| Follow Us: Facebook Twitter Youtube RSS Feed

Strong Local Economy : Development News

346 Strong Local Economy Articles | Page: | Show All

Proposal for Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel in Stevens Square Park in early stages

A proposal for a Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel in Minneapolis's Stevens Square neighborhood could transform a blighted empty lot near downtown. 

Although plans are still being refined, the hotel is likely to have multiple levels with about 100 rooms, plus retail spaces on the ground floor, according to Steven Gallagher, who leads the Stevens Square Community Organization (SSCO). Additionally, a glass and brick fa�ade would blend in with nearby buildings, he says. 

Gallagher says the neighborhood group welcomes the plan because the three-quarter-acre site, which is partly owned by Gateway Commons LLC, is a visible entry point to and from downtown. "It would spur development along that corridor," he says, adding that the development will make for a better flow along Nicollet Avenue's restaurant-filled Eat Street.

A 2008 Maxfield Research market trade study analysis "identified this type of hotel as very financially viable," he says.

A lack of competition for the longer-stay hotel concept is one reason why it's a strong proposal, he says. 

Also, the low land costs, plus its proximity to downtown--whose advantages include landmarks such as the Minneapolis Convention Center, nearby in-progress developments, and the possibility of Nicollet Avenue streetcars--makes it a win-win, he says. 

Armed with the Maxfield findings, SSCO has tried to recruit hotels to this spot in recent years, including Staybridge.

Details such as the cost and timeline are still coming together, but construction could begin as early as the end of the year, according to Gallagher.

A presentation on the current plan will be made at the June 25 SSCO meeting.


Source: Steven Gallagher, executive director, Stevens Square Community Organization
Writer: Anna Pratt

Wilde Roast Cafe puts finishing touches on $300,000 build-out in new riverfront space

After seven years on East Hennepin Avenue, Wilde Roast Caf�, a popular neighborhood hangout, is preparing to reopen this week in a new spot that's only blocks away, along the Mississippi riverfront.

Wilde Roast closed temporarily on May 26, though the $300,000 build-out in St. Anthony Main's Riverplace has been ongoing for a few months, according to cafe co-owner Tom DeGree.

The cafe was recently forced to change locations when the former landlord didn't renew its lease. But in the end, Wilde Roast lucked out, DeGree says.

With 6,300 square feet, its new digs, which previously housed Picosa, Sophia, and Yvette restaurants, is three times bigger than the old space, according to DeGree. It has a full kitchen and a 45-seat patio, he adds.

Part of the interior will be a dining room with wait service while another section will be more informal, with a counter to order from, akin to a coffee shop. Additionally, a rent-able meeting room can accommodate sizable events, he says.

Between the physical changes and the expanded menu, which includes a burger bar, homemade ice cream and gelato, and various tap beers, "It'll be the 2.0, upgraded version [of Wilde Roast]."   

The new home will continue the cafe's look and feel, but not replicate it, he says.

For example, some familiar fixtures such as the cozy fireplace and other furnishings are making the move. But a striking new touch will be a one-of-a-kind art piece featuring a picture of a peacock that graces four interior columns--a way to pay homage to the late writer Oscar Wilde, for whom the cafe is named. The writer had an affinity for the colorful birds, DeGree explains. 

DeGree hopes that the regulars who've been coming to the place for years will continue to do so. "It'll be interesting to see how people take on the change," he says, adding that despite anticipated growing pains, "We're excited about it."  

Source: Tom DeGree, co-owner of Wilde Roast Caf�
Writer: Anna Pratt


Historic hospital to be re-imagined as $19.5 million Dunwoody Apartments

A local developer is re-imagining a century-old vacant building in Minneapolis's Stevens Square neighborhood as a $19.5 million apartment complex.

Dubbed the Dunwoody Apartments, the plan is a welcome change in direction for the building that once housed the Abbott Hospital.

In recent years the building has been a magnet for crime, according to developer Swami Palanisami, who heads Palanisami and Associates, the consulting engineering firm that's leading the charge.

Palanisami's proposal entails a complete revamping of the four-story building to make way for 123 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Of those, 25 will be set aside as affordable, something the neighborhood has a big demand for, he says. Retail businesses will also occupy the first floor.

New kitchens, plus common laundry and exercise rooms are a part of the plan, he says.

