A public Zoom room on a sweltering summer evening was the stage for the latest presentation of a proposed housing redevelopment plan for the property at 734 Tyler Street NE. The Lower Northeast Neighborhoods Association (LNENA) hosted the presentation during its monthly Housing & Livability Committee Meeting on July 14.
The property sits in a neighborhood next to the Logan Park Industrial (LPI) neighborhood, where several popular breweries, restaurants, art studios and other local businesses are located.
Cody Fischer, founder of Footprint Development, the proposed project’s developer, gave a presentation on the development. According to its website, Footprint Development focuses on developing, owning and managing carbon-smart, climate-resilient, multifamily housing in Minneapolis neighborhoods.
The meeting on July 14 provided an opportunity for residents to offer feedback and ask questions. This meeting expanded upon a May 12 discussion where the project was initially proposed as 6 stories tall with 52 units.
A floor plan of the proposed Tyler Street development. The building features 34 individual housing units, bike storage and a solar array on the roof. (Footprint Development)
But this latest proposal is now four stories and 46 feet tall, with the number of units reduced to 34: seven units on the ground floor and nine on each of the floors above, along with bike storage and a solar array on the roof to help power the building. Footprint Development anticipates that the units will be a mix of alcove, 1-bed and 2-bed units, according to the project summary shared with the Northeaster.
The proposed building would also have several sustainability goals, including utilizing reduced-carbon building materials, becoming a certified U.S. Department of Energy Net Zero Energy Ready Home and retaining a Passive House certification, which signifies a property makes an effort for a low carbon footprint.
While the project summary does not include proposed commercial spaces or off-street car parking, it does outline plans for indoor bike parking, cargo bike parking, a bike cleaning and maintenance area and a pet cleaning station.
“The project incorporates sustainability goals in addition to providing much-needed attainably priced housing in a high demand area with access to excellent transit & bike infrastructure, desirable retail & service amenities and key job centers,” the project summary reads in part.
LNENA Board Member Alternate Mandy Tempel called the proposal “much improved” from the May presentation.
“I think you really did take a lot of feedback to heart and are trying to fit something into a complex space,” Tempel said.
However, she added that she still had questions surrounding the potential noise and smell of a proposed dog run and dumpster locations.
LNENA Board Member Cassandra Roaché also expressed gratitude for the presentation, but asked for clarification as to why an elevator would not be in the complex.
“The concern with the elevator specifically is in making housing equitable for people with disabilities — especially if they’re mobility-limited,” Roaché said.
Fischer explained in part that a four-story elevator could cost between $200,000-$250,000 and reduce square footage, which could lead to fewer units that would ultimately contribute to covering the costs of the building.
Resident questions and concerns ranged from sound prevention measures for the nearby train tracks to the impact on parking for the broader community — especially during large events in the LPI neighborhood.
Mike Rainville, Minneapolis city councilmember for Ward 3, also attended the meeting, as the proposed complex would be located in his ward. He expressed concern for the construction-related impacts that would affect the surrounding neighborhood.
Additional steps need to take place before the development can officially move forward. On August 4, the application for the project is expected to be considered by the Minneapolis Planning Commission at a meeting, Fischer told the Northeaster.
Additionally, the project has yet to undergo the Preliminary Development Review (PDR), during which all relevant city departments evaluate the proposed plans for compliance with city statutes. This is a process that can take several months if there are multiple rounds of questions or corrections, according to Fischer.
Once the PDR is complete, Footprint Development would then prepare and submit a detailed architectural and engineering plan to obtain a building permit, Fischer explained, which can also take several months.
If the project is approved, Fischer told the Northeaster that the goal would be to start construction in May of 2026, beginning with deconstruction performed by Better Futures Minnesota for salvage and reuse.