THIS WEEK AT CITY HALL: THE GRUMPY'S PROJECT

Thursday, June 28, 4:30 p.m. | City Hall, Room 319 | Planning Commission COW

Developers TE Miller and Solhem Cos. are proposing a 8-story, z-shaped building that would wrap around the historic Day Block Brewing building. The plans call for 150 market rate apartments.

Excerpt from the staff report:

The applicant is proposing to construct an 8-story building with 150 market-rate apartments. The gross floor area proposed for the building is 120,254 square feet resulting in a floor area ratio of 4.88. In the B4N district building height is limited to 10 stories and there is no maximum FAR. One commercial space of 1,423 square feet is proposed along Washington Ave S. The space would be occupied by OX-OP Gallery. A tenant common space of 2,398 is also proposed along Washington Ave S. Three two-story live/work apartments are proposed along 11th Ave S. The proposed second story is a mezzanine level containing 7,475 square feet of floor area. The third through seventh floors are each proposed to be 21,184 square feet in size. Parking for the building is proposed within one story of underground parking and a partial story of at-grade garage parking resulting in a total of 103 parking spaces. The project has no minimum off-street parking requirement. There are 220 bicycle parking spaces proposed as part of the project.

The applicant has proposed to add a new curb cut along 11th Ave S to access the upper garage. There is a protected bikeway that runs along 11th Ave S. The project proposes to create a curb elevated bikeway in front of the building. The area along 11th Ave S is also proposed to have an uncovered loading and ride share drop off zone accessible via the new curb cut. There are improvements planned to the protected bikeway along 11th Ave S. The plastic bollards will be replaced by a concrete curb this summer.

Download staff report, including photos (4.5MB)...

View complete agenda...

Timeless New High-rise Riverfont Condominium Planned for Minneapolis

UPDATED APRIL 15, 2018

Download staff report/site plan (57MB)...

View all floor plans & project images...

Previous Mill City Times article...

The proposed project is a 43-story mixed-use tower with 2,500 square feet of commercial space and 105 residential units. The project is proposing to provide 415 structured parking stalls in 7-story above-grade enclosed parking podium.  185 of those spaces would be reserved for the office tenants of the existing building as a replacement for the existing surface parking lot. The remaining 230 parking spaces would be reserved for the residential units.

The commercial tenant space is located along the W River Parkway frontage on the ground level.  Residential amenity space, including a bike storage room, makes up the remainder of the ground-level frontage facing the parkway.   Primary vehicle access to the residential parking is proposed off of W River Parkway.   The parkway access leads to a large motor court with an additional principle residential entrance. The office tenant parking will be accessed off of 11th avenue S, as will the loading area. The project is proposing 12 surface parking stalls for guest parking as well as a small dog recreation area.

The project is proposing to establish a new public access pathway from the rear of the site connecting to West River Parkway.  Depending on agreements reached with adjacent property owners this right-of-way could connect through the block to adjacent properties and streets. There are currently no windows or active uses proposed along this public right-of-way.

The tower design employs limestone and granite at the base with an architectural precast concrete on the upper floors. The design utilizes a variety of setbacks and recesses to create balconies and terraces for the residential units.   The parking garage will be treated with false residential windows on all facades in order to create the appearance of active residential uses. The windows are not evenly distributed on the non-river facing facades. 7 floors of “accessory suites” are proposed at the northeast corner of the parking garage fronting partially on W River Parkway and partially onto the proposed motor court.

***PREVIOUSLY***

39 STORY CONDO PROJECT PROPOSED FOR MILL DISTRICT

The building is proposed to be 39 stories tall, with one to five homes per floor, for a total of 101 distinguished residences. It will feature architectural details and amenities designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, including a large landscaped rooftop deck with a pool affording dramatic views of the downtown skyline and river. Other details include, masonry facades with a hierarchical variety of windows; expansive private terraces on most floors; and other unique features. The private terraces will create setbacks that will form a memorable tower silhouette for the Minneapolis skyline. Construction could begin as early as the end of this year, with occupancy in 2020.

Full size Project images...

Strib article...

Journal article...

Via a March 7 News Release from Padilla:

World-Renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects Will Design First Twin Cities Tower

Luigi Bernardi and Ryan Companies US, Inc. will co-develop an ultra-luxury high-rise residential condominium tower in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis. It will give residents unparalleled views of the Minneapolis skyline, including the Mississippi River, Stone Arch Bridge and Gold Medal Park. The future landmark will be designed by the world-renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), acclaimed for designing some of the most iconic residential buildings in the world, including signature properties such as the record-setting 15 Central Park West in New York, One Bennett Park in Chicago and One St. Thomas Street in Toronto.

The elegant masonry and glass building, to be named “Eleven,” will be located near 1101 West River Parkway and Gold Medal Park.

“Eleven will establish a new standard for upscale urban living in Minneapolis,” said Carl Runck, Ryan Companies’ director of real estate development. Preliminary design concepts are being shared with the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association and City of Minneapolis officials.

The building is proposed to be 39 stories tall, with one to five homes per floor, for a total of 101 distinguished residences. It will feature architectural details and amenities designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, including a large landscaped rooftop deck with a pool affording dramatic views of the downtown skyline and river. Other details include, masonry facades with a hierarchical variety of windows; expansive private terraces on most floors; and other unique features. The private terraces will create setbacks that will form a memorable tower silhouette for the Minneapolis skyline. Construction could begin as early as the end of this year, with occupancy in 2020.

