STrib Op-Ed: Save Dinkytown

[BleedGopher]

From the STrib today:

Dinkytown, USA, the unique historic small-business district in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood near the University of Minnesota, is targeted for destruction.

The Opus Development Company, part of the Rauenhorst Trusts, wants to tear down The Podium, The Book House, House of Hanson and other small businesses in order to build a six-story upscale “dormitory-style” complex affordable to well-off university students.

To do so, the developer needs Minneapolis City Council members to approve an arguably illegal “spot zoning” change from “C1” (small-scale neighborhood commercial uses) to “C3A” (higher-density, mixed-use commercial and housing) for a roughly half-block area of Dinkytown.

The Save Dinkytown movement opposes this change. It seeks to preserve the historic and eclectic character of the four-block Dinkytown commercial district. The independent local merchants and distinctive appeal of this cherished community commercial and cultural center will disappear without the public’s help.

Suppose Opus gets what it wants. Rezoning this key property paves the way for all of Dinkytown to be rezoned. Other developers will jump in to rezone other blocks there. Gone could be such treasured businesses as Al’s Breakfast, Magus Books & Herbs, Kafe 421 and Vescio’s. All could fall prey to the next developer’s rental towers. Once rezoning to higher density is allowed, future development is virtually unrestrained. We will watch helplessly as the “march of the towers” obliterates Dinkytown.

Allowing such spot zoning also creates a precedent that threatens other C1 neighborhood commercial nodes. If we don’t act now, Dinkytown will disappear forever — on our watch. And, yes, your neighborhood’s small-business district could be next.

Dinkytown has been, is and should continue to be a historic cultural treasure for all Minnesotans. Bob Dylan referred to “The University of Dinkytown.” Countless students have passed through it. Countless more could do so, if it were still there for them. To be preserved, it needs to keep the protection of C1 zoning, as does any deeply rooted neighborhood business district in Minneapolis.

This development issue is about the history and character of a neighborhood, its values, and what each neighborhood wants to preserve and protect.

Everyone understands that carefully planned mixed-use housing and commercial development has a role to play in any city’s growth. Its best use is in economically depressed neighborhoods where revitalization depends on bringing in both new businesses and new residents.

Dinkytown is not such a place. There is already a glut of new rental housing going up along 4th Street, University Avenue and 15th Avenue in southeast Minneapolis. The Marcy-Holmes master plan specifically envisioned such development on these major transit corridors. That plan explicitly states that Dinkytown should continue to provide for small, locally owned businesses and cultural amenities, not housing.

Moreover, spot zoning is a political issue and most definitely a proper subject for public comment. Every council member should be asked publicly: “Will you take into account the public interest, neighborhood master plans, and the opinions of all neighborhood residents in evaluating such developments? Will you support preserving and protecting the cultural, historical and aesthetic qualities of neighborhood commercial districts that attracted people and businesses to Minneapolis and our diverse neighborhoods?”

Help stop this tragedy in the making. You can visit us at Save Dinkytown.com to sign our online petition opposing this development and find out how you can help. Discuss it with your friends on Facebook. E-mail Mayor R.T. Rybak and ask him to notify the council members of your view. Minneapolis residents can contact their council members directly.

University students and graduates should let the school’s president, Eric Kaler, and its regents know that every alumnus, in Minnesota and nationwide, deserves to be alerted about this issue and given a chance to weigh in.

What matters is the unique historic character of every neighborhood. When developers seek to provoke fundamental changes to the character of a neighborhood that doesn’t need or want them, we need to tell our council members to tighten the reins and just say “Whoa.”


Matt Hawbaker is coordinator for Save Dinkytown.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/209735191.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[husker70]

Memo: I am old enough to have bought a car from Wally McCarthy. Right there on 494 and 35 W. It's now the Best Buy Campus. I am not sure we are better for it.

 

[Omega015]

If the writer wanted to save Dinkytown, they should have started at least 15 years sooner. There are very few small businesses left in Dinkytown. It is full of chain restaurants. IMO the only things that are untouchable are Al's and the Varsity.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Memo: I am old enough to have bought a car from Wally McCarthy. Right there on 494 and 35 W. It's now the Best Buy Campus. I am not sure we are better for it.

