Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

Via an April 26 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Closure starts 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8

At 8 p.m. on May 8, the Franklin Avenue Bridge (County Road 5) in Minneapolis will completely close to all traffic (motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians). The bridge is expected to reopen Labor Day weekend. 

This closure is needed to allow for removal of the existing bridge deck and to place new deck panels. More than 360 deck panels were constructed last year and are ready for placement. These panels will be floated down the river and hoisted up to the bridge deck.

Getting around the area

Motorists will be directed to a route that uses I-94 to cross the river.

Pedestrians and bicyclists have two options: south to Lake Street/Marshall Avenue or north to Washington Avenue.

Please note, the West River Parkway detour due to the mudslide near the University of Minnesota is still in effect.

Boater and recreational users of the Mississippi River should be mindful that there will be barges and cranes in the river and a heavy amount of construction traffic in the river.

Full detour information can be found on the project website.

More about the project

The new bridge is being constructed using the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method to reduce the duration of traffic closure. As part of this, crews expect to work extended hours at times.

Prior to now, the majority of the work around the bridge has been under the deck. Crews have been repairing and restoring piers and arches, as well as relocating utilities that run under the deck. Remaining bridge restoration activities, along with final tasks and clean-up, will be performed during fall 2016 and spring 2017.

The new restored bridge features will replicate the historical design of the original 1923 bridge and will incorporate safe, modern, multimodal features such as separated on-road bike lanes, walkways, overlook nooks and architectural lighting.

There will be more about the project in future updates, as we provide details about the process to remove and replace the bridge deck.

For more information:

Project phone: 888-474-8929
Email: franklinbridge@hennepin.us
Website: www.hennepin.us/franklinbridge

See active projects on our interactive road construction map.

Late Business Leader Pat Fallon Supports Brain Injury Research at HCMC

Via an April 25 Press Release from Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC):

 

The late Twin Cities advertising executive Pat Fallon left a bequest supporting traumatic brain injury research at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). The Hennepin Health Foundation today announced a major gift from Pat to support the Rockswold Kaplan Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at HCMC.

Fallon’s son, Duffy, was treated by HCMC in 2011 for a brain injury as a result of a hockey accident. At the time, Pat Fallon said they’d had a series of medical appointments elsewhere that brought little progress and a lot of frustration. “Our world changed once we got to HCMC’s Traumatic Brain Injury Center. Instead of telling him what he couldn’t do, the doctor said, ‘Duffy, I can help you.’’’ Today, Duffy has recovered fully and is a student at Boston College. 

Established December 2014, the research chair was endowed by philanthropists Elliot and Eloise Kaplan and neurosurgeon Dr. Gaylan Rockswold and his wife Mary to enable continuation of the world-class brain injury program at HCMC. Dr. Rockswold spent 42 years at HCMC performing surgery and clinical and basic science research, most notably to develop the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for brain injury.

Dr. Uzma Samadani, a neurosurgeon whose research on concussion is receiving international recognition, is the Rockswold Kaplan Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury Research. Dr. Samadani published research that describes a method for assessing the severity of traumatic brain injury by measuring eye movements. It was recently announced that HCMC is the site of the nation’s largest single-center prospective study on concussion and brain injury.

“Pat Fallon’s generosity enables HCMC to attract world-class physician researchers who are developing new ways to identify and treat brain injuries,” said Jon L. Pryor, HCMC CEO.  “We are grateful for his investment in hope and healing and we are pleased that HCMC can continue to lead the way.”

Over 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year. Among children and young adults, brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability. Nearly 100,000 brain injuries occur annually in Minnesota. Sustaining a brain injury can be a life-changing event, and many patients will need specialized therapies for months or years.

Hennepin County Medical Center is a Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center and healthcare system. HCMC treats more traumatic brain injury patients than any other hospital in Minnesota. Expertise spans the entire continuum of care for adult and pediatric patients, from prevention to emergency care, neurosurgery, critical care, rehabilitation and the Traumatic Brain Injury Outpatient Program.

Jeff Schad Named ElseWarehouse Building "OLD meets NEW" Instameet Photo Contest Winner

And the winner of the ElseWarehouse Building Instameet "OLD meets NEW" Photo Contest is (drum roll, please) Jeff Schad!

MNCommunity recently collaborated with Preserve Minneapolis on an Instameet at the ElseWarehouse Building in the North Loop at 730 N Washington Avenue.  Formerly known as the Scriver-Andrews Warehouse Company Building, it was constructed between 1920 and 1923 and is an example of historic preservation at work in Minneapolis.

