MINNEAPOLIS | Projects & Construction

[Sirus]

while the library isn't the most amazing piece of architecture we've gotten in a while, the editorial still holds some merit.

[Stephenapolis]

Although I am not a huge fan of the Library. It could have been much, much worse. I do like the windows on it and it does have other aspects that look nice from the outside. But I will save my final judgement for it once I see the interior.

[Sirus]

Public asked to review 1010 Park condo project
By Jeremy Stratton

The city is inviting public comment on the 1010 Park development, two sets of condo towers that would rise up to 40 stories - or 459 feet - above the Elliot Park neighborhood.

Your views on the 1010 Park Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) are due by 4:30 p.m. Nov. 23. (See sidebar for details).

The city prepares an EAW for developments of more than 375 units; Heritage Development hopes to build 420 units and 38,000 square feet of commercial space on the 2.26-acre block bounded by South 10th Street, Park Avenue, Grant Street and Portland Avenue. Two sets of “linked” towers - built in two overlapping phases between June 2006 and February 2008 - will rise 11 & 22 stories (east tower) and 25 & 40 stories (west tower) across the street from the Grant Park and Skyscape developments; both 27 stories tall. (Skycape is under construction.)

The project will rise above the block's existing Baker and Enger buildings, RS Eden and Balmoral apartments, the Learning Center and the historic Hinkle-Murphy mansion. The Enger building will be incorporated into the lobby of the east tower, according to the EAW; early plans were to move the building to a different location on the block. Current Enger tenant Outsiders and Others Gallery will occupy the Hinkle-Murphy mansion.

Susan Braun, Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) executive director, said that Heritage Development has been “very responsive” about retaining current businesses, such as Gallery Atitlan and E.P. Atelier café - both in the Baker Building on 10th Street. “That was part of the deal with the neighborhood,” Braun said.

In a letter to City Planner Hilary Watson, EPNI Community Development Coordinator David Fields called the project “an exciting, perhaps pioneering experiment in Š truly mixed-use development that integrates the existing fabric of historic Elliot Park with Š present-day needs.”

Heritage will seek to rezone the area to a C3A “community activity center district.” In its current design, the project would greatly exceed C3A limits for height (four stories or 56 feet), mass and number of units. Heritage will need city approval for the zoning, height, mass and density changes.

The EAW states that the project's underground water treatment facilities will improve the quality of storm runoff.

The project will include 577 off-street parking spaces. The EAW cites a traffic study indicating that traffic movement through surrounding intersections will operate acceptably after construction.

Although 1010 Park will create “new visual features” to the Elliot Park and Downtown skylines, the EAW states that the project ”will continue the trend of taller buildings” Downtown and in the neighborhood in particular. The towers will not shade any significant public spaces, the EAW states.

The City Council will review the completed EAW and - if it is sufficient - the project will go on to the city approvals process, likely early next year. A more exhaustive Environmental Impact Worksheet could be required, as well.

EAW: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/plan..._EAW_Final.pdf

[Sirus]

I'm still not a fan of the design of this project. The design just doesn't seem well planned out.

[Stephenapolis]

I want a COLOR rendering of this project. All we have sen is B/W. I am still not sure of the design myself. It is not great but it is not terrible either. It could be improved, that much is certain. I like the height to it. We need to expand where all the taller towers are located. I hop it does get approved, but with the necessary changes to the design.

[Ecker]

DOWNTOWN JOURNAL

City seeks developer for ‘last riverfront parcel'
By Jeremy Stratton

Developers are eager to lay claim to the land parcel just east of the new Guthrie Theater - a 200,000-square-foot, city-owned parking lot between North 2nd Street, West River Parkway and 11th Avenue South.

Because of the interest, the city, neighborhood representatives and Guthrie officials are discussing appropriate uses for the parcel, said Anne Calvert, principal project coordinator for Minneapolis' Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED). After discussion, the city will ask developers to propose projects for the site.

The city acquired the parcel in three separate land acquisitions in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Calvert said. The site has been the focus of development talk before - as a potential Twins stadium site and, more recently, as part of the Guthrie project, until the theater complex was scaled back to a more vertical, two-block design, said Calvert.

When it opens this spring, the Guthrie will have contract rights to some current lot spaces - which number in the hundreds, Calvert said - for seven years. Any development would have to accommodate the Guthrie contract, Calvert said.