If things keep going the same way for Best Buy, Wally will be able to buy that property back, cheap.

 

[e.bigelow]

If things keep going the same way for Best Buy, Wally will be able to buy that property back, cheap.

HAHA! Nice!

 

[mnsportsgeek]

HAHA! Nice!

I wouldn't say a company that employs thousands of Minnesotans going under would be "nice." I don't really understand the best buy hate, especially from Minnesotans.

 

[tikited]

If the writer wanted to save Dinkytown, they should have started at least 15 years sooner. There are very few small businesses left in Dinkytown. It is full of chain restaurants. IMO the only things that are untouchable are Al's and the Varsity.

I'd say that there are more non-chain restaurants than chains. This notion that students need more housing is a joke.

 

[Schnauzer]

I wouldn't say a company that employs thousands of Minnesotans going under would be "nice." I don't really understand the best buy hate, especially from Minnesotans.

I agree with you but that is nothing new here. If you want to see similar Minnesota hate, just start a topic about Buffalo Wild Wings on Gopher Hole.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I agree with you but that is nothing new here. If you want to see similar Minnesota hate, just start a topic about Buffalo Wild Wings on Gopher Hole.

But everyone gushes over Target because, well, the alternative is Walmart. Oh how quickly people forget the horrors of Circuit City and Comp USA. "Let's go back to the world of commissioned electronics salesmen." Said no one ever.

 

[highwayman]

Memo: I am old enough to have bought a car from Wally McCarthy. Right there on 494 and 35 W. It's now the Best Buy Campus. I am not sure we are better for it.

Wally had sold to Walser years before.

City was collecting $700K in taxes for the sites that BB is now on, now they're getting $2M. Like it or not, it is about development and revenue.

I love Dinkytown as much as the next guy, but probably more than half the stuff that was there when I was in school in the late 70's isn't there now. One man's "history and character" is not necessarily the next man's.

"Save Dinkytown" should raise the money for this venture and prevent it from happening if that is their goal. They can't and they won't--they want someone else to. That is always the tale.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

Best Buy made their own bed...I take no pleasure in it.

There is no reason to flatten Dinkytown, other than money...which is exactly why it will happen.

 

[DLguy]

Here is the thing about this specific development that people do not seem to understand. This development will not ruin any of the historical buildings in Dinkytown. This is taking a 1 story building built in the 70's that currently houses 3 businesses that can easily re-locate. The rest of this building will be on a surface parking lot, Duffy's pizza, and some crap house. The design has very nice setbacks after the second floor on 14th Avenue to fit in with the character of the street scene. The other density will be less than 1301, which is the mirrored location in Dinkytown. And will be 14 stories shorter than the Chateau. How this will ruin the character of Dinkytown, I do not know. Another arguement is, "If this is allowed, Al's will go, or Loring Pasta Bar....." We cannot live in a world where we are afraid of doing one thing, because something else might have something similar happen down the road. This new project will bring in a lot more taxes to the city, we replace a crappy surface parking lot and a few crappy buildings. And will bring in more students to the neighborhood that will do what? SHOP IN DINKYTOWN!!! And to the person with the notion that we dont need more student housing. Obviously we do, otherwise companies like Opus, CPM, and so on would not be spending 10s of millions of dollars building these. There is a demand, and the demand is trying to be met. If kids are willing to pay for these units, why not build them if they are built right. The U is in a major city. Density is a must for the city to shrive.

Sorry for the rant. I am just sick of all the b!tching about projects like this where NIMBYism is ruining healthy growth and progress.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

I wouldn't say a company that employs thousands of Minnesotans going under would be "nice." I don't really understand the best buy hate, especially from Minnesotans.

I wasn't trying to take a dig at Best Buy. I'm one of the few who loves the store and hope they do well. However, I feel that they grossly overextended themselves it what they're doing now might be too little, too late.

