Land & Space Twin Cities

35W Bridge: It's Ready

2008-09-18T02:03:00.002-05:00

Taken four hours before its opening. I'll never be a fan of urban freeways, but it's good to have it back.

Ralph Rapson, Dead at 93

2008-03-31T10:06:00.002-05:00

Ralph Rapson, architect of Riverside Plaza and the original Guthrie, passed away over the weekend at the age of 93.

The Central Corridor is a Go!

2008-02-27T22:51:00.005-06:00

The Central Corridor light rail line 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, Washington Avenue on the East Bank. Great work, guys.)

One paragraph in the Strib story pretty much sums up why the plan was approved as it was:

"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."

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.

~~~

If you're curious as to what the hell is the Cost Effectiveness Rating, here's your answer (warning: PDF). Not everyone likes it.

Pawlenty's First Overridden Veto... Is For Transportation

2008-02-26T23:21:00.000-06:00

Transit Veto Overridden. Huh. Finally time for some progress, maybe?

More About the Bridge

2008-01-15T21:53:00.000-06:00

With all the news going around today about the National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendation stemming from the 35W bridge collapse, it seemed to makes sense to link to the recommendation itself. At five pages, it's fairly short and to the point, and overall a remarkably easy read.

While the larger investigation is ongoing and "no determination of probable cause has been reached," the recommendation strongly suggests poorly-designed gusset plates--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.

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 designs 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.

Walker Art Center on 2007 Minnesota Architecture

2008-01-11T12:46:00.000-06:00

Andrew Blauvelt, Design Director and Curator at the Walker, has put together his list of Minnesota Design and Architecture Highlights for 2007. He, uh, included his own home on the list.

(Via MNspeak.)

2008

2007-12-27T23:50:00.001-06:00

Hi! I'm going to make an active effort not to ignore this space next year.

35W, One Week Later

2007-08-08T22:57:00.000-05:00

Well, 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:

Twin Cities Sidewalks -- 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.
John Week's 35W Bridge Page -- Detailed page about the about the bridge, along with a page on common myths and misconceptions.
35W Bridge Wikipedia Entry -- 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.

I'd also like to point out the 35W Bridge Disaster 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 ebrandt78, AdamDi and s4xton all were either at the scene right after the bridge collapsed, or posted photos on behalf of someone who was.

Washington Avenue, But With Trees and Stuff

2007-06-15T00:20:00.000-05:00

Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak wants to transform the dull-but-improving Washington Avenue into a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevard that could act as the Mill City's version of the Avenue des Champs Elysées in Paris.

Uh, right. Best of luck with that (seriously!), but come on.

The AIA Minnesota has a page up on the project, and just launched a blog on it as well.

Up next: Saint Paul decides to do something with University Avenue (which, incidentally, was originally supposed to be that 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.

Service Notice

2007-05-16T23:58:00.000-05:00

Well, 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.

As usual, MNspeak and the Southwest and Downtown Journals are great sources to watch.

Minneapolympics

2007-04-16T01:26:00.000-05:00

This is interesting: Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games includes a certain new football stadium in... Minneapolis. (Click on the last thumbnail after hitting the link.)

The Nicollet Gets a New Development Partner. Nicollet Mall Still Waiting.

2007-03-21T20:37:00.000-05:00

The MSP Business Journal is reporting Opus Northwest has replaced Hines Interests as the primary development partner of the frozen-in-ice Nicollet project 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.

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 best record stores in the Twin Cities. 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.

About that huge parking lot over by 394 and the garbage incinerator...

2007-03-21T16:32:00.000-05:00

The StarTribune today has Jerry Bell saying he believes excavation will finally be able to begin on the new Twin's stadium. Over in the Pioneer Press, Joe Soucheray has some theories on why it's taken so long to get a hole in the ground.

Minneapolis to Warehouse District Developers: You Need to Cut Some Floors. Like 18.

2007-01-31T00:14:00.000-06:00

As part of Minneapolis' continuing effort to keep the city as small as possible, the city council voted on Friday to reject an appeal to permit high-rise towers as part of the Pacific condos and hotel development.

While efforts to maintain the character of the area have a lot of merit, it should be recognized that preventing developments like the Pacific will ultimately lead to a more homogenized (and boring) urban environment. One only needs to go a few blocks north and study the architectural disaster between 1st and 2nd Streets North to see what kind of development we're setting ourselves up for.

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.

AMC Rosedale Admits the Weather is a Bit Chilly

2007-01-15T23:57:00.000-06:00