Attendees were encouraged to enter pictures taken during the event in a photo contest. The theme was OLD meets NEW: take a photo of examples where ElseWarehouse artfully and successfully blends new building materials with the existing historic warehouse structure.

Jeff's entry was named the winner by a panel of judges representing ElseWarehouse, Preserve Minneapolis, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and Mill City Times. Click here to see all the entries.

See more of Jeff's work on Instagram.

MPRB Announces New Parking Station Installations

Via an April 22 e-newsletter from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

New Parking Stations Installed

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is replacing outdated parking pay stations across the park system with new, digital pay stations. The new pay stations will allow patrons to use coins or credit cards to pay for parking. Replacement of the pay stations began in late March and will be completed by May 13. 

New digital pay stations will be available at:

Pay Lots:
• Minnehaha Regional Park (seven lots)
• Lake Nokomis
• Lake Harriet
• Lake Calhoun
• Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
• Boom Island
• Nicollet Island

Additionally, the pay-by-phone feature has been added to existing on-street meters at:
• Historic Main Street
• West River Road (at Guthrie Theatre)
• East River Parkway (south of the hospital, eastbound towards 94 – and – north of the hospital, on the hill between Washington and Arlington), and at Minnehaha Park on-street, north of the dog park and south of 54th Street.

Major Impacts to Traffic This Weekend (April 22-24)

Thanks to this update from MNDot, we decided to stay in the neighborhood this weekend.  :)

For more info visit: mndot.gov/weekendtrafficimpacts/

Boom Island Brewing Announces Upcoming Release of Newest Beer - Triple Brett

Boom Island Brewing Company is pleased and excited to announce the upcoming release of its newest beer and latest in the Spontaneous Series, Triple Brett.

As its name implies, Triple Brett is a beer which has been fermented simultaneously with three different strains of Brettanomyces yeast. The strains were carefully selected, focusing primarily on their aromatic properties. After primary fermentation, Triple Brett was aged for 10 weeks in French oak red wine barrels. As an American Wild Ale, Triple Brett is 7.2% ABV and displays a deep mahogany-to-chestnut color, but the true magic lies in the brett-drived aromatics which lean toward fruitiness (pear, pineapple, powdered sour candy) and floral notes. The mouthfeel is full of complex and fruity maltiness despite the beer's bone-dry finish.

Brettanomyces is considered a wild yeast strain and historically has been an unwelcome visitor in wineries and breweries alike. However, certain Belgian styles have embraced the complexity brettanomyces can add. "This [the process of creating Triple Brett] is taking elements that exist in certain Belgian techniques and traditions, and forging a completely new direction" says head brewer and owner Kevin Welch. "This beer will change over time; Brett will continue to mature in its flavor contribution for very long periods of time."

The official release for Triple Brett will fittingly take place during Minnesota Beer Week on Friday, May 13 at 6pm at the Boom Island Brewing taproom. Triple Brett is a perfect addition to Minnesota Beer Week as it is a prime example of some of the best craft and speciality beer that is made right here in Minnesota. As with all Boom Island Brewing beers, Triple Brett stays true to the brewery's Born in Belgium, Crafted in Minneapolis slogan. Louisiana Purchase will be on-site providing food during the release and live music (TBA) will take place at 7pm for the occasion. Bottles of the Triple Brett will be available for purchase at the taproom during the release.

Preview to Northern Spark - June 11, 2016

Northern Spark, presented by Northern Lights.mn, returns for a 6th year on June 11 from 9:00pm - 5:26am.

For the 2016 and 2017 festivals, the theme Climate Chaos | Climate Rising will explore the interconnected, evolving, long-term consequences from climate change, giving local and national artists a platform to help turn a sense of overwhelmment into concrete actions anchored in a realistic and hopeful map for the future.

At dusk the festival will open at the Minneapolis Convention Center with the unveiling of the newest winner of the Creative City Challenge. The festival will continue all night long in Minneapolis’s Mill District as audiences explore climate topics—Move, Nourish, Interconnect, Perceive, Act—through giant video projections,  performances and installations in the streets, and in green spaces and under bridges along the waterfront.

Food trucks will offer snacks and drinks throughout the night and audiences can relax in a specially commissioned “chill” conversation space constructed out of ice harvested from Minnesota lakes during the winter.