 

[tikited]

Here is the thing about this specific development that people do not seem to understand. This development will not ruin any of the historical buildings in Dinkytown. This is taking a 1 story building built in the 70's that currently houses 3 businesses that can easily re-locate. The rest of this building will be on a surface parking lot, Duffy's pizza, and some crap house. The design has very nice setbacks after the second floor on 14th Avenue to fit in with the character of the street scene. The other density will be less than 1301, which is the mirrored location in Dinkytown. And will be 14 stories shorter than the Chateau. How this will ruin the character of Dinkytown, I do not know. Another arguement is, "If this is allowed, Al's will go, or Loring Pasta Bar....." We cannot live in a world where we are afraid of doing one thing, because something else might have something similar happen down the road. This new project will bring in a lot more taxes to the city, we replace a crappy surface parking lot and a few crappy buildings. And will bring in more students to the neighborhood that will do what? SHOP IN DINKYTOWN!!! And to the person with the notion that we dont need more student housing. Obviously we do, otherwise companies like Opus, CPM, and so on would not be spending 10s of millions of dollars building these. There is a demand, and the demand is trying to be met. If kids are willing to pay for these units, why not build them if they are built right. The U is in a major city. Density is a must for the city to shrive.

Sorry for the rant. I am just sick of all the b!tching about projects like this where NIMBYism is ruining healthy growth and progress.

The demand is not a need of the student population. Are there homeless students sleeping in dumpsters wishing there were more Condo/Dorms? The developers know they can sell them-period. The reason why they feel the need to build them there is because they can make the most money there. That all makes sense, but it doesn't mean it is a need. When and where will it end with this is my concern. Once it starts it is never ending and in ten years you look around and we have a Block E on our hands.

 

[Gopherdrummer]

Here is the thing about this specific development that people do not seem to understand. This development will not ruin any of the historical buildings in Dinkytown. This is taking a 1 story building built in the 70's that currently houses 3 businesses that can easily re-locate. The rest of this building will be on a surface parking lot, Duffy's pizza, and some crap house. The design has very nice setbacks after the second floor on 14th Avenue to fit in with the character of the street scene. The other density will be less than 1301, which is the mirrored location in Dinkytown. And will be 14 stories shorter than the Chateau. How this will ruin the character of Dinkytown, I do not know. Another arguement is, "If this is allowed, Al's will go, or Loring Pasta Bar....." We cannot live in a world where we are afraid of doing one thing, because something else might have something similar happen down the road. This new project will bring in a lot more taxes to the city, we replace a crappy surface parking lot and a few crappy buildings. And will bring in more students to the neighborhood that will do what? SHOP IN DINKYTOWN!!! And to the person with the notion that we dont need more student housing. Obviously we do, otherwise companies like Opus, CPM, and so on would not be spending 10s of millions of dollars building these. There is a demand, and the demand is trying to be met. If kids are willing to pay for these units, why not build them if they are built right. The U is in a major city. Density is a must for the city to shrive.

Sorry for the rant. I am just sick of all the b!tching about projects like this where NIMBYism is ruining healthy growth and progress.

Companies like Opus, CPM, etc. are just cashing in on the student housing bug. They build these flashy apartments and students gush over them even though the prices are through the roof. Rent for a studio alone in these units start at $1,000. For those of you that say the students with well off families will be the ones moving in - I would disagree. The more likely scenario is a student is taking out larger student loans to pay for housing and leaving them with way more debt when they graduate than anticipated.

It used to be an apartment near campus would cost less than living in the dorms. Now that is most likely not the case. These "luxury" apartments are increasing taxes of older buildings, which drives up rent. Furthermore these buildings typically aren't "built right" as you assume. Contractors will cut corners to design average, or sub par buildings to lower construction costs, all while charging students more in rent. These buildings also charge higher rates to rent out commercial space at street level, so impacted businesses can't afford to move back in. The result is you will end up with a Dinkytown and a Stadium village that feel incredibly generic. There will be a huge lack of character for the area. Not to mention, most of these apartment buildings are not operating at full occupancy during the year.