WCCO 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--the outdoor box office was an incredibly stupid idea:

"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.'"

Expected highs for the next five days: 13°, 24°, 22°, 18° and 20°.

For what it's worth, Chris Hewitt of the Pioneer Press had an article on this train wreck a couple of weeks ago. While the tone of his article was generally fairly critical, some thought he was being too kind.

The Schmidt Brewery: A Future Town Within a City?

2007-01-10T23:42:00.000-06:00

The Pioneer Press reports a Maine developer and his St. Paul son are looking to convert the Schmidt Brewery property into a mixed-use "town within a town" development, possibly in coordination with the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation. The federation has a page on the project, and the StarTribune has coverage as well.

Minneapolis Grain Elevators: Going, Going...

2007-01-08T01:51:00.000-06:00

This is about a month overdue, but the Strib has a story on the partial preservation of the Bunge Grain Elevators 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.

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 converted some of theirs into a hotel, 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.

This city needs more imagination and fewer wrecking balls.

The Strib on "Minnesota Moderne"

2006-10-24T00:40:00.000-05:00

Linda Mack of the Strib has put together a piece on the new Chambers Hotel, as well as a short overview of some of the other snazzy hotel projects going in Minneapolis. (Like many Strib articles this one will likely disappear soon, so get it while it lasts.)

Saint Paul: No Bridges to the Future

2006-10-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

The St. Paul Planning Commission has rejected a request for a zoning change for The Bridges of Saint Paul, the proposed $1.5 billion development 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.)

The comparisons to the St. Anthony Main, 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 Country Club Plaza (more at Wikipedia). 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.

* * *

I hate to say it, but it looks like I actually agree with Joe Soucheray on this one.

Uptown's Mozaic to Include Graves Hotel

2006-10-13T12:41:00.000-05:00

Uptown's Mozaic development is going to include a new hotel from Graves, 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.

Minneapolis Condo Hotel Boom

2006-09-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

The Downtown Journal has two hotel-related articles worthy of note this week, one on the pending opening of the Chambers Hotel and another on the possible conversion of the Foshay Tower to a W hotel.

Ralph Rapson and the old Guthrie

2006-06-25T12:58:00.000-05:00

With the opening of the new Guthrie Theater this weekend, Minnesota Public Radio has a short article on the building that's being left behind, its pending demolition, and its architect.

New Wing Opens at the MIA

2006-06-11T23:09:00.000-05:00

It was opening weekend for the Minneapolis Institute of Art'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.

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."

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.)

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.

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.

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.

I just wish the new addition was better.

Downtown Journal Feature on Developer Jim Stanton

2006-05-16T00:22:00.000-05:00

The Downtown Journal has an interesting, albiet somewhat sparse, feature on downtown development pioneer Jim Stanton.

MegaMall X 2

2006-04-19T01:07:00.000-05:00

The Mall of America has filed development plans with the city of Bloomington for its long-awaited Phase II. 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 new home to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.

Crosstown Reconstruction: It Begins With Condemnation

2006-04-03T01:09:00.000-05:00

And so it begins. The StarTribune has a story today on businesses and homeowners who have to make way for an expanded Crosstown Commons. Maps of the affected areas are available on MnDOT's website.

New Development and Urban Parks

2006-01-14T00:56:00.000-06:00

The PiPress has a story today on how the 'burbs frequently require developers to set aside green space with new developments, but Minneapolis and St. Paul usually do not. Both cities seem to be looking to require more green space with future developments, however.

University Ave. Streetcar Rails Can't Carry LRT

2006-01-13T00:41:00.000-06:00

The Strib is reporting that the long-buried streetcar rails on University Avenue can't be reused for light rail. That's unfortunate, but you have to give transit officials credit for at least looking into it.

Downtown Dwellers Angry About — Wait For It — Lights From Nearby Buildings

2005-11-22T23:29:00.000-06:00

From the World's Tiniest Violin Department, the Strib has a story on downtown St. Paulites annoyed by nearby building lights and signs. One quote from interviewee Heather Cole pretty much sums up the complaints:

"Lawson put up a sign and it's just escalated from that," Cole said. "People say: 'Isn't that just part of urban living?' I put up with a lot for urban living, but I shouldn't have to put up with this."

Right.

Incidentally, the story has a picture of her standing next to a huge, undraped wall of windows on the side of her loft. Uh, Ms. Cole? You know, you could obviously afford to buy one of those huge fancy schmancy lofts in downtown St. Paul. Don't you think you could shell out a few bucks for, you know, curtains?