The lot was previously part of a rail yard, and a grain elevator stood there until 1988, Calvert said. Soil testing has led to “some environmental concern about the site, mostly associated with the railroad and petroleum products,” she noted, adding that the contamination “is not a hazard Š or a major complication” to development plans.

Many uses are possible for the parcel. Projects likely will be similar to recent Mills District development such as the Guthrie, Mill City Museum and condominiums in new and restored historic buildings.

The area's C3A “community activity center” zoning limits multiple-unit housing to four stories or 56 feet, unless the city makes an exception. Calvert said initial interest has come from residential developers and civic arts institutions.

This past winter, sculptor Zaxxr Llewelyn proposed a monument for the riverfront parcel - a 110-foot-tall tower and a colossal letter “M” to symbolize the city, state and Mississippi River. Although Calvert said another local entity has also approached the city about a monument there, C3A zoning prohibits “memorial monuments.”

She said the city has not done an appraisal of the parcel, but a January 2005 assessment put the 200,000-square-foot property at $30 per square foot, or $6 million. However, as the last open riverfront space in the Downtown East area, developers could pay an even prettier penny for the parcel, Calvert said.

“It's the last riverfront parcel,” she said. “It will be of significant value.”

[Ecker]

From the 1010 Park EAW:

[Stephenapolis]

I do like all the PLANNED retail in this project. This area could seriously use more retail now that it has a growing population base.

[GoldenGustie]

I like the planned retail, too. The street level retail and vitality is needed in that now booming area. however, I am concerned about the private nature of the retail and public spaces. I say that in regard in the enclosed nature of the the plaza. Though it does seem to embace 10th street pretty well. I wonder if pedestrians will find those areas naturally. In sum I would like to see more streetfront retail.
However if they actually were to fill out this entire development and retail those public spaces could really be lively as both Skyscape and Grant Park don't have nearly that level of retail.
I am sure it will, if completed, be lively with 1010 residents, but I wonder how much it will help the sidewalk life of the neighborhood as a whole.

[Nordeast Homer]

I'm still of the belief that if this thing is to get off the ground some of it will have to include either affordable housing or apartments.
I'd love to see it happen but I'm just a little skeptical.

[Stephenapolis]

1016 Marquette had its groundbreaking pushed back to April 1, 2006. I still think this one will die before that date.

[Dream'n]

As far as the proposed 6 story condo at Lagoon/Irving, I think there are plenty of run down buildings in that strip btwn Lagoon and Lake west of Lunds all the way to the lake. Those 3 houses across the street from Lunds are atrocious and there are those houses across Lake from the new Edgewater. I remember looking at renting one unit back when I first moved to Minneapolis in 1990 and thought that they want $800 a month for this piece of ****? There is plenty of room for improvement along that stretch and in Uptown in general. If the Uptown area actually improves I may be inticed to move back. Probably not until it gets some sort of decent alternative transportation though. The traffic in Uptown is crazy.

