Downtown Minneapolis - News & General Topics

[mamundsen]

Thanks. So no parking on that side of the street. That's not a big loss and could be implemented where there are large patios.

[MNdible]

Yeah, seems like it could be applied to most of First Avenue. The block in front of the Target Center might be a little dicey.

[nBode]

Not sure where to put this, but there's a public meeting tonight for the Downtown Public Realm Framework.

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/lrp/WCMS1P-134268

[grant1simons2]

Looks like the Foshay got its lighting rod/antenna repainted the classic red-white. Haven't been downtown in a week so this might not be to new.

[Nathan]

Dang, you're right! Looks so good and fresh!

[seanrichardryan]

From the Old Minneapolis Facebook page:



https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hp ... e=563B5D08

[MNdible]

The Old Minneapolis Facebook page had some photos that one of the painters took. You can cross antenna painter off of my list of future careers.

[min-chi-cbus]

Oh my F'ing G, that's intense!

[Wedgeguy]

Oh my F'ing G, that's intense!

Trying holding on to that can of paint and paint and stay up there are the same time.

[David Greene]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INbKYq0G9nU

[LakeCharles]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INbKYq0G9nU

Haha, that was the exact video I was going to post. Everytime I watch it I almost throw up.

[seanrichardryan]

Staff recommends denial for demolition of Twin City Floral building by Bobby & Steve's. Praise jebus

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/hpc/WCMS1P-144873

Voted for demo:

8. 1207 Washington Avenue South, Ward 3
Staff report by Becca Farrar-Hughes, BZH-28717

This item was continued from the July 14 HPC meeting.
The Department of Community Planning and Economic Development recommends that the Heritage Preservation Commission adopt staff findings for the application by Bobby & Steve’s Auto World for the property located at 1207 Washington Avenue South (1209 & 1211 Washington Avenue South) :
A. Demolition of Historic Resource.
Action: Notwithstanding staff recommendation, the Heritage Preservation Commission approved the demolition of historic resource application for the property located at 1207 Washington Avenue South (1209 & 1211 Washington Avenue South) based on the following findings:

Finding #1: The alterations to the building are not reversible.

Finding #2: The building does not maintain significant integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship or feeling to either be individually locally designated or to be a contributing structure in a local historic district because of its isolation from the adjacent potential district.

Finding #3: There was a significant loss of integrity to the period of significance for the building.

Absent: Vork
Aye: Bengtson, Faucher, Haecker, Hartnett, Lackovic, Mack, Stade
Nay: Hunter Weir, Olson
Motion passed

Now, can they actually build a parking lot?

[twincitizen]

As long as they combine the properties together, I don't see why not. They're not building a standalone new surface lot, which is what the code prohibits. Plus, I thought it was stated that they wanted to "improve circulation", not stripe the site for parking. Much as I hate it, I think it will be tough to deny

[mattaudio]

Sad. The new land use will surely pay significantly less property tax than the old one. We'll all end up indirectly subsidizing Bobby & Steve's ugly new anti-urban parking lot with our property taxes.

[lordmoke]

So now between this and the Westminster Church lot, we'll have gotten two new lots where functional buildings existed downtown during the last few years. There should really be a zero tolerance policy for this crap.

Side note: Wasn't Westminster supposed to A. provide money to help establish low income housing and B. only have a variance for that lot for like three years? What happened with that? Pretty sure it's been close to three years.

[seanrichardryan]

You should call staff on that. They generally despise citizen follow-up on their recommendations.

[seanrichardryan]

Also, yes, the building will be replaced with parking-

[lordmoke]

I stand somewhat corrected. The Church has until June 14, 2018 to do away with the parking lot.

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups ... 109367.pdf

Back to B&S, is there a specific reason that a lot expansion here would be allowed when it was not allowed for the Kraus-Anderson site? I don't think KA was even really adding parking- they were just reshuffling the arrangement of their lot.

[mattaudio]

Both are in the Downtown Parking Overlay District:
KA http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/gro ... 273324.pdf
B&S http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/gro ... 277118.pdf

[Tom H.]

Ironically, Bobby & Steve's has a pretty good urban set up in Eden Prairie, of all places. Compact site, good street frontage with all the pumps and parking on the interior of the site. Seems like a good prototype for this spot.

For reference, the EP location is at 8100 Flying Cloud Dr (LRT accessible in a few years, hopefully!).