tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77351412024-03-13T08:52:30.609-05:00Land & Space Twin CitiesTracking the evolution of the Twin Cities urban landscapemrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-42605839246234317342008-09-18T02:03:00.002-05:002008-09-18T02:07:08.239-05:0035W Bridge: It's Ready<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/mrbula/2867515422/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2867515422_856541e4dd.jpg?v=0" /></a><br /><br />Taken four hours before its opening. I'll never be a fan of urban freeways, but it's good to have it back.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-82033480398649416072008-03-31T10:06:00.002-05:002008-03-31T10:10:49.984-05:00Ralph Rapson, Dead at 93Ralph Rapson, architect of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Square_West">Riverside Plaza</a> and the original Guthrie<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Square_West"></a>, <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/31/rapson/">passed away over the weekend</a> at the age of 93.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-83587256836290411302008-02-27T22:51:00.005-06:002008-02-27T23:13:08.756-06:00The Central Corridor is a Go!The <a href="http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/ccorridor/centralcorridor.htm">Central Corridor light rail line</a> finally got the thumbs-up from the Met Council today, although the plan approved lacks niceties like a tunnel under the U of M. (That lack of tunnel may mean trains running right down the middle of, uh, <a href="http://wcco.com/local/light.rail.traffic.2.664526.html">Washington Avenue on the East Bank</a>. Great work, guys.)<br /><br />One paragraph in the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/16059062.html">Strib story</a> pretty much sums up why the plan was approved as it was:<br /><blockquote>"This probably isn't the best line that we can build," said Council Member Tony Pistilli of Brooklyn Park. "But in reality it's probably the best line that can be built."</blockquote>It's good the line will be getting built, of course, but it's sad that we have to compromise on the design of such a long-term asset to the Twin Cities. Utility and cost are critical, but a little inspiration would be nice, too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~<br /></div><br />If you're curious as to what the hell is the Cost Effectiveness Rating, <a href="http://www.apta.com/government_affairs/safetea_lu/documents/fta_cost_effectivenessbreakpointpaper.pdf">here's your answer</a> (warning: PDF). <a href="http://www.transportationequity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=1">Not everyone likes it</a>.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-2640686141344061442008-02-26T23:21:00.000-06:002008-02-27T23:22:06.451-06:00Pawlenty's First Overridden Veto... Is For Transportation<a href="http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/15942557.html">Transit Veto Overridden</a>. Huh. Finally time for some progress, maybe?mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-85767681628363303812008-01-15T21:53:00.000-06:002008-01-15T22:23:42.675-06:00More About the BridgeWith all the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/13796646.html">news</a> <a href="http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_7977696?source=rv">going</a> <a href="http://downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=10819&page=65&category=54">around</a> today about the National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendation stemming from the 35W bridge collapse, it seemed to makes sense to <a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/2008/H08_1.pdf">link to the recommendation itself</a>. At five pages, it's fairly short and to the point, and overall a remarkably easy read.<br /><br />While the larger investigation is ongoing and "no determination of probable cause has been reached," the recommendation strongly suggests poorly-designed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gusset">gusset plates</a>--gusset plates surprisingly undersized for the role they played in holding the bridge together--likely played a significant role in the bridge's collapse. The recommendation also gives some somewhat discouraging explanations as to why the error wasn't caught before the bridge was built, why engineers working on subsequent modifications to the bridge didn't recognize the size of some of the gusset plates as an issue, and why regular inspections didn't bring the problem to light.<br /><br />From my completely civilian understanding of this, once the bridge was going up, its design wasn't questioned. That makes sense when you think about it, especially considering the considerable resources that would be required to add regular reviews of the <span style="font-style: italic;">designs</span> of bridges and other infrastructure to the top of the inspections and other work that's already done. It just wouldn't be practical. Still, it's kind of unsettling to think that while the 35W bridge may not have been doomed to collapse, once its designs were finalized and approved, it might as well have been.