A centralized heating and cooling system will be installed, along with other mechanical and electrical upgrades. The building's brick exterior and balcony will also be restored.

Additionally, underground and above-ground parking at the Dunwoody Apartments will help free up space on the street, he says.

Already, related city zoning changes and accompanying remodeling plans have been approved, says Palanisami, who is in the process of putting together project financing, which includes various historic tax credits, plus a combination of local and federal government support.

Previously, Palanisami had considered other plans for the building, which is in close proximity to downtown, but those didn't advance once the recession hit, he says.

The apartment proposal is more viable. "It makes good sense not to throw away an old building, but to restore it," he says. "It'll fit in well with the nearby neighborhood."

He hopes to start the renovation later this summer.

Source: Swami Palanisami, developer  
Writer: Anna Pratt


Folwell Hall�s $34.5 million renovation wrapping up, building to reopen in July

The 1906-built Folwell Hall on the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus is wrapping up a $34.5 million renovation.

Folwell Hall, which has the most classroom space of any building on the East Bank of campus, is slated to reopen this August, in time for the fall semester that begins Sept. 6, according to university spokesperson Kelly O'Brien.

Soon, the departments that relocated when the building closed in June 2010, including Asian Languages and Literatures; French and Italian; German, Scandinavian and Dutch; and Spanish and Portuguese, will settle back in.

The current preservation work links up with the 2007 exterior preservation in an effort to extend the building's lifetime another 50 to 100 years, Folwell "will be reinvigorated from the top to bottom, inside and out," O'Brien says.

Inside the building, historic attributes such as the yellow- and gray-shaded Italian marble on the first floor, wrought-iron stair railings, fireplaces, and elaborate woodwork have been painstakingly renovated. "All of that has been removed and cleaned up and put back in place," she says.

The classrooms, many of which have been consolidated to be more flexible, will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies to keep pace with new learning opportunities. Students will connect with foreign-language learners in other countries "so they can practice each others' languages with native speakers."

Classrooms will also display foreign-language news and other programming. "It helps connect students with the world and immerse them in foreign culture and languages," she says.

Additionally, the classrooms will be much quieter than they used to be, without the jet engine-sized air conditioners that language students once had to suffer through, she says.

Mechanical and electrical systems and the windows have been upgraded to be more efficient. Accessibility was also a priority; a connection to the Gopher Way tunnel system was added to help out in this area, as well, she says.

Source: Kelly O'Brien, University of Minnesota spokesperson
Writer: Anna Pratt  


Mixed-use development to replace old Jaguar car dealership still being fleshed out

By the end of the year, a mixed-use development could replace the former Jaguar car dealership on Hennepin Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis, which has been vacant since 2007. 

Ryan Cos. is working with the Excelsior Group, a real estate company, to redevelop the site with market-rate apartments and retail spaces.  

Tony Barranco, a retail development director for Ryan Cos., says the details are still coming together, including the project's scale, cost, and design.

He expects a design will be out within a couple months while the project could break ground by winter. Between now and then, however, "There's a lot of work to do," he says, adding, "We'll have to get active quick."

Previously, the North Vancouver, British Columbia-based Milliken Development Group, had proposed condos for the site, but, amid the economic downturn, the property was returned to the bank, according to the Star Tribune.

Though the plan is still being fleshed out, the building could have up to 225 units, while the parking ramp on the block could be preserved, the Star Tribune reports.

Like the plans that came before it, the project will probably include a grocery store, Barranco says.

Ryan Cos. realizes that this is a prominent downtown intersection that "we want to treat...with a significant amount of character," he says.

Already, the company has gotten plenty of positive feedback on the project, which helps meet a demand for multifamily housing in the downtown area. These days, "There's a lot of focus on urban living and being transit-oriented and...close to entertainment [outlets]," all of which the project will capitalize on.

Additionally, the development links the area to the North Loop area and Mississippi riverfront. All in all, "We're confident and excited to bring vitality back to the block," he says.

Source: Tony Barranco, retail development director, Ryan Cos.
Writer: Anna Pratt


Doran planning 375-unit housing complex at Pillsbury A Mill

Bloomington-based Doran Cos. is planning a 375-unit apartment complex for a vacant parcel of land close to the Pillsbury A Mill in Minneapolis. The project, which is going by the name Mill & Main for now, will be split into two phases, according to Kelly Doran, a principal of the company.