In addition to the festival’s participatory artist projects, look for a night-time track of inspiring talks by climate scientists, policy wonks, visionary engineers, political activists, and artists, as well as activities and workshops for audiences to further participate in.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to Hold Open House Program and Resource Fair May 7

Be Part of Your Community!

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will hold its first Open House Program and Resource Fair on Saturday, May 7, from 10:00am to Noon at the MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road.

MPRB staff will be on hand to share information and answer questions about programs, resources, job opportunities and other Park Board offerings. Attendees can register for activities and sports leagues, or buy a parking permit. The event will also include kids’ activities, a truck display, food, a bounce house and more!

Celebrate Law Enforcement Week at the 1st Precinct Open House, May 17

Inspector Mike Kjos and the entire MPD First Precinct Staff cordially invite you to the 1st Precinct Open House.

Date:  Tuesday, May 17
Place: 19 N 4th Street
Time:  11:00am - 2:00pm

There will be interactive outdoor displays from the Bomb Squad, Canine, Horse Patrol, S.W.A.T. and the Minneapolis Fire Department along with information from many City Departments and other Law Enforcement Agencies

Join us for a snack and to learn more about your Minneapolis Police Department.

For questions, contact:
Renee Allen, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, First Precinct
renee.allen@minneapolismn.gov
(612) 673-5163

Tickets Still Available for August 20 Wilco Show on Hall's Island

Via an April 18 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is proud to be First Avenue‘s non-profit partner for its second must-go summer concert at Hall’s Island. Wilco headlines this year’s show, along with special guests Kurt Vile + the Violators.  

First Ave put on one of the most talked-about events last summer with its first concert at Hall’s Island featuring 2015’s it-band Alabama Shakes. More than 8,000 people enjoyed awesome music at one of the most incredible (but not yet developed) sites in Minneapolis – right on the Mississippi River and with an incredible sunset view of downtown. Last year, tickets sold out in something like two hours; this year tickets are still on sale (as of March 15, anyway). Don’t miss out!

As First Ave’s non-profit partner, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation receives a percentage of proceeds. Last year’s show raised near $12,500 for MPF! Thank you, First Ave, for your generous support and for bringing the awesome to the Minneapolis upper river.

More Info

Franklin Avenue Bridge Construction Update

Via an April 15 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

While construction activity on the Franklin Avenue Bridge continued through the winter, much of the work was under the deck and out of site of those traveling across the bridge.

Starting this Monday, April 18, crews will begin some work on the bridge deck. As a result, motorists should expect some shifting of traffic lanes this month. The first change will occur on Mondaymorning. Flaggers will be onsite as crews move existing concrete barriers to create the proper work area. Additional orange traffic drums and delineators will also be used to help guide traffic.

Please be aware of crews working on site and allow for extra time to travel across the Franklin Avenue Bridge.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We will share more about the 2016 construction work and schedule for the Franklin Avenue Bridge in future messages.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at franklinbridge@hennepin.us or 888-474-8929.

More information is available at www.hennepin.us/franklinbridge.

Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Partners with the Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home

Via an April 15 e-newsletter from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM):

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is a proud partner of the Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, which is Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. If you haven’t seen a printed Home Tour Guide yet, you can download a PDF from www.MSPHomeTour.com. 

PAM’s mission is to lead and inspire people to connect with historic places, promoting community vitality. As a statewide organization that provides information and services to homeowners, professionals, and communities, PAM is pleased to be collaborating in the Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour, an annual, urban celebration of real homes, real people, real ideas for home improvement and rehabilitation.

Find out more about the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota at www.mnpreservation.org or on Facebook. Click here to sign up for PAM’s e-news list and receive messages about upcoming classes, tours, and activities.

Parkway Closures for Saturday, April 16

The following roads will be closed for the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K on April 16 from 7:30am-1:00pm:

SE Main Street, West River Parkway, East River Parkway, St. Anthony Parkway

Highway 55 Ramp to 7th Street in Minneapolis Closing April 18-May 2

Via an April 14 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Highway 55 ramp to Seventh Street in Minneapolis closing April 18-May 2

Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced that motorists will be unable to access Seventh Street from northbound Highway 55/Hiawatha Avenue beginning April 18 at 1 a.m., weather permitting. The ramp will remain closed through May 2.

Vehicles intending to access Seventh Street from Highway 55/Hiawatha Avenue will be detoured to Third Street and Fourth Avenue. 

Traffic entering downtown Minneapolis from westbound I-94 will continue to use the existing ramp to Fifth Street during construction.