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-63391021551653046012008-01-11T12:46:00.000-06:002008-01-11T13:12:04.164-06:00Walker Art Center on 2007 Minnesota ArchitectureAndrew Blauvelt, Design Director and Curator at the Walker, has put together his list of <a href="http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/2008/01/08/walker-top-tens-2007-no1/">Minnesota Design and Architecture Highlights for 2007</a>. He, uh, included his own home on the list.<br /><br />(Via <a href="http://www.mnspeak.com/mnspeak/archive/post-4591.cfm">MNspeak</a>.)mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-7194179543534526562007-12-27T23:50:00.001-06:002007-12-27T23:50:37.898-06:002008Hi! I'm going to make an active effort not to ignore this space next year.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-13553406560912326192007-08-08T22:57:00.000-05:002007-08-09T00:05:55.759-05:0035W, One Week LaterWell, it's been a week since 35W fell into the Mississippi, and the Twin Cities are still recovering. Over the next few weeks I'll be writing a lot about the bridge collapse and the race for a replacement, but for now I'd like to point out the excellent coverage and commentary coming from a number of different sources:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://tcsidewalks.blogspot.com/">Twin Cities Sidewalks</a> -- I should have linked to this a long time ago anyway. Excellent, well-thought-out commentary from someone who obviously cares very much about this community.</li><li><a href="http://www.visi.com/~jweeks/bridges/pages/ms16.html">John Week's 35W Bridge Page</a> -- Detailed page about the about the bridge, along with a page on <a href="http://www.visi.com/~jweeks/i35w/i35wmyths.html">common myths and misconceptions. </a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Mississippi_River_Bridge">35W Bridge Wikipedia Entry</a> -- The number of stupid things said on CNN and other networks that could have been avoided by a quick look at this entry is amazing.</li></ul><br />I'd also like to point out the <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/35w-bridge-disaster/">35W Bridge Disaster</a> group on Flickr. Currently it has over 600 photos submitted by 70+ users. (Full disclosure: I organized the group, but have been pretty much hands-off since doing so.) Three sets stuck out early on: Flickr members <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/eb78/sets/72157601157131324/">ebrandt78</a>, <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/adamdi/sets/72157601177473879/">AdamDi</a> and <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/s4xton/sets/72157601157770382/">s4xton</a> all were either at the scene right after the bridge collapsed, or posted photos on behalf of someone who was.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-20911884375653940932007-06-15T00:20:00.000-05:002007-06-15T00:37:46.171-05:00Washington Avenue, But With Trees and StuffMinneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak wants to transform the dull-but-improving Washington Avenue into a <a href="http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1242175.html">pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevard</a> that could act as the Mill City's version of the Avenue des Champs Elysées in Paris.<br /><br />Uh, right. Best of luck with that (seriously!), but come on.<br /><br />The AIA Minnesota has a <a href="http://www.thenewwashingtonblvd.com/">page up on the project</a>, and just launched a <a href="http://washingtonboulevard.blogspot.com/">blog on it</a> as well.<br /><br />Up next: Saint Paul decides to do something with University Avenue (which, incidentally, was originally supposed to be <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> city's version of a certain Paris boulevard), Minneapolis finally cleans up Hennepin Avenue through downtown, and Eagan transforms Yankee Doodle into a pleasant pedestrian mall.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-62905699120660255392007-05-16T23:58:00.000-05:002007-05-17T00:10:21.862-05:00Service NoticeWell, I've been a bad blogger lately. So many interesting development stories in the Twin Cities, and all you get here is the sound of crickets. I'm moving in late May, expecting a child in late June and hopefully going back to school in the fall, but in the meantime will try to be a little more active 'round these here parts.<br /><br />As usual, <a href="http://www.mnspeak.com/">MNspeak</a> and the <a href="http://swjournal.com/">Southwest</a> and <a href="http://www.downtownjournal.com/">Downtown Journals</a> are great sources to watch.