Photo credit Spacecrafting Photography 

“Not only will this building feature exceptional views of downtown and the Mississippi River, the design and quality of this building will add enduring value to the community,” added Luigi Bernardi, co-developer.

“I started my career with RAMSA in New York, and therefore know them well. I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact a RAMSA building can have on a market and a skyline. It sets a tone for others to follow.  It’s been decades since an architect of this caliber designed a project for the Twin Cities that was privately funded (since the Wells Fargo Tower was designed by Cesar Pelli), and we are thrilled to share our plans,” said Mike Ryan, Ryan’s SVP and market leader.

Paul L. Whalen, lead design architect for the project at RAMSA, sees the new building as an appealing bookend to the Mill District waterfront. “We want to bring urban living in Minneapolis to a new level,” said Whalen, “but just as importantly we want to anchor the east end of the city's riverfront with a visually powerful statement and a community that will enliven the neighborhood's streets, paths and parks.”

Robert A.M. Stern Architects, recognized for its modern traditional buildings in New York and other major international cities, is known for undertaking exhaustive neighborhood history studies to inform their designs. The residences will be offered exclusively by Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty, and reservations will be accepted starting in late March. “This will become the premier address in the Mill District,” said John Wanninger of Sotheby’s.

About Luigi Bernardi

Luigi Bernardi, serves as president of two real estate development and investment companies, Arcadia LLC and Aurora Investments which began developing Twin Cities commercial real estate in 1987. Now, focusing on medical-related facilities and multi-family residential development, recent projects include the Velo luxury apartments in downtown Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood and Aurora on France in Edina.

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.

Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan market depth includes retail, industrial, health care and senior living. Ryan development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. Ryan has nearly 1,300 employees in 13 offices and has completed projects in 38 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com.

About Robert A. M. Stern Architects

Robert A.M. Stern Architects is a 265-person firm of architects, interior designers and support staff that has earned an international reputation as a leading design firm with wide experience in residential, commercial and institutional work throughout the U.S. and around the world. The firm's extraordinary portfolio of residential buildings, combining its longstanding dedication to the design of private residences with its deep commitment to urban place-making, includes such record-setting landmarks as 15 Central Park West in New York for Zeckendorf Development and residential towers in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver. "Eleven" is the firm's first project in Minneapolis.

Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, practicing architect, teacher and writer, served as dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1998 through June of 2016. As founder and senior partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, he directs the firm's architecture, planning, interior design and landscape design projects. Mr. Stern was the 2011 Driehaus Prize laureate and has received both the Athena Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Board of Directors' Honor from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Paul L. Whalen, FAIA, is a partner and studio leader at Robert A.M. Stern Architects whose work includes the design of record-setting multifamily residential buildings across the United States as well as in Canada, South America, Europe and Asia. Along with Mr. Stern, Mr. Whalen is co-author of the 2016 monograph City Living: Apartment Houses by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. He currently serves as the president of Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation.

Mix of housing types and retail proposed for 205 Park Ave

UPDATE - MARCH 5, 2018

Groundbreaking set for May 22, 2018.

UPDATE - AUGUST 11, 2016:

The City of Minneapolis just released the decision to grant Sherman Associates exclusive negotiating rights to develop the city owned parking lot at 205 Park Ave S. in the Mill District of Downtown Minneapolis.

Download the Staff Report recommending the Sherman proposal...

Download the Sherman proposal (13MB)...

View the photos on Flickr...

Quick summary from the CPED Staff Report:

SHERMAN ASSOCIATES PROPOSAL

Housing

• 6-story mixed-use building

• 115 mixed-income apartment rental units (levels 2-6), with stated commitments for 20%

(23 units) affordable to households earning 60% of Area Median Income (“AMI”). The

average rents for the affordable units would be $950/month. The remainder of the units

(92) would be market rate rentals. 

• 4 two-level, for-sale townhomes fronting Park Ave.

• 130 underground parking stalls (two levels) for residents.

• Sustainable, energy efficient design, integrating components of LEED.

 Retail

• Approximately 4,800 sq. ft. ground floor restaurant at the corner of Park Ave. and

Washington Ave. with outdoor patio.

•  Approximately 1,500 sq. ft. bakery/coffee shop at the corner of Park Ave. and 2 St. S.,

with loading dock patio space.

• Letters of Intent from Kim Bartmann for both the restaurant and bakery spaces.

• Bank of America ATM (Letter of Intent) on Washington Ave.

• Police substation (500 sq. ft.) on 2 St. (MPD commitment unconfirmed)

Public Amenities

• Pet relief area (open to the public) lining the adjacent municipal parking ramp

(discussions with nonprofit Dog Grounds about co-managing the dog park. 

• Landscaping, bike parking, outdoor restaurant seating, proposed exterior screening of

adjacent parking ramp in collaboration with the City.

Purchase Price:  $3,246,840 ($90 per sq. ft.)

Total Development Cost:  $35,932,762

GRAND REAL ESTATE ADVISORS PROPOSAL

Housing

•  5- or 6-story mixed-use building (stated preference for 6-story building)

• 42-52 for-sale units

• Preliminary discussions with City of Lakes Community Land Trust about partnering on 4 land trust units (no stated commitments or letter of intent from CLCLT).