Previously, another developer had unsuccessfully proposed condos for the site.

Doran says his company has a contract to purchase the property, which has gone through foreclosure stages. Separately, another developer, Dominium in Plymouth, is putting together a 200-unit apartment project on a different portion of the site, Finance and Commerce reports.  

Mill & Main will be market-rate apartments with plenty of amenities, he says. The complex will have a mix of two-story townhomes, studios and one- and two-bedroom units, with features such as fireplaces, stainless steel appliances, and granite counters.

There'll also be swimming pools and billiard rooms plus aerobics, Pilates and exercise rooms, and underground parking, he says.

To blend into the neighborhood, the building's fa�ade will have a mix of masonry, brick, and stone, along with large windows and balconies.  

Doran hopes the necessary city approvals will come through in time to start construction this fall. If all goes as planned the project's first phase, including 185 units, will be ready by the spring of 2013.  

Recent market studies show a demand for more apartments around the downtown core, according to Doran. "We anticipate a broad base of renters transitioning," which he says includes empty nesters who want to move to an urban area, those who want to rent before buying a home,  and people who are relocating for jobs, staying in the area temporarily, or working downtown.

The condo conversion wave of the past has also contributed to the demand for apartments, he says.

Doran says he couldn't disclose the project's cost.


Source: Kelly Doran, principal, Doran Cos.
Writer: Anna Pratt


American Academy of Neurology begins construction of $20 million headquarters

A permanent home for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is now in sight, with construction underway and a formal groundbreaking planned for May 19.

AAN, the world's largest association of neurology professionals with 24,000 members, has been leasing a smaller St. Paul building since 1997, according to academy information.

CFO Tim Engel says the lease on its longtime home was to end in 2012. In planning for the future,the academy decided it wanted to stay put in the Twin Cities, but develop a place of its own.

Today, it's building a new $20 million headquarters near the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis's historic Mill District. 

The Mill District location is ideal, with light rail transit, hotels, restaurants, theaters, and more, all within walking distance. Those amenities are good for meetings, of which AAN hosts many, he says. 

"The state-of-the-art facility will meet operational needs," and on the flip side, "lots of neurologists will be coming into the area," which will have a positive economic impact, he says. 

The five-story, contemporary-styled building will sit on Chicago Avenue South between Washington Avenue South and Second Street South. It'll share part of the L-shaped Liner Parcel with Artspace's ArtCube housing development, which The Line wrote about here. (ArtCube will go on Washington between Chicago and Ninth.)

Among the building's standout features are a "sensory garden" that engages multiple senses, a rooftop terrace and a state-of-the-art meeting space, according to AAN information. A unique component of the project is a system of power outlets on the building's exterior that will deliver electricity to the Mill City Farmers Market, according to project materials.  

In the process, AAN plans to pursue LEED certification, a national rating system for energy-efficiency through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Its 120-person staff will relocate to the new facility, while the expanded facility anticipates academy growth by about 30 percent, according to AAN information.

Source: Tim Engel, CFO, American Academy of Neurology
Writer: Anna Pratt


Greco Real Estate has a $25 million project to redevelop Holden Building into market-rate apartments

In the coming months, the local firm Greco Real Estate Development expects to close on the financing for the $25 million redevelopment of the Holden Building in downtown Minneapolis's North Loop neighborhood.    

Greco plans to convert the seven-story Holden Building, which dates back to the 1900s, into a 120-unit apartment building, with one- and two-bedroom market-rate units, according to Arnie Gregory, a principal from Greco.  

A combination of state and federal historic tax credits and tax-increment financing from the city will help make it happen, Finance and Commerce reports.  

The red brick building, which comprises 181,568-square-feet, once housed Holden Graphic Services, but it has been vacant for several years, according to Gregory.  

Common areas on each floor will be different; Some areas will be dedicated to coworking, library, community recreational activities, an art gallery, and a rooftop deck that will have a party room. There's the chance for "a lot of presentation on each floor because of the depth of the building," he says.

Additionally, a sizable workout room could have cardio equipment, free weights, and a Pilates-type studio, he says. Another 8,600 square feet of commercial space will be split between offices and a bar/restaurant, according to Gregory. The development also includes 86 parking stalls inside, with another six outside.  

Construction will probably begin this summer and continue for about a year, with the building opening next summer, he says.