During the closure crews will continue to reconstruct a new westbound I-94 bridge/ramp to Seventh Street in downtown Minneapolis. Additional work includes installing a traffic signal system and making accessibility improvements for pedestrians at the intersection of Seventh Street and 13th Avenue.

The work is part of a larger project that includes realigning the existing westbound I-94 exit to Fifth Street by constructing a new section of ramp that will redirect traffic exiting westbound I-94 to Seventh Street instead of Fifth Street.

This project is a collaborative effort of the city of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. For more information or to sign up for email project updates, visit the project page.

Minneapolis Bike Week 2016: May 16 - 22

Every May, communities across the country participate in National Bike Month, a coast-to-coast celebration of cycling. 

Minneapolis Bike Week 2016, May 16th to the 22nd, is a series of events and activities promoting all types of bicycling with a focus on encouraging those who do not normally ride to give it a try.

Groups organize and host a diverse range of events and activities throughout the week including group rides, classes, commuter pit stops, free breakfasts, celebration locations and much more.

Celebrate bicycling in the city with fun, free events and activities for all types of riders. Click on each day below to check out what's happening!

- Monday, May 16 Fix It Day

- Tuesday, May 17 Go By Bike Day

- Wednesday, May 18 Nice Ride Day

- Thursday, May 19 Women’s Day

- Friday, May 20 Bike to Work Day

- Saturday, May 21 Small Business Day

- Sunday, May 22 Family Bike to Parks Day

Dining Out for Life® is Thursday, April 28

This year, hundreds of restaurants in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Mankato are participating in Dining Out for Life® by donating a percentage of their April 28 proceeds to The Aliveness Project.

Founded in 1985, The Aliveness Project is a local nonprofit organization and community center providing on-site meals, food shelf options, integrative therapies, and vital services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS throughout Minnesota.  75% of their members live in poverty and depend on them for daily meals.

In our downtown and riverfront neighborhoods, participating restaurants include (but are not limited to) Haute Dish, J.D. Hoyt's, Sawatdee, Wilde Cafe and Spirits, Day Block, Kramarczuk's, The Bulldog, Red Cow, Red Stag Supperclub, Republic Seven Corners, Ginger Hop and The Draft Horse.

Intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Street Closed This Weekend

Via an April 8 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Beginning Friday evening, the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Street in downtown Minneapolis will close so crews can replace a rail in the METRO tracks. These two streets will reopen by 5 a.m., Monday, April 11.

Hennepin Avenue will close at 7 p.m., Friday, April 8, between Fourth and Sixth Streets. Local access to businesses will be allowed.

Fifth Street north of the tracks, which is one way, will close from Marquette Avenue to Hennepin Avenue North. Fifth Street south of the tracks will remain open from Marquette to Hennepin. All traffic on the south portion of Fifth Street will be required to turn left on to Hennepin. Fifth Street will also close from Hennepin to First Avenue North. Drivers should follow posted detours.

This is one of many construction projects that will affect traffic in Downtown this year. To help drivers know about all of the current and upcoming work, the City has mapped these projects. Links to the maps are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/publicworks/traffic.

Parkway Closures for Saturday, April 9

The following parkways will be temporarily closed on Saturday, April 9, for  Goldy's Run 10 Mile from 7:30am-Noon:

SE Main Street, West River Parkway, East River Parkway

Click here for the course map and additional event info.

Mill City Museum Announces Mill City Live Summer Concert Lineup

The Mill City Museum recently announced the lineup for its annual summer concert series, Mill City Live. Attendees with be able to enjoy outdoor concerts with local artists every Wednesday in August, starting at 6:00pm in the museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard.

This year’s artists are:
• August 03: Black Market Brass
• August 10: Dan Israel
• August 17: Salsabrosa
• August 24: Jelloslave
• August 31: Maurice Jacox

United Properties, JMI Realty and Greystar Unveil New Design for Gateway Development in Downtown Minneapolis

United Properties and new development partners JMI Realty and Greystar unveil new design for Gateway development in downtown Minneapolis

Iconic five-star hotel involved in project design as discussions continue

MINNEAPOLIS (April 6, 2016) — United Properties and its new project partners, JMI Realty and Greystar, unveiled a new design for the mixed-use Gateway development at Third Street and Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis at a Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association meeting last night.

The project is still in the concept planning stages but will soon move forward to the City of Minneapolis review and approval process, which is expected to take place during the remainder of 2016.