 

[RailBaronYarr]

The demand is not a need of the student population. Are there homeless students sleeping in dumpsters wishing there were more Condo/Dorms? The developers know they can sell them-period. The reason why they feel the need to build them there is because they can make the most money there. That all makes sense, but it doesn't mean it is a need. When and where will it end with this is my concern. Once it starts it is never ending and in ten years you look around and we have a Block E on our hands.

A market demand is a need, you're playing semantics. No, no one NEEDS their own bedroom, in-unit laundry, granite counters, and included cable and internet. For that matter, no one NEEDS a single-family style house with a basement for parties and surface parking either. We really only NEED a roof and a hole in the ground to go to the bathroom, maybe one could consider a shower. Let's go further and evaluate the need to maintain whatever character people are dictating is so important in Dinkytown.. No one NEEDS Al's Breakfast - they can make pancakes on their own. Certainly no one NEEDS their guitar re-strung or to find old or unique sheet music from the Podium.

This developer is responding to a very strong market demand for housing near the university. The fact that it is large and "upscale" is a direct result of the many man-made zoning regulations, parking minimums, setbacks, etc that make a development cost a certain amount to build (FYI, underground parking is not cheap). Add to that the financial system we have where getting financing for mixed-use projects requires big developers with experience and funding from large, risk-averse, non-local banks. We've put these systems in place across the US to limit density, ensure plentiful "free" parking, and preserve a certain piece of history in architecture (usually limited to stuff built between 1890 and 1930). These systems, rules, and regulations give us the result - the only financially viable projects need to be of this scale.

And yet, the design of the proposal fits in very well with Dinkytown. From the 2-3 story street-facing walls (with setbacks for floors 3-6), to the mix of textures (including the brick facade mixed in with glass street-fronting retail), to limiting curb cuts. Furthermore, the developers in the area are successfully filling their "luxury" apartments, so clearly they have hit a price point people are willing to pay given location and amenities (in-unit laundry, space, free wifi and cable tv, furnishings, etc etc). I agree at least some of the students are not realizing the true cost of the housing as they either roll it in to their student loans or have their parents pay for it, but this doesn't mean there isn't high demand for living near campus.

Finally, this project replaces all the commercial space it's knocking down while adding 246 bedrooms to the commercial core - which adds customers for those businesses (the reason rents would go up in the first place). Comparing this to BlockE is a wasted effort as this development requires no public subsidy and is not a "build it and hopefully someone will come" - there is clearly demand to both live/shop here and also to do business here. This is filling that need in as incremental way as possible. I fully welcome Dinkytown growing and becoming more urban.

 

[e.bigelow]

I wouldn't say a company that employs thousands of Minnesotans going under would be "nice." I don't really understand the best buy hate, especially from Minnesotans.

Don't hate best buy. The comment just made me laugh little bit in context to the original comment someone made, that's all.

 

[DLguy]

The demand is not a need of the student population. Are there homeless students sleeping in dumpsters wishing there were more Condo/Dorms? The developers know they can sell them-period. The reason why they feel the need to build them there is because they can make the most money there. That all makes sense, but it doesn't mean it is a need. When and where will it end with this is my concern. Once it starts it is never ending and in ten years you look around and we have a Block E on our hands.

The need is there. Obviously there are not students that are homeless. But there are students who dont want to live in Nordeast or by the Quarry and commute to work. Students want to be close to campus and not have to worry about finding parking every day and deal with traffic. So yes, these buildings do meet a need. Also, in the last 20 years a much higher percentage of students live near campus. The U historically had a high number of commuters. Not the case any more. And dont forget that density is healthy for the surrounding neighborhoods. If students can live close to campus, then surrounding neighborhoods can be turned back to couples and families living in those neighborhoods instead of renting those homes out to students.

And Block E is a horrible comparison. This development has good design, setbacks, and conformity to the neighborhood. Block E is basically a hotel and 3 blank 50 ft walls, mainly funded by the city.