North Loop has proven to be a strong area for development, he adds. "The neighborhood speaks volumes for itself. It's quite successful. People want to live here."

Considering the building is so close to the new Target Field, the downtown area, and nearby light rail transit, there's a lot going on. "There's a huge demand for market-rate rental apartments in this neighborhood."


Source: Arnie Gregory, a principal at Greco Real Estate Development
Writer: Anna Pratt

$4.8 million Emerge Career and Technology Center will address growing digital divide

The $4.8 million Emerge Career and Technology Center will help address a growing digital divide in North Minneapolis.  

Emerge Community Development will redevelop the former North Branch Library at 1834 Emerson Avenue North, to make way for the center, which will offer a wide variety of programming pertaining to emerging careers, with an emphasis on green jobs, according to Emerge executive director Mike Wynne.

Training will deal with entrepreneurship, job skills, and career learning, while several learning labs, computer kiosks, multi-use conference rooms, and offices will be available.    

So far, Emerge has secured about $3.3 million for the center. Recently the project was listed by a City Council committee as a top priority for transit-oriented design funds from the county.    

In 2009, Emerge acquired the historic building from the Geneva Services Co., a salvage company that will stay in the building until the renovation starts, according to Wynne. The 13,000-square-foot building was a library from 1894 until 1977.    

Calling the building an architectural jewel, he says, "It's the oldest standing building that was erected solely as a library in the state and it was the first branch library in Minneapolis," adding that the project has attracted support from historic preservation groups, government agencies, and other funders.

Emerge's fundraising campaign highlights the legacy of Gratia Countryman, who headed the Minneapolis library system for several decades in the early 1900s, according to Wynne. She was well known across the country for her work starting up children's reading rooms and the bookmobile, which originated at the branch library, according to Emerge information.

As a part of the project, the old bookmobile garage and classrooms will be repurposed for the career tech center while some of Emerge's partners will move into the building to support its operation. "This community asset needs to be returned," says Wynne, adding, "It's a purpose that's accessible" to individuals and big and small groups.   
 
Emerge plans to wrap up the fundraising aspect in 2011 and begin construction before the year ends. "It's been a challenging time to hold a capital fundraising effort, but we continue to see progress," he says.  

On a broad level, the development contributes to the revitalization of the West Broadway commercial corridor. "At a time of great disparities in joblessness in North Minneapolis and communities of color, this is a chance to bring a support mechanism that works in a very direct way."

Source: Mike Wynne, executive director, Emerge Community Development
Writer: Anna Pratt


Hennepin County Library-Northeast is more energy-efficient following its $5.2 million renovation

Sustainability, community, and technology are a few of the key words to describe the $5.2 million renovation of the Hennepin County Library-Northeast at 22nd and Central avenues northeast.

Nearly 300 people showed up for the library's grand re-opening on April 2, according to Lois Lenroot-Ernt, a spokesperson from the library capital division.

The library's collection of books, CDs, and DVDs has been "refreshed," while the physical space has been modernized, with some features that pay homage to its roots, she says.

It's one of a number of libraries that are being improved throughout the county system.

A big part of the Northeast library's major renovation involved revamping the 1973 bricks-and-mortar building, she says. But a portion of the building was removed to make way for a 2,400-square-foot addition, for 16,900 square feet altogether, according to library information.

Sustainability was an underlying theme for many aspects of the project. For example, the addition's exterior is covered with long-lasting zinc panels. The material "naturally maintains a protective patina and will self-repair imperfections and scratches over time," a prepared statement reads. A new stormwater management system on the building's roof also helps out  environmentally, while the lot has been landscaped with native plants.

Inside, the building has automated daylighting controls, while windows and mechanical systems have been replaced to be more energy efficient, according to library information. 

Lenroot-Ernt says community gathering spaces were a priority. As such, the renovated library has more spaces for reading, studying, and meeting, equipped for laptops and wifi access. Twenty-four computers have been added.  

She says the children and teen section allows for better browsing, with books available in bins, and there are some interactive components. Additionally, customer service points have been streamlined, she says.

Other aspects of the project incorporate details from the building's history. For starters, the wooden plank ceiling was kept, and was extended into the addition.

Near one entrance a cleaned-up concrete medallion, a library artifact, is displayed along with a pen and ink drawing of the original Carnegie library building; historic photos line the walls. Among Lenroot-Ernt's favorite additions are the occasional tables that a local woodworker crafted from an aging oak tree that had to be removed during construction.