Living Large — And Paying Big

2005-11-06T01:36:00.000-06:00

The StarTribune has a somewhat sad, somewhat funny piece on the family-level costs of living in supersized homes out in the sprawl. A few excerpts:

"[The houses are] all getting bigger by the day," Odette said. "I guess one has to impress the other. I don't know how they do it. They don't dare get sick, and the wife better not get pregnant, because the home costs are atrocious. I'd be scared."

Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House, chimed in as well:

A hundred years ago... Americans were focused on meeting their survival needs, from food to shelter. "Once they're met, we don't have another model, so we keep doing the same thing," said Susanka. For many, that means continuing to make more money to buy more. From restaurant servings that are far too much to eat to taller ceilings, Americans have overridden the natural mechanism that tells us when we're satiated[.]

But, of course, any story like this has to end with a ray of hope. Regarding the example family featured in the story:

Husband Mark still drives his Ford F-150 pickup truck each day 60 miles to and from his job in Chanhassen, where he buys and sells used cash register equipment. But when gas was nearing $3 a gallon, he was reconsidering his habit of driving to Caribou for a $3 cup of coffee.

Sorry Caribou.

Downtown Renewal in New Mexico

2005-10-17T01:13:00.000-05:00

It has nothing to do with the Twin Cities, but The New York Times has an interesting article on the pending downtown redevelopment of Las Cruces, New Mexico, that's worth passing along.

Grand Avenue Development Moratorium

2005-10-02T12:02:00.001-05:00

In a pleasantly surprising move, the St. Paul City Council has passed a measure that will prevent new development on a stretch of Grand Avenue for a year, allowing neighborhood groups and residents to identify how they want their wonderful little neighborhood to be shaped. Three artciles on the subject worthy of note:

StarTribune: Debating what's good for St. Paul's Grand
StarTribune: Some St. Paul residents back ban on Grand Avenue chains
PioneerPress: St. Paul plan bans big projects

Let's hope the outcome of this moratorium is a zoning and development plan that preserves the area's character without being regressive and obstructionary. While a neighbhood's residents should have a primary say about how their community is shaped, that doesn't always mean they'll be right. (Look at Nicolet Mall in downtown Minneapolis: While many downtown supported the new Target and other developments on the mall, the end result has been a stretch that once housed a large number of local shops and businesses now lacks character and feels like a regular, boring business-district street, only without traffic.)

Uptown: Vitality only allowed during evening hours

2005-06-23T22:48:00.000-05:00

In an incredibly disappointing move, the Minneapolis City Council Zoning and Planning Committee, when given a choice between a huge surface parking lot or an unsubsidized, high-density, mixed-use development, decided to go with the parking lot. Two quotes from the StarTribune article on the decision attempted to explain the committee's logic behind the rejection. The first came from Council Member Gary Schiff, who said he liked most of the proposal, but:

"We're willing to change the character to support taller buildings, but not this tall. We were willing to do 10 stories."

And the second:

"Uptown is not downtown," [Minneapolis Mayor] Rybak said. "Right now the expectation is Uptown is not a high-rise district."

Right. Because God forbid we allow the site--right next to the Uptown Transit Station, the Midtown Greenway, the proposed crosstown light rail line and numerous shops and business that are underutilized during the day--turn into anything other than the nightime entertainment district it serves as today.

On the bright side, if there is one, a few words of wisdom came from outgoing council member Dan Niziolek. "Jobs do belong in our neighborhoods so people can walk to work," he said, in response to Schiff's position that the placement of hundreds of jobs in Uptown would bring more cars, congestion and air pollution.

So now, as it stands, the huge parking lot remains. I'm sure The Ackerberg Group and the folks at Financial Freedom realty are gong to come back with a new proposal, but when they do, it's probably going to be wider and decidedly less sexy.

Or maybe they'll just lop off three stories and ask for public subsidies.

Wayzata Bay Center to make way for condos, pedestrian-friendly shopping

2005-05-31T23:42:00.000-05:00

The StarTribune is reporting that the Wayzata Bay Shopping Center is going to fall in stages to make way for mixed residential and retail use. The paper reports that staged demolition will allow the current businesses to continue to operate during construction, although it wasn't clear if all of them would be welcome (or financially able) to stick around for the new development.

United Properties also has a press release outlining the project, which it says is in the early stages of planning.

Rosedale: Mervyn's gone, soon to be forgotten

2005-05-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

The Pioneer Press is reporting that Rosedale Center is going to take out the old Mervyn's wing and replace it with a 14-screen movie theatre and "lifestyle shopping," i.e., stores and restaurants that face the outside of the building. (If that kind of sounds like a trendy version of Har Mar, well, it does, but the nearby competitor isn't mentioned in the story.) Steve Scott of the Pioneer Press passes along the following without a hint of irony:

John Schupp, senior vice president of mall manager Jones Lang LaSalle, said the concept is growing nationwide. Rosedale, built in 1969 and renovated in 1992, faces competition from similar centers in Woodbury, Maple Grove and St. Paul's Grand Avenue, he said.

I never thought I'd hear Grand Avenue compared to places in Woodbury or Maple Grove, but there it is.

For what it's worth, Jones Lang LaSalle doesn't mention the plan on their website.

Endangered Twin Cities:

2005-05-09T21:46:00.000-05:00

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has released its 10 Most Endangered 2005, a list of the ten historically important properties the Alliance fears may soon be little more than a memory. Included in the list are a number of Twin Cities sites, including the Jacob Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul, the Fort Snelling Upper Bluffs, and the Saint Anthony Falls district in Minneapolis.

Even the horses want to get out of Eagan

2005-04-22T23:36:00.000-05:00

From today's Pioneer Press:

Despite a year-long outcry from dozens of local residents, new houses and town homes will supplant the stables and pastures at the former Diamond T horse ranch in Eagan.

The City Council unanimously gave its preliminary approval to the controversial housing development late Tuesday night, in a decision that left some local homeowners in tears and others vowing to appeal the decision over environmental concerns.

Of course, the full story can be found at twincities.com.

A grand new building for University and Snelling

2005-01-02T01:09:00.000-06:00

The Pioneer Press is reporting that a long-delayed CVS drugstore may soon rise at the corner of University and Snelling. Unlike the plain suburban box first proposed by CVS, the new plan includes "a small tower, windows and other architectural features." No news, however, on where (or if) they're going to try to hide the parking lot.

Religious Storage Space Available

2004-12-28T01:39:00.000-06:00

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.

1924 St. Paul Power Plant Being Converted to Condos

2004-12-23T01:19:00.000-06:00

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:

Pioneer Press Editorial: Two cities smart to twin on transit

2004-12-15T21:51:00.000-06:00

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

2004-12-15T21:12:00.000-06:00

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."

More Mississippi Condos

2004-12-14T23:18:00.000-06:00

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!"

2004-12-14T23:03:00.000-06:00

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!

2004-12-14T22:17:00.000-06:00

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.

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

2004-12-13T21:46:00.000-06:00

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.

More Condos Proposed Near Nicollet Mall

2004-12-11T22:42:00.000-06:00

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.

Light Rail? Done.

2004-12-05T01:12:00.000-06:00

Metro Transit: Four more miles, five added stations

StarTribune: A ticket to ride is a ticket to buy

StarTribune: Streetcars: An idea that's coming back

2004-11-17T21:28:00.000-06:00

With today's visit to the Twin Cities by a noted streetcar proponent, the StarTribune looked at the potential for streetcars to once again roam about the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul:

It has been 50 years since the last streetcars ran in the Twin Cities, but many people see value in bringing back an updated version of the vintage vehicles.

In St. Paul, routes might connect downtown with the Grand Avenue shopping district, Selby Avenue or Payne Avenue on the East Side.

Minneapolis planners envision a streetcar line along the Midtown Greenway, between Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Calhoun, or from downtown up to the northern Warehouse District.

Full story at startribune.com.

Condos Won't Let Nicollet Mall Be

2004-10-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

Nicollet Mall may be on the verge of losing one of the last few blocks that make it special and unique. As of now, though, no one seems to be complaining about the potential loss of the human-sized buildings at 10th and Nicollet.

Pioneer Press: Condos 1st step in downtown revival

2004-09-22T01:32:00.000-05:00

The Pioneer Press has a lengthy article on what's apparently the largest demolition project ever undertaken in downtown Stillwater:

A row of old buildings that once housed small businesses on Stillwater's North Main Street is being demolished this week to make way for the city's latest downtown condominium project: Stillwater Mills on Main.

The $46 million condominium and commercial building will encompass the entire block between Main Street and Second Street and will extend from the corner of Mulberry Street to the Isaac Staple Mill building complex.

Read the full story at twincities.com.

(And, dang it, it looks like I missed my chance to photograph this.)

Skyway News: North Loop's 720 lofts to break ground

2004-09-22T01:27:00.000-05:00

Crews will break ground in October on 720 Lofts -- a seven-story condo project in the North Loop at North 4th Street & 7th Avenue.

The 99-unit development by Northeast-based Schafer Richardson will go up next to the developer's 710 Lofts, a four-story industrial-style loft building expected to open in April 2005.

Read the full story at skywaynews.net.

Pioneer Press: River relic comes to life

2004-09-13T01:51:00.000-05:00