 

[RailBaronYarr]

Companies like Opus, CPM, etc. are just cashing in on the student housing bug. They build these flashy apartments and students gush over them even though the prices are through the roof. Rent for a studio alone in these units start at $1,000.

How much is a 1 BR/1BA apartment further from campus with less space and fewer amenities?

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/apa/3806361366.html - $680/mo, no in-unit laundry, internet/cable not included
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/apa/3836425791.html - $775/mo, parking extra, no in-unit laundry, internet/cable not included

Example of a 5 BR townhouse:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/apa/3775006836.html - $600/mo per BR, cable/internet not included

For those of you that say the students with well off families will be the ones moving in - I would disagree. The more likely scenario is a student is taking out larger student loans to pay for housing and leaving them with way more debt when they graduate than anticipated.

Very likely, however federally subsidized (and unsubsidized with better than market rates) loans will only be guaranteed for the cost of attendance for the U, determined by the U's tuition, room, board, and books. Getting anything above that would be very difficult.

It used to be an apartment near campus would cost less than living in the dorms. Now that is most likely not the case.

Comparing a dorm (shared bedroom, no kitchen) to an apartment is not particularly fair. University Village or Roy Wilkins Hall, however, are much more comparable. A single efficiency in Roy Wilkins Hall costs $850 per month if you stay the whole year (http://www.housing.umn.edu/costs/1314/index.html). I'm certain that housing costing more and less than university-owned units is both possible and acceptable based on how the free market demands certain amenities.

These "luxury" apartments are increasing taxes of older buildings, which drives up rent.

No, demand for living on campus from 43,000 undergrads and grad students is causing property values to increase. The more people living close to campus using existing streets/sidewalks/sewers/etc and not driving/parking the better (from an environmental perspective and a city coffers perspective in delivering public service to the greatest number of people possible).

Furthermore these buildings typically aren't "built right" as you assume. Contractors will cut corners to design average, or sub par buildings to lower construction costs, all while charging students more in rent.

Do you have proof of this? Have any recent construction buildings burned down, required massive overhauls that booted tenants out, flooded, etc? I can say with certainty that my house at 701 15th Ave required a LOT of maintenance during the year (leaking pipes through the ceiling to the kitchen, peeling linoleum, leaky windows, etc).

These buildings also charge higher rates to rent out commercial space at street level, so impacted businesses can't afford to move back in.

This ignores the fact that Purple Onion moved in to a newly constructed 6 story building, Campus Pizza was able to move across the street as their own building was being removed, Sally's has stated they'll be able to relocate to the new building proposed on its site, etc. It also ignores that businesses that can't move back in cannot do so because their goods/services aren't demanded by the local population. The book store already has found a new place in Prospect Park. Rents will increase as long as supply is restricted in an area of increasing demand.

The result is you will end up with a Dinkytown and a Stadium village that feel incredibly generic. There will be a huge lack of character for the area.

Do we have proof that the area will be generic? In architecture or uses in the shops? There are already tons of generic shops in old buildings (Five Guys, Potbelly, Erik's Bike Shop, Bruegger's, The Library, Qdoba, etc etc) and unique shops in big buildings (Purple Onion, Quang Minh). I could also point out that the buildings with age were the "generic designs" of their time - how many buildings from the early 1900s have the brick/stone face with cool cornice atop the 2nd/3rd story. I'm not saying it's bad architecture or the new stuff is better, just that from a design perspective there is a huge bias towards the old stuff.

Not to mention, most of these apartment buildings are not operating at full occupancy during the year.

Vacancy rates across Minneapolis and particularly in Uptown and Dinkytown have been historically low, which is why projects like these continue to be funded - demand is very high to live car-free, close to amenities like transit/the U/jobs/chain of lakes.
http://www.mndaily.com/2012/04/03/low-vacancy-rates-leading-higher-rents

 

[tikited]

A market demand is a need, you're playing semantics. No, no one NEEDS their own bedroom, in-unit laundry, granite counters, and included cable and internet. For that matter, no one NEEDS a single-family style house with a basement for parties and surface parking either. We really only NEED a roof and a hole in the ground to go to the bathroom, maybe one could consider a shower. Let's go further and evaluate the need to maintain whatever character people are dictating is so important in Dinkytown.. No one NEEDS Al's Breakfast - they can make pancakes on their own. Certainly no one NEEDS their guitar re-strung or to find old or unique sheet music from the Podium.

