By Michelle Bruch

Mill District

A developer that planned to build at least 100 condos on the riverfront’s Electronic Recovery block has decided to study apartments for the project in lieu of condos.

“We’re working on a plan for a couple of mid-rise properties with a large, active green roof component,” said Steve Frenz, the developer behind the Bookmen Stacks and Bookmen Lofts in the North Loop.

The Electronic Recovery block is located at 2nd Street and 11th Avenue South. The project would redevelop the site of McIntosh Printing and the Electronic Recovery warehouse, a recycling facility for used computers. Original plans called for 100–200 condos in two 12-story towers rising next to townhouses.

Frenz said he is about 45 days into the new planning process, and he has commissioned a study to determine the cost and demand for apartments. He said the condo conversions of the riverfront’s Falls & Pinnacle and RiverWest towers have left a gap in the market for apartments here. Frenz is not planning for extensive retail, but he is interested in a bike shop or coffee shop for residents. Apartments on the site would be more densely packed than the prior condo proposal in order to support construction costs, he said.

Five other Downtown developers have decided against condo construction in the past year. The Hotel Minneapolis and Residences at 401 2nd Ave. S. is now only a hotel development, the 201 Park site is now proposed for office and retail, the 1016 Marquette site is now slated to become an eco-friendly office building, and the Two Twenty-Two project at Hennepin and Washington now includes only retail space.
Elliot Park

In the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse, the Minnesota Vikings have temporarily stopped lobbying for funding from the state Legislature.

“We determined it’s not an appropriate time to try to advance the public discussion,” said Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president of public affairs and stadium
development.

He said the anticipated special session would rightfully look into other issues related to the state’s infrastructure needs.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission has also delayed travel plans for a statewide “listening tour” on the Vikings stadium by at least a month.

Metrodome officials have previously cautioned that if the Legislature does not act in 2008, a new stadium opening would be delayed a year at an added cost of $47 million.

In the meantime, Bagley said the Vikings are fleshing out plans for an enhanced Downtown East light-rail station as well as plans for several parking lots the team recently acquired near the Metrodome site.

“We think our day will come,” Bagley said.

Nicollet Mall

The Holidazzle Parade is Nov. 23 through Dec. 23 this year, featuring three fewer parades than last year.

The parades will run on Thursday through Sunday, and not on Wednesday as in previous years. Less than 10 percent of 500,000 annual attendees watch the parade on Wednesdays, according to the Downtown Council, and the reduction will save about $35,000.

Staff at the Downtown Council declined to disclose the Holidazzle’s total budget, but the parade costs more than $800,000 and the Council does not profit off of the event. The parades are designed to draw people Downtown and provide a boost to retailers here.

Nicollet Island

The Metropolitan Council is negotiating a land swap with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board that would enable DeLaSalle High School to build its city-approved athletic field.

“We struck a deal for them to give us more land,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell.

The Council acquired the site behind DeLaSalle, now home to tennis courts, in 1986 for $1.06 million.

In exchange for that land, the Park Board has offered about 2.9 acres of river frontage north of Plymouth Avenue on the West Bank. According to Friends of the Riverfront, a group opposed to the DeLaSalle stadium, the city appraisal for that approximate acreage is $94,416, while the Nicollet Island land is valued at more than $2 million.

Met Council staff said the monetary issue does not factor into the Council’s decision, however. The land the Met Council would receive is designated for a park and trail system, and the Council wants land that isn’t restricted for those purposes, staff said.

The Park Board has 30 days to commit to giving the Met Council more land, and the board has until March 2009 to choose the additional parcel to swap.  

Reach Michelle Bruch at mbruch@mnpubs.com or 436-4372.