Changes that were unveiled on Tuesday include:
• The tower has expanded to 35 floors, which will result in a total building height of approximately 530 feet, including a new architectural spire.
• The approximately 164 luxury apartments will have an average size of 1,700 sq. ft.
• The top two floors will be comprised of penthouse units.
• JMI, the hotel partner, is targeting a 300-room, five-star hotel that will include meeting space, a 10,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art ballroom, luxury amenities and 7,500 sq. ft. for a world-class restaurant.

“Our hotel partner, JMI, is in active discussions with Four Seasons and we believe they would be a great fit for this project,” said Bill Katter, president and chief investment officer for United Properties. “While the discussions are ongoing, we are doing all that we can as a development team to make this the most attractive site for a five-star hotel like Four Seasons to enter the Twin Cities market. This would be a stunning addition to Minneapolis – and one that we believe would be warmly embraced by the community.”

Katter added that the overall project would be “a tremendous addition to the City of Minneapolis and a major leap forward for the north side of Nicollet Mall.”

The Gateway development additionally incorporates street-level retail and three levels of below-grade parking for up to 575 vehicles. It will be connected to the greater Minneapolis skyway system through the Minneapolis Central Library, and is a key link between the Minneapolis Central Business District (CBD) core and the transition to the Warehouse District/North Loop across Hennepin Avenue.

JMI Realty, a national hotel developer, and Greystar, a leader in the investment, development and management of rental housing properties, are well-known firms with successful projects on both U.S. coasts.

“We are very pleased that, along with our new project partners, we have been able to bring this project forward with a stunning new design that can fulfill the iconic vision we shared with the City of Minneapolis when we were selected in 2015,” said Katter. “Our new partners JMI Realty and Greystar have brought forward an outstanding mixed-use project that increases the stature of Minneapolis as a world-class city.”

“We are excited to be a part of this fantastic, skyline-changing, mixed-use development,” said Greg Clay, president of JMI. “A five-star hotel with 'super luxury' residential units will expand an already impressive cultural and culinary scene, and will provide an option that does not exist today. This project has the potential to be a true landmark and THE gateway to downtown.”

“Greystar is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with United Properties and JMI on this best in class iconic mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Bounded by Hennepin, Washington and Nicollet Mall, this site is a true Gateway location as a connection of the CBD to the warehouse district and riverfront, and enjoys unparalleled access to many of the City's most notable cultural, business, entertainment and recreational assets,” said Gary Wallace, managing director of development for Greystar. “For those seeking the excitement of living in the bustling Minneapolis' CBD, we look forward to pursuing a high-quality residential development complemented by the services and experience of a five-star hotel.”

The Gateway project team includes:
• United Properties, the Twin Cities leading developer;
• Greystar, the nation's largest operator of apartments;
• JMI Realty, a national luxury hotel developer; and
• ESG Architects, principal design firm.

The project's general contractor will be selected in the near future.

About United Properties
Formed in 1916, United Properties acquires, develops, manages, finances and disposes of the company’s real estate investments, which includes nearly 50 office, medical, industrial, mixed-use and retail assets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado. United Properties also provides development services for the retail, residential, office, medical and industrial sectors. In addition to a large presence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, United Properties’ Denver office develops retail, office and industrial buildings. For more information, visit www.uproperties.com or follow on Twitter at @unitedpropertie.

About Greystar
Greystar is a leading, fully integrated real estate company offering expertise in investment management, development, and property management of rental housing properties globally. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina with offices throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America, Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States, managing approximately 410,000 units in over 130 markets globally. Greystar also has a robust institutional investment management platform dedicated to managing capital on behalf of a global network of institutional investors with over $12 billion in gross assets under management including $3.9 billion of developments underway. Greystar was founded by Bob Faith in 1993 with the intent to become a provider of world class service in the rental housing real estate business. To learn more about Greystar, visit www.greystar.com.

About ESG
Elness Swenson Graham Architects (ESG) is an award winning design firm with a national practice in urban residential, hospitality, workplace environments, higher education, branding and graphic design. Since the company’s founding over three decades ago, ESG has helped clients create environments for community, business, and leisure by providing holistic, creative solutions to complex problems. The company’s mission is to enrich the built environment beyond architecture and buildings; to deliver the superior, the timeless, the memorable and the unique; and to design environments that capture the human spirit and uplift our lives. Headquartered in Minneapolis where the firm enjoys a leadership position in redevelopment, ESG was recently recognized with the American Institute of Architects Minnesota (AIA-MN) Firm Award for “innovation in urban residential mixed use design.” www.esgarch.com