[sfhoya]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4214140&EDATE=

Downtown Project to Occupy City Block, Combine Whole Foods, Luxury Condos

SEATTLE, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliken Development Group today
announced it has purchased the property to develop a $180 million mixed-use
project in the heart of downtown Minneapolis featuring a 76,000-square-foot
Whole Foods Market, 250 luxury condos and 6,500 square feet of retail space.
The project, tentatively named The Marketplace Tower, is modeled after the
2200 Westlake project that Milliken created with partner Vulcan Inc. in the
South Lake Union neighborhood.
2200 Westlake is a 550,000-square-foot mixed-use urban community that
includes a Whole Foods Market, a 160-room Pan Pacific Hotel and 261
condominiums throughout three towers.
Milliken sold his interest in 2200 Westlake to Vulcan six weeks ago.
"We were understandably very happy with the success of 2200; we shattered
all sorts of records including the prices we achieved for the condos, and the
speed in which we sold them," Milliken said. "I was eager to recreate the
successes of 2200, and The Marketplace Tower opportunity looks to be a perfect
way to do just that."
Groundbreaking will begin in spring 2007 with construction projected to
take approximately two years. Completion is expected by spring 2009.
"Like 2200 Westlake, The Marketplace Tower will bring a sense of community
and accessibility to a growing, centralized area downtown," Milliken added.
The development will be anchored by a Whole Foods Market, an upscale
retailer of organic foods. Above the Whole Foods will be a 35-story tower
alongside two low-rise towers that will be between four and eight stories
each. Parking will be provided underground with separate parking for shoppers
and condo owners.
Milliken said he is looking forward to meeting with Minneapolis city
officials to lay out plans for the development. "We are excited to talk with
the city to make sure the project fits with the city's vision of the
neighborhood's development."
Renderings for the project are not yet available as architecture teams are
still formulating plans. Design details for The Marketplace Tower include an
array of architectural details and a one-acre piazza.
The Whole Foods store will be one of the nation's largest, about twice the
size of most grocery stores. In addition to a variety of organic food and
produce, the store will feature a wide selection of restaurant-style food for
home consumption or for in-store dining.
The site is currently occupied by Downtown Jaguar, which will remain open
through 2006.
According to Milliken, depending on market conditions and other variables,
condo pre-sales for The Marketplace Tower may begin as early as next autumn.
He added that they are considering developing a full-scale sales center to
give prospective buyers a detailed view of the development, and how it will
positively affect the neighborhood.
"We are absolutely convinced that we've found the perfect nexus between
neighborhood and development," Milliken added. "The demographics of the area
tell us that Whole Foods will be a perfect fit. Couple that with tastefully
designed condos and the former auto lot will become the hottest property in
Minneapolis."
The project is funded by three investors including Milliken Development.
Milliken has selected RSP Architects to design the structure, and has not
announced the contractor.
2200 Westlake recently won 17 awards in The Nationals, the nation's
largest competition for new home sales and marketing professionals. The
project won honors for Best Logo Design, Best Graphic Continuity, Best
Brochure for a Community, Best Color Ad, Best Special Promotion, Best Sales
Office Urban, Best Signage Program, Best Landscape Design for an Attached
Project, Best Interior Merchandising of a Model $400,000-$650,000, and Best
Attached Home Plan Printed Over $400,000. Silver awards were given for Best
Graphic Continuity, Best Website for a Community, Best Sales Office Urban,
Best Signage Program, Best Interior Merchandising of a Model, Best Attached
Home Plan, and Attached Community of the Year.

About Milliken Development
Seattle-based, Milliken Development Group plans inclusive, progressive
communities that revitalize metropolitan neighborhoods. Since its inception in
1990, the organization's focus has been to plan and develop mixed-use
communities that have a strong retail component at their core. Seattle-area
projects include The Marketplace at Queen Anne, The Harvard Market, and
TriBeCa, a mixed-use project in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood featuring 51
high-end condominium homes.
Milliken Development Group projects are unique in offering residents of
close-in neighborhoods comprehensive solutions to their neighborhood shopping
needs, and provide retailers high-quality, urban environments with well-
managed pedestrian and vehicular circulation. The company strives to create
active and engaging shopping, living and working environments that energize
their immediate neighborhoods and add value to the properties that surround
them. For more information about Milliken please visit
http://www.millikendevelopments.com.

CONTACT:
Mark Firmani
Firmani + Associates Inc.
P - 206.443.9357 / C - 206.919.9357

[mpls]

"Above the Whole Foods will be a 35-story tower
alongside two low-rise towers that will be between four and eight stories
each. "

that sounds a lot better than a 50 story tower.

[Dream'n]

Wow, sounds great. I hope he can pull off something as beautiful as the 2200. So in about a 3 1/2 years it should be complete, if all goes as planned. This project along with the Eclipse, the Carlyle and perhaps a future Opus project north of the new Library could really add some height to that end of downtown. Let's not forget of the eventual development of the former Ritz/Sheraton block and the old Powers block. I'm giddy with excitement.

[Stephenapolis]

This is all good news. I hope we get renderings soon. The north end of dt will finally have life breathing in it again. After a 30 years absence.

[MNMike]

About the 1016 Marquette project, todays Downtown Journal says 4 are reserved. Thats good news I guess, only 4 more left Maybe it will get built.

[Stephenapolis]

So 1016 is 60% sold. That is good. I know Target bought a few units and so did another of dt big businesses. I am still skeptical on this ever being built. Far too expensive for such a small project that is not all that impressive in any way.

[Sirus]

/\ I actually think it's one of the more unique and interesting projects going up. Just cause it's small doesn't mean it's not cool at all.

[MplsTodd]

Are you sure about Target buying units at 1016? I thought Target bought units at 6 Quebec. Also, since when is 4 units sold out of 8 equal to 60%?