• 85 below-grade parking stalls.

Retail

• Approximately 2,900 sq. ft. ground floor retail along Washington Ave. (in preliminary discussions with owner of Yum restaurant - no letter of intent or commitment).

Public Amenities

• Dog relief area (open to the public) lining the adjacent municipal parking ramp.

• Landscaping, bicycle parking, outdoor seating area for retail space, GREA is looking to the City to provide exterior screening for neighboring parking ramp.

Purchase Price

• 5-story building:  $1,554,000 (~$43 per sq. ft.)

• 6-story building:  $1,924,000 (~$53 per sq. ft.)

Total Development Cost

• 5-story building:  $26,645,150

• 6-story building:  $31,989,898

------------------------------------------------

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

At least 1 proposal was submitted prior to last Friday's deadline for redeveloping the city owned surface parking lot at 205 Park Ave S. Below is a high level description from the document, along with a link to download the entire report, with graphics:

Download the proposal (13MB)...

View the photos on Flickr...

Developer: Sherman Associates

Mixed Income Apartment Homes: 97,606 square feet, 115 apartment homes on levels 2 through 6. Twenty percent (20%) of the apartment homes will be dedicated as affordable housing for household incomes of 60% AMI or below (details of affordable housing below). The units themselves will included fully furnished kitchens (range/oven, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher and microwave), ample natural light, in-unit washer and dryers, stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. There will be two levels of underground, heated parking, providing approximately 130 parking spots for the residents. The apartment homes will also include amenities to allow the building to be competitive in the vast marketplace. These amenities include: 6th floor club room and amenity deck with spectacular downtown views, first floor fitness center, club room, and patio.

For Sale Townhomes: 7,904 square feet, 4 two-level townhomes of approximately 1,900 square feet on two levels. These walk up townhomes on Park Avenue South will include two dedicated heated parking spaces, and will have access to the amenities of the mixed-income apartment building.

Kim Bartmann Restaurant 1: 4,782 square feet, first level restaurant on Washington and Park Avenue South operated by highly regarded restaurateur, Kim Bartmann. This restaurant will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual eating environment. To foster street level activation, a large patio on the corner of Washington Avenue and Park Avenue South will be incorporated into the dining experience. The kitchen will also serve as the bakery for the restaurant on 2nd Street South.

Kim Bartmann Restaurant Bakery 2: 1,521 square feet, first level bakery/coffee shop on the corner of Park Ave South and 2nd Street South. To echo the loading dock streetscape of Mills City Museum, a loading dock patio space will be integrated into the design on 2nd street and will serve as an outdoor patio for the bakery/coffee shop.

Bank of America ATM: 597 square feet, first level ATM on Washington Ave South. This ATM will be open 24 hours a day and will further promote street level activity.

Police Substation: 500 square feet, first level Police Substation on 2nd Street South. After discussion with numerous residents of the Mills District and support from DMNA, Sherman Associates plans to provide a Police Substation for the Mills District.

Pet Relief Area (open to the public): Sherman Associates initiated preliminary discussions with the Minneapolis urban off-leash management entity, Dog Grounds, to partner on a public pet relief area at 205 Park. Sherman Associates envisions a dog park lining the municipal ramp, funded and co-managed by Sherman Associates in partnership with Dog Grounds. This tremendously needed asset will help manage the escalating pet waste concern within the Mills District.

Two Dates Left: Winter at the Walker

Celebrate Winter at the Walker with myriad activities both indoors and out during Target Free Thursday Nights. Trek out into the cold or thaw out inside with a warm drink. The Main Lobby transforms into a hygge haven in the Walker Warming House with art-making, music, and more.

FEBRUARY 15 AND 22: WINTER AT THE WALKER

Moonlight Snowshoe Tours, 6 & 7:30 pm

Bundle up in your winter best and join us for moonlight snowshoe tours of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Meet your guide in the Main Lobby, then venture out to see the snow-covered sculptures. Snowshoes are available free of charge, courtesy the University of Minnesota Center for Outdoor Adventure.

Little Box Sauna, 5–9 pm

Not into the cold? Sweat it out in the portable Little Box Sauna! Check it out for free on Thursdays in February and meet the architect. Book a proper sauna experience on weekends (Fridays–Sundays) through March 4 at littleboxsauna.com (fee applies).

February 15: Snowshoe Showcase

Art Demonstration, 5–9 pm

John Beltman of the North House Folk Art School makes the snowy trek down from Grand Marais to share his decades of expertise about the crafting and history of snowshoes. Available all night in the Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab.

February 22: Weather Cartography

Art-Making: Weather Maps, 5–9 pm

Ever curious about the color patterns in meteorological reports? Join artist Alyssa Baguss and Jenny Undis of Lunalux when they present their specially debossed maps of the state of Minnesota that allow us to track changing weather patterns through colorful cartography. Available all night in the main lobby.

Music from DJ Brian Engle, 5–9 pm

Relax and vibe out to tunes spun on vinyl by DJ Brian Engle.

Don’t forget, you can also escape the cold in the Walker galleries - Gallery admission is free from 5 to 9 pm.

Minneapolis Super Bowl Media Coverage

In-depth coverage of the Minneapolis Super Bowl

WEEK OF 12/11/2017

Minneapolis officials ask for National Guard help during Super Bowl
Host Committee will pick up cost; move would free up police for other duties.