This developer is responding to a very strong market demand for housing near the university. The fact that it is large and "upscale" is a direct result of the many man-made zoning regulations, parking minimums, setbacks, etc that make a development cost a certain amount to build (FYI, underground parking is not cheap). Add to that the financial system we have where getting financing for mixed-use projects requires big developers with experience and funding from large, risk-averse, non-local banks. We've put these systems in place across the US to limit density, ensure plentiful "free" parking, and preserve a certain piece of history in architecture (usually limited to stuff built between 1890 and 1930). These systems, rules, and regulations give us the result - the only financially viable projects need to be of this scale.

And yet, the design of the proposal fits in very well with Dinkytown. From the 2-3 story street-facing walls (with setbacks for floors 3-6), to the mix of textures (including the brick facade mixed in with glass street-fronting retail), to limiting curb cuts. Furthermore, the developers in the area are successfully filling their "luxury" apartments, so clearly they have hit a price point people are willing to pay given location and amenities (in-unit laundry, space, free wifi and cable tv, furnishings, etc etc). I agree at least some of the students are not realizing the true cost of the housing as they either roll it in to their student loans or have their parents pay for it, but this doesn't mean there isn't high demand for living near campus.

Finally, this project replaces all the commercial space it's knocking down while adding 246 bedrooms to the commercial core - which adds customers for those businesses (the reason rents would go up in the first place). Comparing this to BlockE is a wasted effort as this development requires no public subsidy and is not a "build it and hopefully someone will come" - there is clearly demand to both live/shop here and also to do business here. This is filling that need in as incremental way as possible. I fully welcome Dinkytown growing and becoming more urban.

We could go round and round with the semantics, so I'll avoid that. I see lots of these "attractive" buildings all over town-still hoping for tenants to come calling. I hope you are right that they will be built right and will be cost effective. Time will tell.

 

[johnson]

The last thing students need is another flashy apartment complex filled with necessary amenities like a bathroom with a LED tv in it...SAVE DINKYTOWN!

 

[RailBaronYarr]

We could go round and round with the semantics, so I'll avoid that. I see lots of these "attractive" buildings all over town-still hoping for tenants to come calling. I hope you are right that they will be built right and will be cost effective. Time will tell.

Your personal opinion of what makes a building attractive is just that - an opinion. Form (not style) is what counts - how does the building interact with the street, how does it set back as it gets taller, etc. The Opus proposal succeeds in these.

Claiming that any new development all around town are still hoping for tenants completely ignores reality that vacancies in Minneapolis are extremely low, by historical standards and by "peer city" (Denver, Seattle, Portland, etc) comparisons. If they weren't full, would developers continue building them?

 

[RailBaronYarr]

The last thing students need is another flashy apartment complex filled with necessary amenities like a bathroom with a LED tv in it...SAVE DINKYTOWN!

So wait now people are complaining about what's on the inside of the building? What if this building doesn't have granite or a TV in the bathroom or hardwood floors.. is it ok then?? I thought the argument was that Dinkytown is DINKY and needs to stay that way. Wait, the Chateau is right there... No, it's that the stores are all eclectic and unique. Wait, what about McD's, Subway, Potbelly's, etc.. that can't be right.... What exactly is it we're trying to protect???

 

[Dr. Lloyd Christmas]

I agree with you but that is nothing new here. If you want to see similar Minnesota hate, just start a topic about Buffalo Wild Wings on Gopher Hole.

I don't hate Buffalo Wild Wings per se. I hate bad wings, which BWW doles out in spades.

 

[AO54]

I don't hate Buffalo Wild Wings per se. I hate bad wings, which BWW doles out in spades.

you take that back.

