On June 27, 2018, the Northeaster took a look at the boom in apartment building in Northeast. “Apartment projects: 21 and counting” was one of our most talked-about stories that year and it spurred us to start our Density Watch column. Although some projects did not come to fruition, our prediction of 3,000 new apartment units came close.
We took a look to see how things panned out. Of the 21 proposals listed in 2018, four projects were not started: 1717 Central Avenue (78 units with daycare), 1501 Johnson Street NE (155 units), Aeon Lowry Grove (70) and The Village (225, St. Anthony).
Not only have nearly 3,000 apartment units been built, but most of them are occupied. However, none of the leasing managers we talked to were able to answer the question, “Where are all these people coming from?”
26 projects completed
Some apartment projects weren’t on our 2018 list, but were proposed, approved and constructed within the last three years.
Nordhaus, 315 1st Avenue NE opened up its 280 apartments for rent in 2018. It is 94% occupied. Its little brother Odin, 401 1st Avenue NE, opened in October 2020. The 123-unit building is 50% occupied.
The M on Hennepin, 10 2nd Street SE, was built over the space once occupied by Nye’s Polonaise Room. It has 67 apartments.
The Julia, 80 Broadway Street, opened in 2018. A spokesperson declined to disclose the percentage of the 98 units that are occupied.
Rafter, 333 East Hennepin, opened in June 2019. Just 80% of its 283 units are occupied.
Mezzo, 1331 Marshall Street NE, and N&E, 107 13th Avenue NE, are operated by the same leasing company. With 110 and 93 units respectively, both are fully occupied.
Hook & Ladder, 2318 Jefferson Street NE, opened in 2019. Both buildings – 118 units — are 100% leased.
Huxley, 657 22nd Avenue NE, just opened. Twenty-five of its 112 apartments have been rented.
Lowry Row Houses, 2407 2nd Street NE, added 10 units to the neighborhood.
The Serene took the place of a single-family home at 829 Marshall Street NE. Opened in November 2019, its 29 units are full.
The Gibson replaced a used car lot at 701 Central Avenue NE. Opened in July 2020, its 159 apartments are 95% leased.
Jax, 2333 Jackson Street NE, is completely occupied. The 65-unit building is across the street from St. Clement Church.
Lucille, 1025 Main Street, is now leasing. It has 175 units.
Gateway Northeast, an affordable housing project at 20 Lowry Avenue NE, began leasing its 128 units in February. Half the units are affordable. The building is 80% leased and 75% occupied.
A pre-existing building was renovated and reopened as La Pompadour, 115, 5th Street NE. It has 24 units.
Bottineau Lofts, 1929 2nd Street NE, was built in 1919 and converted to 15 low-income apartments about three years ago. (The former home of what is now East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc.)
Sawyer & Huck, 334 & 338 2nd Street NE, just finished construction and its 49 units are now leasing.
Wyndris, 929 2nd Street NE, is a Catholic Eldercare project for renters 62 and up. The 69-unit building opened in in January of 2018 with 50% occupancy, and the facility has stayed nearly fully occupied ever since.
Timber & Tie, 900 14th Avenue NE, is set to open in September. Its 175 units are ready to lease.
Grand Central Flats, 4729 Grand Avenue NE, Columbia Heights, was completed in 2019. Its 167 units are completely occupied.
Just over the “border” from Northeast, The Expo, 200 University Avenue SE, was completed in early 2020 and is now leasing its 199 luxury units, including its 19 penthouses (eight have been leased). The building is 60% occupied.
The 56-unit furnished apartment building at 1101 East Hennepin, RYM, is complete and now leasing. It’s on the corner where Hoover Wheel Alignment used to be.
Frances, 1030 Main Street, is nearing completion and is expected to open July 1. It has 113 units.
Verso, 110 6th Avenue NE, opened its 29 “luxury” units on May 29. It’s a combination of townhouses, apartments and studios. It is 60% leased.
Sitting on the corner of Jackson and Autumn Streets NE, Jackson Lofts’ address is 756 Jackson. It has 16 units.
Mark Iwaskewycz built two fourplexes at 1623-1629 Marshall Street NE, adding eight more units to the mix. Both buildings are fully occupied.
More to come
Three projects that are in-process and two just approved will put the new apartment total over 3,000.
Doran has begun building The Ruby, the first of two buildings at the old Walmart site in St. Anthony Village. The development will eventually offer 496 housing units.
Alatus is working on the 266-unit apartment building that will go atop Columbia Heights’ new City Hall at 40th and Central. Occupancy is expected by Fall 2022.
Also under construction is the triangle at 416-420 East Hennepin, where Hennepin and Central meet. HenCen will provide 227 living units.
Development 65 recently received approval from the St. Anthony City Council to build a 135-unit senior living facility at 2501 Lowry Avenue NE. Hayden Grove will provide independent living, assisted living and memory care.
As we reported May 19, the Minneapolis City Planning Commission voted to approve the Tyler Street Apartments at 950 13th Avenue NE, which will provide 129 units as well as maker spaces.
Below: The windows on The Frances at 1030 Main Street NE received final touches from glaziers. Jackson Lofts, 756 Jackson Street NE, appears finished. The Lucille, 1025 Main Street, is leasing. (Photos by Cynthia Sowden)
