Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_denizen
Minneapolis seems to really be chopping through it’s remaining surface parking lots.
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That is happening for sure - but a lot of development is replacing old, tired, homes and businesses (for example, a cr@ppy Arby's that had a whole block to itself). There is a lot of controversy right now because of the densification of Minneapolis, basically allowing these 3-8 floor high-density apartments being built where detached or low-density stuff build before. For a metro area of 4 million, it is amazing how close and prevalent low-density stuff is even very close to downtown and popular areas.
Part of it as until the past decade, it was cheap, easy, and commute-friendly to just build out. New development is either far away or on the other side of bottlenecks (mainly highway river bridge crossings which are becoming downright horrible). The focus is now turning back to the core metro vs. the outer reaches.
For people who do want a new, detached house on a big lot, you are often talking about developments upwards of 20 miles from either downtown, which can be 1-2 hours each way during rush hour. Until recently (past decade), you could have your brand new 'suburbia' home AND it was only a 30 minute drive from downtown. Now traffic is worse AND new development is further away (so a double-whammy), and it seems like people are trying to make things work closer in to the city.
I work near the airport and my commute is 20 minutes door-to-desk (30 if there is snow and things are terrible). I have co-workers that take 1+ hour each way with perfect conditions, and 2-3 hours if there is snow, construction, or crashes. NOPE!!!!!!