All in all, the library's profile has been raised, she says, adding, "People can see it from Central Avenue and I think it's going to be a great asset for community members."

Source: Lois Lenroot-Ernt, spokesperson for capital division of Hennepin County Library
Writer: Anna Pratt


St. Paul�s earliest skyscraper to be redeveloped into apartments and commercial space

The historic Pioneer-Endicott buildings in downtown St. Paul, which have been vacant for some time, are entering a new era.

St. Paul-based Pak Properties recently closed on the property, according to city spokesperson Janelle Tummel.  

The project, for which the cost is still unknown, will be divided into two phases, she says. Phase one includes the development of 55 rental units, some of which will be affordable, plus two floors of commercial space, according to Tummel.

Although Pak Properties is the developer, the city is the pass-through for $661,100 in environmental cleanup funds from the Metropolitan Council, money that will go specifically to asbestos and lead-based-paint abatement, according to Tummel.

Following a couple months of cleanup, construction and leasing activities will take place, and then the "hope is to begin working on occupying the residential units," though the time line is vague at this point, she says.

Tummel says the early proposal includes a green roof, energy-efficient lighting, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

Both buildings stand out for historic reasons. The 1889 Pioneer building, which was the city's first skyscraper with 16 stories, originally housed the Pioneer Press, according to Finance and Commerce. Endicott, which is attached to the Pioneer building, encompasses two structures that date back to 1890, it reports.  

"The city is supportive of reusing this vacant historic treasure in downtown St. Paul," Tummel says. "It'll bring in new residents and it'll create new vibrancy in an area that's already starting to be transformed," which is a trend that she says will continue with the development of the Central Corridor Light Rail line to connect Minneapolis and St. Paul.  

Source: Janelle Tummel, St. Paul spokesperson
Writer: Anna Pratt

A new plan for the 198-unit Track 29 Apartments near Midtown Greenway is in progress

A previously proposed condo development near the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood is being re-imagined as the Track 29 Apartments.

Loren Brueggemann of the Minneapolis-based Phoenix Development Co., which focuses on adaptive reuse projects, is working with the RMF Group to form Bryant Apartments, LLC, on the Track 29 Apartments.

The proposal involves 198 market-rate apartments that will be split between a couple of interconnected four-story and six-story buildings, facing Bryant Avenue South and the Greenway, respectively, he says.

Earlier on the project called for 125 units total, divided between a couple of 27-unit townhomes and a 71-unit loft building, according to the blog, Our Uptown. In the end, only one of the townhome complexes came to be, it states.

In February, the city's planning commission approved a conditional use permit for the developers to switch gears, according to the blog. 

The development will be "high in amenities," according to Brueggemann, who adds that it'll also have a concierge area on the ground floor, a workout facility, common areas, an outdoor zen garden, and a storage area for bikes.  

In addition to the development's bike-friendly features, it'll offer an Hour Car-type rental vehicle service so "people don't necessarily need to own a car to use a car," he says.

The landscaping will incorporate numerous green elements. While the design is still being finalized and the cost is still being worked out, he asserts that "It's going to be elegant."

Next, the developers will be heading to the city's zoning and planning committee and then the City Council. Brueggemann says the goal is to start construction this fall.   


Source: Loren Brueggemann, Phoenix Development Co.
Writer: Anna Pratt


$10 million to make Cossetta's Italian Market and Pizzeria even more of a destination

Cossetta's Italian Market and Pizzeria on West Seventh and Chestnut streets in St. Paul, which is well known for its authentic Italian cuisine and family-friendly cafeteria, has a plan to turn itself into even more of a destination.

As a part of a $10 million expansion project, a three-story building will be added onto the existing restaurant where the parking lot is right now, according to city information. Parking will be relocated to another Cossetta's-owned lot at 212 Smith Street.

The ambitious expansion will allow for the century-old Cossetta's to bring in a new bakery, take-out meals, and gelato, according to city information. It also makes way for more seating, plus a rooftop restaurant and wine cellar, the Star Tribune reports.

City Council member Dave Thune, who represents Ward 2, where the restaurant is located, says he's eager for the expansion. He says that Cossetta's has "shown incredible vision in the past and I think this will bring it on home." Simply put, he says, "It's awesome."

