"Community of Hope is building in an area zoned for industrial use, and its design, resembling an office-warehouse-showroom, ensures that it fits the neighborhood.

"The Rev. Per Nilsen, the church's pastor, said the nontraditional approach was taken because it was less expensive and because it wanted to be certain that, if the congregation were to move, it could sell the property easily -- to the benefit of both its members and the city."
The church has photos of the building progress on its website.

Thursday, December 23, 2004

1924 St. Paul Power Plant Being Converted to Condos

From today's StarTribune: Old St. Paul power plant will join housing circuit - "With no city money going into the project, Hammerstrom doesn't need to make any of the housing affordable. Condos will range from $260,000 on the low end to $1.4 million for one of the five, two-story penthouse units with spectacular rooftop views of the river valley, the Cathedral of St. Paul, downtown and the state Capitol."

A couple of related websites:

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Pioneer Press Editorial: Two cities smart to twin on transit

When light rail construction got underway back in 2001, who would've predicted the Pioneer Press would eventually be saying this?
This line to connect the University of Minnesota and the vibrant corridor between Minneapolis and St. Paul is essential for the traffic-choked Twin Cities. The lessons being learned from the Hiawatha line are that passengers are embracing an efficient and low-hassle way to get where they are going without use of the road-clogging, environment-polluting automobile.

The Central Corridor is the logical and necessary light-rail sequel for east metro, just as the heavy rail Northstar line is for the traffic to and from the north to downtown Minneapolis.

New Megamall, er, Megawaterpark in Bloomington

Construction has begun on Wirth Companies' "Waterpark of America" at the site of the former Decathalon Athletic Club in Bloomington.

At this rate, by 2010 the intersection of 494 and 77 should be known as "Interchange of America."

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

More Mississippi Condos

Not that this should be surprising at this point, but there are more condos planned for Stone Arch area. Of course, that location would put them in the high-end category.

The Foshay Tower: "Hey, I can see my condo from here!"

The Skyway News is reporting that McGough Construction is looking into the potential for converting Minneapolis' venerable Foshay Tower into condos. Yes, you read that correctly.

No word yet on what that would mean for the tower's observation deck.

Grocery, yay! Condos, yay! Glass, boo!

The Skyway News is reporting that a bunch of residents around Central and University are more than a bit displeased with the modern design for the new Eastgate shopping and residential complex:
Critics say the architecture would stick out like a sore thumb amid older, quaint buildings in the historic Old St. Anthony area. The new Eastgate would go up near the pale yellow Ard Godrey House, 28 University Ave. SE, in Chute Square Park -- the oldest wood frame house remaining in the city.
Granted, if you walk 30 feet from the Ard Godrey House you can see the downtown skyline just across the river, but for some reason that doesn't seem to bother people.

Monday, December 13, 2004

Light Rail: Four new miles, 45,000 new riders

From today's Pioneer Press:

Passengers boarded Hiawatha trains 135,100 times during the first week of paid service along the full Minneapolis-to-Bloomington light-rail route, Metro Transit announced Monday.

Boardings averaged 90,600 per week in November, when only eight miles of the line was open for business, Metro Transit said. That stretch of track opened in June.

Saturday, December 11, 2004

More Condos Proposed Near Nicollet Mall

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal is reporting that a small building across from the Minneapolis Hilton may fall for a high-end condominium project. If built, the project could end up sharing the block with a 48-story complex proposed for the Let It Be corner of Nicollet Mall.