Prince tribute, J.Lo among performances set ahead of Super Bowl
Jennifer Lopez will headline a VIP concert series at downtown’s Minneapolis Armory the night before next February’s Super Bowl game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Keeping Super Bowl Fans Connected at U.S. Bank Stadium
What's a Super Bowl without a selfie to prove you were there?

612Brew, Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph to release beer for Super Bowl
A Northeast Minneapolis brewery is celebrating the Super Bowl a way only a brewery could: by brewing a limited-edition beer.

Oft-burned Vikings fans temper joy to avoid Super Bowl jinx
Vikings fans whisper "Skol!" trying not to tempt their Super Bowl karma.

Click to read more ...

Dayton's Project, Downtown Minneapolis | News Tracker

The former retail flagship in Downtown Minneapolis is scheduled to open in the middle of 2019.

WEEK OF 12/18/2017

Andrew Zimmern to develop food hall at Dayton's Project on Nicollet Mall
Andrew Zimmern – the producer, creator and host of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods," and a self-described adopted Minnesotan for more than 25 years – is teaming with the Dayton's Project to debut a new food experience inside the historic site that formerly housed Macy's.

And the first official Dayton's Project tenant is...
it seems exceedingly on-trend that the first official tenant announced for the Dayton's Project in downtown Minneapolis is -- what else? -- another food hall.

New Food Hall by Andrew Zimmern for Dayton's Project
Downtown Minneapolis is truly getting its own food hall! Confirmation dropped today that Andrew Zimmern and his Passport Hospitality company would be partnering with Robert Montwaid, creator and co-founder of Gansevoort Market in New York City, to create The Dayton's Food Hall & Market in the what we already knew to be the developing Dayton's Project on Nicollet Mall.

A Downtown Minneapolis Food Hall Taps a Celebrity Chef to Run It
The ground floor and subterranean levels of the historic downtown Minneapolis Dayton’s will be transformed into a massive food hall courtesy of Minnesota’s best-known culinary personality. Andrew Zimmern’s Passport Hospitality has teamed with Robert Montwaid of New York’s Gansevoort Market for the The Dayton’s Project.

Chef sees recipe for success at Dayton’s Project
Chef and TV star Andrew Zimmern is collaborating with a partner out of New York on a food hall and market concept destined for The Dayton’s Project in downtown Minneapolis.

Andrew Zimmern joining Minneapolis Dayton's Project with food hall concept
The food hall is slated to open along Nicollet Mall in the middle of 2019.

Now Open: Nicollet Mall

An in-depth look at the new Nicollet Mall
After $50 million and 28 disruptive months of construction, the barriers have finally come down on Nicollet Mall, marking its third remake in a half-century.

Two-plus years in the making: Nicollet Mall back in business
Nicollet Mall reopened at noon Thursday, marking the end of a construction headache that's cost millions of dollars and closed the downtown Minneapolis corridor for more than two years.

Watch: Nicollet Mall opens after 2 years of construction
Nicollet Mall reopened, marking the end of a construction headache that's cost millions of dollars and closed the downtown Minneapolis corridor for more than two years.

The new and improved Nicollet Mall is finally unveiled
It will be an asset for downtown Minneapolis, but public safety is still a concern.

Mary Tyler Moore statue is back on Nicollet Mall
She's back. The beloved bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore exuberantly tossing her hat into the air is back at its original home at Nicollet Mall and 7th Street in Minneapolis. On Saturday morning, she smiled and tossed it under a dusting of snow.

Metro Transit buses to return to Nicollet Mall Dec. 2 — for a bit
They'll be detoured again for a month as of Jan. 15 due to the Super Bowl.

One weird trick to fix downtown Minneapolis
Have you walked around downtown lately? I don't know. It's not great. The Nicollet Mall reconstruction is, without a doubt, something that has happened. Some of the streets have improved and will continue to improve in the next few years. A number of new Starbuckses have recently opened.

2017 Election Recap

Media coverage on the 2017 Minneapolis elections:

'People wanted a fresh start': Election ushers in new mayor and five new council members in Minneapolis
It took a while, but once Minneapolis election results started flowing on Wednesday, the winners came in quick succession.

New Minneapolis leaders pledge work on affordable housing, public safety and police reform
At Minneapolis City Hall under at least the last two administrations, the mayor’s office has been largely closed to the City Council.

Jacob Frey wins mayor election in Minneapolis
Mpls. mayor-elect triumphant, conciliatory after bruising campaign.

Frey elected mayor
Jacob Frey, who led in first-choice votes on election night, was declared the unofficial winner of the 2017 mayoral contest Wednesday.

Mayor-elect Frey calls for end to 'ideological purity' in Mpls.
Minneapolis mayor-elect said he would seek to quell pointed rhetoric and showcase the city's strengths during the Super Bowl.

Voters elect Fletcher in Ward 3
Fletcher, a technology consultant who lives in Downtown East, won over Socialist Alternative candidate Ginger Jentzen in a third round of voting. Jentzen appeared to lead at first, garnering 34 percent of first-choice voters to Fletcher’s 28 percent, according to unofficial election results.

Goodman wins again
Council Member Lisa Goodman is heading into her sixth council term after receiving 52 percent of first-choice votes.