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-58935209624572579692007-04-16T01:26:00.000-05:002007-04-16T01:31:09.003-05:00MinneapolympicsThis is interesting: Chicago's <a href="http://www.chicago2016.org/">bid for the 2016 Olympic Games</a> includes a certain new football stadium in... <a href="http://www.chicago2016.org/venue_gallery.aspx">Minneapolis</a>. (Click on the last thumbnail after hitting the link.)mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-53756860993005832842007-03-21T20:37:00.000-05:002007-03-21T20:41:41.335-05:00The Nicollet Gets a New Development Partner. Nicollet Mall Still Waiting.The MSP Business Journal is reporting <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/03/19/daily26.html?b=1174449600%5E1435130">Opus Northwest has replaced Hines Interests</a> as the primary development partner of the frozen-in-ice <a href="http://www.thenicollet.com/">Nicollet project</a> in downtown Minneapolis. Whether this change will bring one of Nicollet Mall's most important blocks back from the dead remains to be seen, but holding one's breath in anticipation probably isn't the best idea.<br /><br />A huge-ass condo development proposed just as people were starting to cast a funny look at the housing market, The Nicollet always seemed like a bad idea destined for disaster. Unfortunately, it got far enough along to deprive us of one of the <a href="http://www.letitbe.com/">best record stores in the Twin Cities</a>. Sure, other business were able to relocate, but Nicollet Mall lost some of its diversity and vibrancy as a result, and is now more sterile and corporate for all of those who visit.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-61741140872385841102007-03-21T16:32:00.000-05:002007-03-21T16:51:18.985-05:00About that huge parking lot over by 394 and the garbage incinerator...The StarTribune today has Jerry Bell saying he believes <a href="http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1068767.html">excavation will finally be able to begin</a> on the new Twin's stadium. Over in the Pioneer Press, <span id="default">Joe Soucheray has some theories on why it's <a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_5482986">taken so long to get a hole in the ground</a>.<br /></span>mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-46790637762356476562007-01-31T00:14:00.000-06:002007-01-31T00:45:50.326-06:00Minneapolis to Warehouse District Developers: You Need to Cut Some Floors. Like 18.As part of Minneapolis' continuing effort to keep the city as small as possible, the city council voted on Friday to <a href="http://www.startribune.com/462/story/963167.html">reject an appeal</a> to permit high-rise towers as part of the <a href="http://www.thepacificliving.com/">Pacific condos and hotel development</a>.<br /><br />While efforts to maintain the character of the area <a href="http://downtownjournal.com/articles/2007/01/29/news/news02.txt">have a lot of merit</a>, it should be recognized that preventing developments like the Pacific will ultimately lead to a more <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homogenized</span> (and boring) urban environment. One only needs to go a few blocks north and study the architectural disaster between 1st and 2<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nd</span> Streets North to see what kind of development we're setting ourselves up for. <br /><br />It would be a tragedy to let such inspired blandness creep onto Washington Avenue. Even if the 10-floor limit was to remain in force for the rest of the area, it would make sense to let the block in question grow up. I-394 creates somewhat of a blockade to pedestrians, and a major development like the Pacific (which would be across the street from 394's final ramp) could help create a bridge between downtown and the rest of the Warehouse District.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-66418236058078359652007-01-15T23:57:00.000-06:002007-01-16T00:37:17.589-06:00AMC Rosedale Admits the Weather is a Bit ChillyWCCO is confirming management at the new AMC Theaters at Rosedale Mall has finally come to the same conclusion just about everyone else in the north metro came to quite some time ago--<a href="http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_013123613.html">the outdoor box office was an incredibly stupid idea</a>:<br /><blockquote>"A spokeswoman for AMC theaters heard the complaints loud and clear, and said the box office will, indeed, be enclosed as soon as management gets the local building permits. As soon as possible, AMC plans on erecting a temporary enclosure. By next winter, the company plans on building a permanent enclosure that according to Melanie Bell 'will complement the current structure' and protect moviegoers from 'all elements: temperature, moisture and wind.'"</blockquote>Expected highs for the next five days: 13°, 24°, 22°, 18° and 20°.<br /><br />For what it's worth, Chris Hewitt of the Pioneer Press had <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/entertainment/movies/16394596.htm">an article on this train wreck</a> a couple of weeks ago. While the tone of his article was generally fairly critical, some thought <a href="http://eightandfive.com/2007/01/11/worst-movie-theater-ever-amc-roseville/">he was being too kind</a>.