Recent government action is giving a big boost to developers' plans to offer diners a nice meal with a great riverfront view from inside a recycled building where farmers and grain merchants made St. Paul history.

The federal government's decision to add the remnants of the 75-year-old St. Paul Municipal Grain Terminal to the National Register of Historic Places is bolstering efforts to save and reuse the two remaining buildings.

Full story at twincities.com.

Pioneer Press: Another chapter added to story of birthplace

2004-09-13T01:42:00.000-05:00

Larry Millett tells the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthplace in St. Paul:

It was, instead, an unremarkable apartment in one of two identical buildings built side by side in an upscale but not quite posh neighborhood a few blocks away from the gold coast of Summit Avenue.
Yet like all historic buildings, the apartment has its own story to tell. It's a tale of modest beginnings, years of decline and decay, near demolition and finally, in the 1970s, rejuvenation.

See the full story at twincities.com.

StarTribune: Chambers Hotel gets upgrade to a double

2004-09-02T00:41:00.000-05:00

The StarTribune is reporting today that boutique hotel plans for the Fairmont Hotel (on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis) have been expanded to include the neighboring parking lot and ProColor Building. "The expansion of the hotel to 53 rooms, about 25 of them suites, from the original plan for just 24 suites... [will] delay the opening date for what will be called the Minneapolis Chambers Hotel about a year, to early 2006."

It'll be interesting to see what this means for the ProColor Building. It looks like a solid building, but regrettably has one of the more abused facades in downtown Minneapolis. The official Chambers Minneapolis site doesn't have any information about the new plans yet, but the inclusion of the ProColor Building may mean the death of one of the ugliest surface parking lots in the Twin Cities.

For more background information, Google has a cache of the April StarTribune article announcing plans for the hotel.

Ikea != Hyperport

2004-08-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

The StarTribune has a very thorough article on the underwhelming progress towards Phase II of the Mall of America. An excerpt:

Measured by the crowds that have greeted its opening over the past three weeks, the new Ikea store in Bloomington has been an unqualified success. But measured against the ambitious plans to develop a one-of-a-kind parcel across from the Mall of America, Ikea stands as the only result of a vision that was much more far-reaching. At 53 acres, the property was targeted to house nothing less than the second phase of the mall. An eye-popping plan called for hotels, office buildings, a performing-arts center and a futuristic high-technology complex that would be known as the "Hyperport."

Read the full story at startribune.com.

City Pages on Minneapolis' Heritage Park development

2004-08-04T23:08:00.000-05:00

The cover story of August 4th's City Pages focuses on the planning for Minneapolis' Heritage Park development, as well as the extreme level of scrutiny the project is working under. While one of the project's stated goals is to mix individuals and family's of different backgrounds and income levels, just how much of a community can be built is somewhat up in the air:

Later, however, when I read through the Heritage Park "Community House Rules," I realized that tenants are largely invisible by design. They can't work on their cars or ride bikes or skate on the sidewalks, and, in fact, "outside activities"--including sitting, standing, and congregating--"are not permitted in front of the apartment."

Further on in the article:

Rules of conduct are necessary and not at all unusual. The project does offer parklike commons areas. And if tenants want to hang pictures of fetuses or Dennis Kucinich on their dining room walls, that's fine with Swain. But mingling is not exactly encouraged, and Heritage Park by design contains little opportunity for the kinds of spontaneous interactions that take place in nonplanned neighborhoods all the time.

See the full story at citypages.com.

Everything has to start something

2004-07-24T13:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Land & Space Twin Cities. I'm Mark Danielson, and I've been working to chronicle changes in the Twin Cities urban landscape since 1996. Over the past eight years I've taken thousands of photographs of new buildings going up and old ones going down, and have spent significant amounts of time researching the buildings in those photographs. Over the coming years I hope to share this huge mass of information with you, and hopefully get some of you involved in tracking the changes as well. (Hey, the metro area has over 2.5 million people in it. That's a lot to cover.)

While simply figuring out what should be photographed has been a challenge, it's nothing compared to the task of organizing everything in a way that's understandable and accessible. I originally aimed to launch this project in 2000, but reality interviened, as it has every year since. I've found myself confronted with the same issues this year, so instead of taking more time trying to figure out how to organize everything, I decided to just go ahead and start with something.

And that's what you see now. A text-only weblog may be a strange way to start a site that'll eventually be dominated by photography, but it's better than nothing.

The Twin Cities is a fascinating place to live. I hope you enjoy my view of it.