Reich wins third term in Ward 1 race
Council Member Kevin Reich will get a third term in leading the East Side on the Minneapolis City Council.

OPINION | OUR PICKS FOR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL & PARK BOARD

We view these candidates as having the best combination of experience & policy positions affecting Downtown & adjacent communities, as well as our #1 ranked Park System.

Mayor: Jacob Frey

City Council Ward 3: Tim Bildsoe

City Council Ward 6: Abdi Warsame

City Council Ward 7: Lisa Goodman

Park Board District 4: Tom Nordyke

Park Board at Large #1: Meg Forney

Park Board at Large #2: Mike Derus

Park Board at Large #3: LaTrisha Vetaw

Regardless of your choices, vote tomorrow!

Star Tribune Candidate Endorsements

Star Tribune endorsements from last week in the races affecting Downtown Minneapolis and adjacent neighborhoods:

MAYOR: JACOB FREY FOR MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR
Minneapolis is by no means a city in distress. But a sense that persistent problems are festering rather than being forcefully addressed afflicts the place that sets the pace for prosperity in Minnesota and the Twin Cities region.

In recent years, opportunities to acquire new civic assets and strengthen old alliances have been squandered; key constituencies say they have been excluded from decisionmaking; an uptick in violence threatens the vitality of the city’s showplace, its downtown; rising housing costs are eroding the sense that Minneapolis is a place where all are welcome and can succeed.

How to break through that malaise? Voters can start by electing a new mayor. We recommend first-choice votes for Jacob Frey in the Nov. 7 ranked-choice mayoral election. Read the Strib endorsement…

Ward 1 & 3: REICH AND BILDSOE FOR MPLS. CITY COUNCIL
Incumbent, newcomer offer best mix of skills in First and Third Ward. Read the Strib endorsements…

WARD 6 & 7: WARSAME, GOODMAN MERIT NEW TERMS ON MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
Incumbents have the experience City Hall will need the next four years. Read the Strib endorsements…

Downtown Minneapolis Crime Discussion: Media Archive

The latest media coverage of the ongoing discussion on crime policy affecting Downtown Minneapolis (updated 10/09/2017):

(New) Minneapolis mayoral candidate Jacob Frey: Reject the false choice of safety vs. justice

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Tom Hoch wants a 'top-to-bottom review' of the city's police department
On many of the issues facing the city of Minneapolis and its police department, mayoral candidate Tom Hoch says he is taking a systematic approach.

Editorial counterpoint: Confront problems, yes, but don't overlook downtown Minneapolis' many strengths
Downtown safety is an issue to work on, but from population growth to thriving development, Minneapolis has plenty to work with.

Three ideas for improving safety in Minneapolis' exciting and vibrant downtown
Relatively inexpensive steps can help keep downtown vibrant while tackling legitimate issues.

Council Member Jacob Frey proposes boosting police presence in downtown Minneapolis
Mpls. mayoral candidate's plan to curb downtown crime was released as part of his platform.

Downtown Minneapolis once was a great place to live. No more.
I moved there 17 years ago. It felt secure, energetic, promising. No more.

Zone of concern: Ways to make downtown Minneapolis safer
The Warehouse District is a center of public-safety considerations. How to respond is an election-year issue.

Downtown's dilemma: 'A mind-set of violence' in Minneapolis
Minneapolis wants a safe and vibrant downtown for residents, office workers and visitors. But rising rates of violent crime in parts of the city's core threaten to undo years of progress.

Mayoral Candidate Profiles in the Strib

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Jacob Frey aims to 'regain our citywide swagger'
Frey says the path of ideological purity isn't the way to get things done for the city.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges pushes for social change across the city
After turmoil in Hodges' tenure, she refocuses on goals of smart growth, closing gaps.

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Tom Hoch urges city to step into the spotlight
Hoch's platform is built on love for his hometown and the issues that keep it ticking.

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Raymond Dehn focuses on racial equity, criminal justice
Dehn's focus on racial equity, criminal justice is fueled by his own experiences.

Minneapolis mayoral candidate Nekima Levy-Pounds' run born in Fourth Precinct protest
Levy-Pounds has hammered on the theme of police reform and demanded greater racial equity.

MPRB & Minneapolis Parks Foundation to partner with The Sioux Chef on Water Works restaurant and event venue

The Sioux Chef’s Native American cuisine will bring to life the riverfront’s Indigenous culture; education, healthy living, and revitalized food systems are key to The Sioux Chef mission

Today, The Sioux Chef, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation announced their intent to partner to open a riverfront restaurant and food service venue for the future public pavilion at Water Works. The Sioux Chef is a diverse, Indigenous-led team committed to revitalizing Native American Cuisine and reclaiming an important culinary tradition that has been long buried and often inaccessible. Water Works, a park development project overlooking St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge, will bring visitor services and recreational and cultural amenities to one of Minnesota’s most highly visited areas. 

The Water Works design includes a park pavilion embedded into the historic remnants of the Bassett and Columbia mills, and expands outdoor gathering spaces with a rooftop patio, outdoor seating plaza, tree-sheltered city steps, playspace for children and families, and an open lawn overlooking the river.