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1168495295003696132007-01-10T23:42:00.000-06:002007-01-11T00:01:35.016-06:00The Schmidt Brewery: A Future Town Within a City?The Pioneer Press reports a Maine developer and his St. Paul son are looking to convert the Schmidt Brewery property into a mixed-use <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/16422996.htm">"town within a town" development</a>, possibly in coordination with the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation. The federation <a href="http://www.fortroadfederation.org/brewery/">has a page on the project</a>, and the StarTribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/462/story/924827.html">has coverage as well</a>.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1168243979435955592007-01-08T01:51:00.000-06:002007-01-08T02:14:42.213-06:00Minneapolis Grain Elevators: Going, Going...This is about a month overdue, but the Strib has a story on the<a href="http://www.startribune.com/462/story/887117.html"> partial preservation of the Bunge Grain Elevators</a> in Northeast Minneapolis. It sounds like most of the complex will be torn down, but the landmark headhouse--a common sight to those traveling on 35W north of downtown--will be preserved.<br /><br />It's a modest nod to the past in a city that seems determined to destroy the most visible reminders of its industrial and agricultural history. In addition to the Bunge elevators, we're losing the ConAgra towers by the U of M, and will likely watch part of the Pillsbury complex near St. Anthony main disappear as well. It's too bad we can't seem to find a better way to save more of the grain elevators here. Heck, Akron <a href="http://www.quakersquare.com/">converted some of theirs into a hotel</a>, why don't we make some of ours into condos or offices? If a city as boring as Akron freakin' Ohio can figure out how to preserve them, you'd think a "creative class" city like Minneapolis would be able to do so as well.<br /><br />This city needs more imagination and fewer wrecking balls.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1161668697165873922006-10-24T00:40:00.000-05:002006-10-24T00:44:57.173-05:00The Strib on "Minnesota Moderne"Linda Mack of the Strib has put together a piece on the <a href="http://www.startribune.com/1375/story/754155.html">new Chambers Hotel</a>, as well as a short overview of some of the other <a href="http://www.startribune.com/1375/story/754163.html">snazzy hotel projects</a> going in Minneapolis. (Like many Strib articles this one will likely disappear soon, so get it while it lasts.)mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1161531239777197512006-10-22T09:59:00.000-05:002006-10-22T10:34:00.016-05:00Saint Paul: No Bridges to the FutureThe St. Paul Planning Commission has <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/15811080.htm">rejected a request for a zoning change</a> for The Bridges of Saint Paul, the <a href="http://www.thebridgesofsaintpaul.com/">proposed $1.5 billion development</a> on the south shore of the Mississsippi. While this should allow those of us in Minneapolis to remain smug about being the only ones with a downtown, as a friend of the Cities it's disappointing to see the commission shoot down this opportunity. (Not all is lost, however. The developer is appealing to the city council.)<br /><br />The comparisons to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anthony_Main">St. Anthony Main</a>, the tepid Mississippi development across from downtown Minneapolis, seem fairly unfounded. St. Anthony Main has always felt cheap and cobbled together--an urban mall where none was needed--but what is proposed in St. Paul appears to be a relatively well-thought-out mixed-use development. While not being a direct rip-off by any stretch, it's somewhat evocative of Kansas City's <a href="http://www.countryclubplaza.com/">Country Club Plaza</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Club_Plaza">more at Wikipedia</a>). While KC overall is somewhat of a train wreck, the Plaza is fantastic, and a city like St. Paul should be able to grow off the Bridges, unlike KC has done with the relatively isolated Plaza.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * *<br /></div><br /><br />I hate to say it, but it looks like I actually <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/15754862.htm">agree with Joe Soucheray</a> on this one.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1160761603330009352006-10-13T12:41:00.000-05:002006-10-13T12:46:43.340-05:00Uptown's Mozaic to Include Graves HotelUptown's <a href="http://www.uptownmozaic.com/">Mozaic development</a> is going to <a href="http://www.startribune.com/535/story/739473.html">include a new hotel from Graves</a>, the same group that brought us the highly-regarded Graves 601 hotel in Block E. I'm not sure if a hotel was always planned as part of Mozaic, but if not, I guess it's a good way to deal with the condo bubble.