Financing for the project is still coming together. Cossetta's is applying for $2 million for the project from the city's Rebuild St. Paul program, where it's undergoing the standard review process, according to Janelle Tummel, a city spokesperson.  

Rebuild St. Paul is a branding initiative that identifies projects that can create jobs and spur growth, she explains.  

Echoing Thune, she says Cossetta's is one of a number of projects that are "special because they're shovel-ready and have a big impact on the city right away as far as jobs and investment and general impact on the city."  

Construction could begin in July, and the restaurant will stay open during the work, according to the Star Tribune.

Source: Dave Thune, St. Paul City Council member, Janelle Tummel, St. Paul spokesperson
Writer: Anna Pratt


American Swedish Institute nears groundbreaking for $21.5 million campus expansion

To accommodate growing programs, the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis's Phillips neighborhood is embarking on a $21.5 million campus expansion.

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for April 16, while construction will continue through June 2012, according to institute information.

The twofold project includes the renovation of the 1908 Turnblad Mansion, where the American Swedish Institute was founded 80 years ago, its website states. A new elevator and stairway tower will make it more accessible; original rooms will be preserved, and classroom and community meeting areas will be set up, along with space for research materials, according to the website.   

Bruce Karstadt, who is the president and CEO of the American Swedish Institute, explains that through the years, "The mansion has been called upon to serve as all kinds of things that it was never intended for."

The renovation will help bring back its original grandeur.

Secondly, a 34,000-square-foot Nelson Cultural Center, named for donors Carl and Leslie Nelson, will be built adjacent to the mansion, with a pedestrian walkway linking the two buildings, he says.

The center's contemporary design will complement the historic mansion, reflecting Scandinavian influences, he says.  

It'll feature a glass-enclosed reception lobby, art gallery, studio and crafts workshop, 325-seat event space, conference room, museum shop, and caf�. It'll also have storage space, commercial kitchens and offices for partner organizations, including Gustavus Adolphus College, according to project materials.

Given that the institute will offer the only full-service caf� in a multi-block area, "we hope people come for the coffee and stay for the story," says Karstadt.

There'll be a courtyard between the two buildings, with an outdoor dining and programming area, he says.

In the new cultural center, the institute will go for a high level of LEED certification, a national benchmark for sustainability; Karstadt says that it will be one of the first museum spaces in the area to do so.

The institute will achieve the standard by incorporating a green roof, native plants, sustainable building materials, low-emission interior finishes, water and energy conservation measures, and geothermal heating and cooling systems.

"We're really excited," he says. When all is said and done, "it'll be accessible and welcoming for the entire community."

Source: Bruce Karstadt, president and CEO of the American Swedish Institute
Writer: Anna Pratt


223-unit multifamily housing complex proposed for first phase of Bennett Lumber site redevelopment

As one part of a larger project to redevelop the old Bennett Lumber site in Minneapolis, the Zeller Realty Group, a Chicago commercial property investment and management company, is pursuing a 223-unit multifamily apartment complex for 5.6 acres between Colfax and Dupont avenues south.

The contemporary-looking building would range from four to six stories between the north and south sides, according to city information.  

It's the first of several separate but related projects for an area between Colfax and Fremont avenues south, near the Midtown Greenway, a recreational trail and historic district. A total of 710 units could eventually be developed.  

Hilary Dvorak, a city planner assigned to the project, says, "The long-term vision is to redevelop all three parcels with high-density multifamily housing," which would be done in phases, though there's no definitive time line at the moment, she says.  

The project is in a 30-day public comment period that runs through April 6, as part of an environmental assessment worksheet, which is required due to the project's large scope. Afterward, the proposal will go to the planning commission and then the City Council. If approved, it'll undergo a land-use approval process. Construction of the first project could begin later this year.  

"The intensity of development proposed is only possible should the properties be rezoned and bonuses added for increased density," according to a prepared statement from the city.  

As to whether the plan fits in with the city's goals, Dvorak says, "We have our comprehensive and small-area plans that speak to the vision for these blocks. The vision that's referenced [in the environmental assessment worksheet] talks about high-density housing."    

Source: Hilary Dvorak, city of Minneapolis
Writer: Anna Pratt
 

346 Strong Local Economy Articles | Page: | Show All
Signup for Email Alerts