If you want to buy your favorite dinkytown building and never sell it, go ahead. this is 'MURICA!

 

[tikited]

Your personal opinion of what makes a building attractive is just that - an opinion. Form (not style) is what counts - how does the building interact with the street, how does it set back as it gets taller, etc. The Opus proposal succeeds in these.
Claiming that any new development all around town are still hoping for tenants completely ignores reality that vacancies in Minneapolis are extremely low, by historical standards and by "peer city" (Denver, Seattle, Portland, etc) comparisons. If they weren't full, would developers continue building them?

I guess we know who is personally involved in this...

First off, you have no idea what I look for in architecture. Your buildings could be nice inside and out, but they could look hideous-time will tell.

Secondly, If you are trying to tell me that too many condo/apartments were not built in Mpls. in the last ten years you must not ever drive around town.

My beef is that Mpls. has a long history of making really stupid decisions with tearing down and building new. If you are in the business you must know this. I'm not talking about who funds it...I'm just talking about once it starts it doesn't stop and then you really do have what has been talked about earlier in the thread.

 

[DLguy]

I guess we know who is personally involved in this...

First off, you have no idea what I look for in architecture. Your buildings could be nice inside and out, but they could look hideous-time will tell.

Secondly, If you are trying to tell me that too many condo/apartments were not built in Mpls. in the last ten years you must not ever drive around town.

My beef is that Mpls. has a long history of making really stupid decisions with tearing down and building new. If you are in the business you must know this. I'm not talking about who funds it...I'm just talking about once it starts it doesn't stop and then you really do have what has been talked about earlier in the thread.

I am almost certain he is not personally involved with this project, but is very knowledgeable and interested in development. Everything he states is spot on.

Please name some examples of the too many condos/apartments built around town. Skyscape was one of the last big condo projects to get built before the nationwide bubble bursted. And even that is pretty much all sold out now. I would really like to hear of these failing apartment projects around town. And the current boom is mainly replacing surface parking lots which is extremely good for the community. Just as this project is.

MPLS' history is a past history of tearing down and building new. Or in most cases, tearing down and putting up a parking lot, i.e., skid row, Gateway district. But that is the past. Now historically significant buildings are being rehabbed such as the Soo Line Building.

The point is, this specific development is smart growth, designed well, and will not harm the neighborhood. I lived 4 blocks from Dinkytown for 3 years and ate rarely in Dinkytown and never shopped there. I moved to 1301 University for 1 year and ate and/or shopped in Dinkytown almost daily. It is just laughable that more students living right there will be bad for business. And how is this any different than 1301 University? It is almost a mirror image development in Dinkytown.

 

[kellyleeks]

Dinkytown was at its best when The Landing had the Star Trek pinball game.

 

[tikited]

I would really like to hear of these failing apartment projects around town. And the current boom is mainly replacing surface parking lots which is extremely good for the community. Just as this project is.

MPLS' history is a past history of tearing down and building new. Or in most cases, tearing down and putting up a parking lot, i.e., skid row, Gateway district. But that is the past. Now historically significant buildings are being rehabbed such as the Soo Line Building.

The point is, this specific development is smart growth, designed well, and will not harm the neighborhood. I lived 4 blocks from Dinkytown for 3 years and ate rarely in Dinkytown and never shopped there. I moved to 1301 University for 1 year and ate and/or shopped in Dinkytown almost daily. It is just laughable that more students living right there will be bad for business. And how is this any different than 1301 University? It is almost a mirror image development in Dinkytown.

No one wrote anything close to the bolded part. I wrote that there are plenty of vacancies all over the place. Which complex do you want to live in? I bet you can.

I'm sure this project will be a smashing success. I hope it stops (which it won't) before it spreads and all we have is condos/dorms with little store fronts on the bottom. I personally don't care for them, but oh well.

Lastly, it is far from just the Gateway district that has found itself in front of the wrecking ball. You seem to have some past history knowledge, so I'm betting you already know that.

 

[wait!what?]

let's just leave Annie's alone and we'll all be cool.