The pavilion will include the new restaurant as well as a public lounge, restrooms and support spaces; a flexible room for small group activities and a Park Board staff desk; and elevator to the rooftop. The restaurant will be the first year-round, full service food venue within the Minneapolis Park System, which is known for seasonal destinations such as Sea Salt. In addition to its full-service venue, The Sioux Chef will also provide casual, counter-service food options.

“Our work within the evolution of the Indigenous food systems offers many opportunities for supportive nutritional and spiritual experiences,” says Dana Thompson, co-owner of The Sioux Chef. “With the removal of colonial ingredients, our plan is to drive economic wealth back into indigenous communities by sourcing food from these growers first. We look forward to sharing and enjoying these diverse and healthy foods with all communities.”

Opportunities to celebrate historic and current cultures

Water Works is within the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, one of the most popular public spaces in the region; its estimated 2.5 million annual visits is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Also within the regional park, St. Anthony Falls is an incredibly important landmark, as a spiritual place that has shaped culture and traditions for Indigenous people, and as the birthplace of the city’s milling history.

“We are thrilled The Sioux Chef was interested in this location for their restaurant,” says Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “Water Works will celebrate the complex history of this area, through a layered park design, as well as programming, art, play, and performance. Co-owners Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson, along with their team, are sharing powerful stories through food about the intricate relationship between people and land.”

The Sioux Chef has a mission beyond serving food. The team will work with the pavilion’s architects and landscape architects to create places within the park to grow native plants traditionally used for food and medicine. The Sioux Chef plans to create events and educational opportunities to help bring diverse voices into a larger dialogue about Native American cultures, the river, and food.

“We realize that the river corridor is Dakota homeland and the river remains important to many Indigenous cultures,” says Jayne Miller, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “Our partnership with The Sioux Chef opens up opportunities beyond what the Park Board could achieve on its own. Our goals of providing healthy, locally sourced food and meaningful recreational and economic opportunities are well-aligned with the vision of The Sioux Chef.”

In addition to serving food, The Sioux Chef intends to have their restaurant support training and jobs for people interested in related fields. 

“We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to help honor the Indigenous history of Owamni Yamni (Place of Whirlpools). This location has been a sacred site of peace and well-being for the Dakota and Anishinaabe people for millennia,” says Thompson. “We plan to leverage this wonderful partnership with the Minneapolis Park Board, through our aligned mission of nutritional, physical, and spiritual health for all, as well as to create food access and education about the rich history of the Native people in this beautiful area.”

Grand Opening Anticipated in 2019

The Minneapolis Park Board approved the Water Works concept in June 2017. The design team is continuing with schematic design and construction documents and will share updated plans during community engagement events this fall. Limited archaeological work and selective deconstruction of the Fuji-Ya building have begun and will continue through early 2018. Construction is expected to begin in the late summer of 2018.

Through the Parks Foundation, the majority of Mezzanine Phase funding will be provided by philanthropic investment. In 2015, the Parks Foundation launched the RiverFirst Capital Campaign, which has, to date, raised $12.3M in philanthropic gifts and commitments.

About The Sioux Chef

The Sioux Chef is a team of Anishinaabe, Mdewakanton Dakota, Navajo, Northern Cheyenne, Oglala Lakota, Wahpeton-Sisseton Dakota and are ever growing. We are chefs, ethnobotanists, food preservationists, adventurers, foragers, caterers, event planners, artists and food lovers. The Sioux Chef was founded by Chef Sean Sherman, and is co-owned by Dana Thompson. The team is now twelve people, with the hope of expanding to all tribal areas. This fall, Sherman and Thompson co-founded a non-profit called NāTIFs.org (North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems) for the purpose of Indigenous focused education, research and food access, which we plan to leverage in order to align with the mission of the Minneapolis Park Board as well as other projects.  

About the Minneapolis Parks Foundation

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation transforms human lives through parks and public spaces by aligning philanthropic investment and community vision. The Parks Foundation co-leads the RiverFirst Initiative with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and is responsible for private fundraising and implementation of the Water Works and Great Northern Greenway River Link projects. The Parks Foundation also supports innovative Minneapolis parks projects through equity funding and champions world-class design through its Next Generation of Parks™ Event Series. Learn more at MplsParksFoundation.org.

About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independent, semi-autonomous body responsible for the Minneapolis park system. With 179 park properties totaling 6,804 acres of land and water, the Park Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment. Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, neighborhood parks, recreation centers and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, play and work. More than 22 million annual visits are made to the nationally acclaimed park system, which was named the number one park system in the nation in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 by The Trust for Public Land’s 2016 ParkScore® Index.

Water Works Site Preparation Begins in Early August

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board anticipates that soon after Friday, August 4, fencing will be installed near the north parking lot adjacent to the Fuji-Ya building to secure that area for exploratory archeological work. The process should be completed during August, and when complete this fencing will be removed. 

 

During archeological activity, some trees need to be removed due to poor health or interference with the buried mill remnants that will be unearthed and protected as part of the future park. Throughout construction on this project, the balance between park development and tree removal will be thoughtfully considered; new plantings will of course be made as phase 1 nears completion.

 

Following the archaeological work, in September, fencing will be re-installed to secure a perimeter around the Fuji-Ya building, and careful deconstruction of the structure will begin. This work is anticipated to continue through February 2018.

