Heights Council selects new City Hall design
The Columbia Heights City Council is one step closer to a new home on 40th and Central. At its May 4 work session, the council chose Option 1A of the “Portal” design by Leo A. Daly architects. The public/private partnership will put city offices on the ground floor of a 172-270-unit apartment building. “All of the specific materials and design elements have not been finalized,” commented Aaron Chirpich, Columbia Heights community development director. “This selection merely gives staff and the architect direction on how to move forward with the base design.”
The 20,000-sq.-ft. space will have public entries on the east and west sides of the limestone-and-metal-clad building. City Council chambers will be visible from Central Avenue; residents will be able to see their government at work. The council will have a glass-walled conference room behind the chambers for work sessions. The public area will also feature a lobby as well as walkup windows for conducting business. Office staff who perform more behind-the-scenes work will be housed further back in the building.
The anticipated start date for the project is July 1, 2020. Completion of the entire project and occupancy of the new City Hall is not expected until the Spring of 2022. Including city offices in the redevelopment project saves Columbia Heights approximately $6 million in construction costs.
SAV Council clears way for Doran to build at Silver Lake Village
The St. Anthony City Council voted May 12 to accept the final plat presented by Doran Companies for splitting the former Walmart site into two parcels now known as the Silver Lake Village Third Addition. Mayor Randy Stille said the split allows Doran to build its proposed 496-unit apartment complex in two phases. “It gives them the ability to work with different lenders, if needed,” he said. The plat meets the goals and objectives of St. Anthony’s comprehensive plan to use the area for multi-family housing. Salo Park is not included in the plat.
Hennepin County Board approves Stonehouse funding
On May 12 the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Board approved funding for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Stonehouse Square, 215 Broadway Street NE, by CommonBond Communities. The county awarded $500,000 to fix 71 rental units (57 affordable units); 19 units for large families, 19 units with project-based rental assistance.
Furnished apartments proposed near Dinkytown
A new development is proposed in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood. A 12-story mixed use apartment building at 801 15th Avenue SE would not only be fully furnished, it would also include a clubroom, sunroom, amenity room, restrooms, and not one, but three outdoor plazas, complete with fire tables, a hot tub, waterfall and dining areas. The 266-unit building proposed by Chicago-based UP Campus Properties and Rhode Island-based Gilbane Development Company would offer apartments ranging in size from one to five bedrooms. Cuningham Group is the designer. If approved by the Minneapolis City Council, construction would begin in spring 2021 and the building would open in 2022.