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1157604273890903032006-09-06T23:33:00.000-05:002006-09-06T23:45:46.790-05:00Minneapolis Condo Hotel BoomThe Downtown Journal has two hotel-related articles worthy of note this week, one on the pending <a href="http://downtownjournal.com/articles/2006/09/04/hot_dish/hd01.txt">opening of the Chambers Hotel</a> and another on the possible <a href="http://downtownjournal.com/articles/2006/09/04/news/news01.txt">conversion of the Foshay Tower</a> to a W hotel.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1151258475076412332006-06-25T12:58:00.000-05:002006-06-25T13:01:15.086-05:00Ralph Rapson and the old GuthrieWith the opening of the new Guthrie Theater this weekend, Minnesota Public Radio has a <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/23/guthrierapson/">short article on the building that's being left behind</a>, its pending demolition, and its architect.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1150093032655099242006-06-11T23:09:00.000-05:002006-06-12T01:19:06.473-05:00New Wing Opens at the MIAIt was opening weekend for the <a href="http://www.artsmia.org/">Minneapolis Institute of Art</a>'s Target wing this weekend, so the significant-other and I trekked over there to check it out. Overall, my feelings about the expansion are somewhat mixed. I love the MIA, and am proud to be a member, but am disappointed in the new wing of the building. I really whish I could write glowingly about it, but I can't.<br /><br />According to the grand opening pamphlet handed out to visitors, "the building, designed by celebrated American architect Michael Graves, is itself a work of art--forming an aesthetic bridge between the neoclassical elegance of the original 1915 McKim, Mead and White-designed Building and the Stark minimalism of the 1974 Kenzo Tange-designed addition."<br /><br />Unfortunately, it doesn't really do anything of the sort. The design clashes Tange addition--and not in a way that's good or interesting--and at best is a disrespectful parody of the McKim, Mead building. While a lot of people probably find the Tange addition ugly, it at least went to great lengths to be respectful and even deferential to the original building. (In many ways, the Tange addition acted as near-literal bookends to the first building.)<br /><br />In fairness, the space in which the new addition was placed didn't allow it to take an elegant of an approach as was available with the first addition. But still, the new addition looks more like a rogue appendage than a meaningful part of the museum. Even the stone covering the new addition clashes with everything else; instead of coming off as a new part of the MIA, it says, hey, look, I'm a new Michael Graves building! While he's still a trendy architect, I suspect most of his stuff is going to look ridiculous in just a decade or so.<br /><br />Which brings us to the interior. The focal point of the new addition, the atrium, is uninspiring and cheap-looking. At best, it looks like the interior of some college library somewhere, at worst, the court of an upscale shopping mall. The ceiling "sky" appears to have been sponged on, something up to this point I thought was mostly reserved for the bedrooms of college or high-school art students. At least we won't have to worry about it beginning to look dated, as it looks dated now.<br /><br />Thankfully, there is a bright side in the fantastic amount of new gallery space. (Mercifully, the new galleries are practically indistinguishable from most of those in the old building.) According to the MIA, exhibition space has increased by 40%, and as a result what Minneapolis now has is not just a fantastic, diverse art museum, but one that is now unequivocally world-class. After spending a few hours there this afternoon, Lisa and I decided that we'd have to come back some weekend when the crowds have receded somewhat and we can spend five or six hours wandering its halls. For all practical purposes its a new museum, and it deserves to be treated as such.<br /><br />I just wish the new addition was better.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1147757221503767282006-05-16T00:22:00.000-05:002006-05-16T00:27:01.513-05:00Downtown Journal Feature on Developer Jim StantonThe Downtown Journal has an interesting, albiet somewhat sparse, <a href="http://www.skywaynews.net/articles/2006/05/15/news/news02.txt">feature on downtown development pioneer Jim Stanton</a>.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735141.post-1145427645445123862006-04-19T01:07:00.000-05:002006-04-19T01:20:45.476-05:00MegaMall X 2The Mall of America has <a href="http://www.startribune.com/535/story/376697.html">filed development plans</a> with the city of Bloomington for its long-awaited <a href="http://www.mallofamerica.com/about_moa_phase_II.aspx">Phase II</a>. The plan includes a waterpark, a Bass Pro Shops store, a number of hotels, office space, and a performing arts center, which could end up being a <a href="http://www.startribune.com/462/story/378820.html">new home to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre</a>.mrbulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13857512993588145751noreply@blogger.com0