 

In November 2017, more significant archaeological excavations are planned in the parking lots just north of the Fuji-Ya building. This work is anticipated to last until mid-December and will continue in the spring of 2018. Excavation in these areas will be permanent and the areas will be fenced and closed until project completion.

 

While this activity is not full-scale construction, some disruption to routine may occur. The sidewalk adjacent to the park along First St. may be closed and there may be intermittent, temporary disruptions to one lane of traffic. 

 

For information about construction activities, residents are encouraged to sign up for project notifications on the Park Board's website, via MinneapolisParks.org/WaterWorks.

Update: Fuji Ya - Water Works

RESOURCES

Download Staff Report...

Park Board gives final approval for first Water Works phase design

BACKGROUND. The site is located in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. The site was once occupied by the Bassett’s Second Sawmill, the Columbia Flour Mill and the Occidental Feed Mill. Portions of each of these mills remain on the site. In 1961, Reiko Weston purchased the property. In 1967-68, she built the Fuji Ya Restaurant incorporating portions of the Bassett’s Second Sawmill and Columbia Flour Mill into the design of the restaurant structure. Today, the applicant is proposing to selectively demolish the Fuji Ya Restaurant and stabilize the remaining mills in order to incorporate them into the design of a new park building on the site.

APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL. The Fuji Ya building envelope and portions of its structure are in poor condition with little integrity remaining to the interior. Much of the Fuji Ya building will be carefully deconstructed and removed with select structural components left in place to ensure the continued integrity of the underlying historic mill structures and remnants. Wood posts and beams will be salvaged from the Fuji Ya building and stored for reuse in the Water Works project. Following removals, the historic mill structures and remnants (consisting of the Bassett Saw Mill Engine House, Columbia Flour Mill Boiler Room, and a segment of the Columbia Flour Mill foundation) will be temporarily stabilized, secured, and protected for future interpretation within the Water Works project site at Mill Ruins Park. How the mills will be interpreted and engaged within the new park is still in the early planning stages.

Prior to deconstructing the Fuji Ya building, a Minnesota Historic Property Record will be submitted to the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office including descriptions of the building’s character defining features and conditions at time of removal, the building’s history, archival photographs, copies of Fuji Ya plans from all three phases of construction, and current field-measured drawings.

Update: General Mils Site

The project site occupies an entire city block and is located in the Marcy Holmes Neighborhood within the bounds of the East Hennepin Activity Center. The block is bounded to the north by University Avenue SE, an adopted Community Corridor in the Minneapolis Comprehensive Plan. Existing zoning on the site is currently the I1 Light Industrial District and the Industrial Living Overlay District. The site today is occupied by a surface parking lot. The site is also located within the St. Anthony Falls Historic District which was designated as a local and national historic district in 1971.

RESOURCES

Project images...

Download staff report...

Doran, CSM buy General Mills land near riverfront

Developers update plans for tower, more at General Mills site near river in Minneapolis

PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project is a full block residential development consisting of a 20-story tower and a 6-story L-shaped structure surrounding a parking garage with 1 level of underground parking and 1 level of at-grade parking. The tower fronts along University Avenue SE, while the 6 story structures front along 3rd Avenue SE and 2nd Street SE. The structure is lined on the 3rd Avenue SE, 2nd Avenue SE, and 3rd Street SE elevations with walk-up townhomes. The total number of proposed residential units is 359. There are 13 townhomes, 139 apartments in the 6 story structure and 207 apartments in the 20 story tower. In addition to the landscaping around the perimeter of the site, the project is proposing a significant amount of outdoor amenities available to the residents. These include an outdoor pool, outdoor spa, grilling stations, putting green, bocce ball, fire pits, gathering spaces, and two private pocket parks at grade level.

Update: 333 E Hennepin Ave

This project was reviewed at the July 17 meeting of the Planning Commission:

RESOURCES

Site & building images...

Download staff report, including site plan...

Mortenson returns with plans for 26-story apt tower

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The applicant is proposing a 26-story, mixed use building with 4,930 square feet of ground floor commercial space fronting along Hennepin Avenue E, 1,618 square feet of retail space along 4th Street NE and 282 dwelling units.

The site is approximately 32,004 square feet in area (0.75 acres).  There are 282 parking stalls proposed within an above-grade parking structure that is incorporated into the building.  The building is designed with a three-story base that includes retail, residential units and parking and a 23-story tower, for a total of 26 stories.

The tower portion is situated on the northeast side of the site, stepping back 20 feet from the building wall along Hennepin Avenue E.  The first floor of the building includes retail along Hennepin Avenue E and 4th Street NE, amenity space and parking.  The residential lobby is intended to flow from the retail space as one large open area.  The main residential and commercial entrance is located at the corner of Hennepin Avenue E and 4th Street NE.

The entrance is recessed approximately 4.5 feet from the front property lines along Hennepin Avenue and 4th Street NE.  The remainder of the 4th Street NE frontage will include the residential lobby, elevators, a retail space and parking.

The parking structure will be screened from Hennepin Avenue E with residential units on all floors and screened on the first floor along 4th Street NE with a retail space. The exposed portions of the parking structure will be screened with a metal panel and artistic elements. Additional residential amenity space is provided on the seventh floor. 

Ironclad Breaks Ground at Chicago & Washington

The Ironclad project broke ground recently at the corner of Washington & Chicago.

SITE HISTORY

Constructed in 1867, The Union Grain Elevator (or “Elevator E”) that once stood on the site was one of the earliest and largest wood grain elevators built in Minneapolis (able to hold up to 130,000 bushels of grain). The elevator was located directly on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul railway that ran towards the adjacent Mill District along the Mississippi. After just 10 years of use, The Union elevator was burned to the ground, reconstructed, and IRON CLAD to better protect the structure against future fires.

RESOURCES

View site & building images...

Download the staff report (40MB)...

Ironclad hotel, apartment project approved by city of Minneapolis

BACKGROUND FROM STAFF REPORT

SITE DESCRIPTION AND PRESENT USE. The subject property is currently a surface parking lot located at Chicago Avenue and Washington Avenue South. The property was historically used by the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railway as a connection into the rail facilities in the Mill District and was the site of a grain elevator. In 1884, the company built a viaduct to carry depot-bound trains over Washington Avenue near 8th Avenue South. The viaduct was demolished in 1984, but remnants of the stone wall that supported the viaduct remain along Washington and Chicago Avenues. The site is irregularly shaped due to the former location of the railroad.

SURROUNDING PROPERTIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD. The property is surrounded by a mix of uses, including residential units, restaurants, hotels, and offices. Surrounding zoning is mostly B4N Downtown Neighborhood District and C3A Community Activity Center District. There are several surface parking lots in the surrounding area, though some are currently being redeveloped. The site is about one block from the Downtown East light rail station and several bus routes serve the immediate area.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The applicant is proposing to construct a mixed use building including 171 dwelling units, a hotel with 148 rooms, approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space, and 388 parking spaces. Additionally, the applicant is proposing a second phase of residential development including approximately 38,000 square feet of additional space and 20 more dwelling units along 9th Avenue South. The initial residential portion would be 14 stories or 148 feet in height. The hotel would be 8 stories or 90 feet tall. The parking spaces would be incorporated in two levels of underground parking and two levels of above grade parking at the rear of the property. This area would be accessed by a curb cut on Chicago Avenue and another curb cut on 9th Avenue South. A valet drop-off would be incorporated at the ground level in the parking structure. Amenities for the hotel and residential uses are proposed above the parking structure at the third floor. The residential portion of the building would be located on the northeast portion of the site along Washington Avenue South and the hotel would be on the northwest side along Chicago Avenue.

The applicant is retaining a significant portion of the existing limestone retaining wall from the historic viaduct, though some deconstruction and reconstruction will be required to allow for construction activities for the building. About 300 linear feet of the wall currently wraps the perimeter of the site along the property lines at Chicago and Washington. Approximately 200 linear feet of the wall would be kept along Chicago and Washington with the proposed new construction. Additional limestone blocks will be utilized as decorative landscape pieces on the site and in the adjacent public right-of-way.

Removal of a portion of the wall allows for direct access from the public sidewalk to the retail spaces on Washington Avenue. The proposal also includes an 18 foot wide walkway along the northeast portion of the property that accesses an additional retail space and provides a pedestrian connection from 9th Avenue South to Washington Avenue. Additionally, the applicant is proposing significant improvements to the public realm along 9th Avenue South.

Call for Entries: Mississippi Minute Film Festival

The Mississippi Minute Film Festival is back for a fourth year! As you enjoy time along the Minneapolis riverfront this summer, picture the stories you could tell. It doesn't take a lot of high-end equipment to make a 60-second video, but it does require some vision.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership has opened up entries for the 2017 Mississippi Minute, with a Sept. 15 deadline. Here's a look back at some moments from previous years' films to jog your memory, get the creative juices flowing and remind you that the clock is ticking!

If watching a short film is more your speed, remember to save the date and we'll see you at the Mississippi Minute Film Festival on Monday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.

Complete details:

http://www.minneapolisriverfront.org/riverfront-initiatives/mississippi-minute-film-festival/

X Games Come to Downtown This Week

The X Games are coming to Minneapolis July 13th-16th! The X Games will be taking place at US Bank Stadium and showcase four days of the best action sports competitions in the world featuring skateboarding, BMX and motocross.

Ticket info: http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/minneapolis/

Here's the complete schedule:

Thursday

Women’s Skateboard Street Qualifier 1 p.m.

BMX Vert Final 5 p.m.

Skateboard Vert Final 5:45 p.m.

Flat Track Racing Final 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday

BMX Dirt Qualifier 12:30 p.m.

Skateboard Big Air Qualifier 2 p.m.

Men’s Skateboard Street Qualifier 3 p.m.

BMX Street Final 5 p.m.

Women’s Skateboard Street Final 6:30 p.m.

BMX Big Air Final 8 p.m. (ESPN)

MotoX Freestyle 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday

Women’s BMX Park Demo 11 a.m.

Men’s BMX Park Final Noon (Ch. 5)

MotoX Step Up Final 1:45 p.m. (Ch. 5)

Skateboard Big Air Final 3:30 p.m. (Ch. 5)

Skateboard Street Am’s Final 5 p.m.

Men’s Skateboard Street Final 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Women’s Skateboard Park Final 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

MotoX Best Whip Final 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)

MotoX Best Trick Final 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday

BMX Dirt Final Noon (ESPN)

Men’s Skatebard Park Final 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)

BMX Park Best Trick 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

MotoX High Air Final 3:45 p.m. (ESPN)