Will Minneapolis ever see 500,000 again? (St. Paul, Bloomington: low income, crime, homes)

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by City eYes

I just hope the high rise dense housing stays downtown.

Why? Just curious.

Density, to a certain extent, is very good for a community. It increases foot traffic (activity), creates neighborhoods, which strengthens social ties. It's better for economic activity, since there are more people to compete for goods and services.

[uptown_urbanist]

I think there's significant room for high-density, although not necessarily high-rise, development in areas like Uptown, Lyn-Lake, and along the Midtown Greenway. That seems entirely appropriate and desirable. I really like the height and density of the buildings on Aldrich between Lake and 29th (Blue, etc.); they pack a lot of units in, yet show that you don't have to have a 30-story tall tower, either. I would, however, be fine with more higher towers along the NW side of Lake Calhoun where there's already some in place, where there's light rail coming eventually, and where it seems like it would be a good fit with the area.

I'd also like to see Minneapolis do more to encourage and streamline the process to put in garage apartments or mother-in-law units. Right now they're legal in a few areas (Ventura Village has an overlay district for them, I believe), but for most parts of the city you need a special permit. A great deal of density could be added in many smaller-scale neighborhoods without vastly changing the "character" (a word that has been vastly overused by local NIMBYs, I think) of the area.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

I like highrises, I wish Minneapolis had more of them, in downtown or outside of downtown.

[northstar22]

Highrises are fine downtown. It just looks weird when they are in other parts of the city. If you've ever been to Atlanta or Dallas, you'll know what I mean.

Also, expansion in Minneapolis is fine, but I don't really want to see high-rise development in St. Paul. I like STP how it is, a big city that feels like a small town. It reminds me of my hometown in Michigan. Dense without being packed with skyscrapers. Interesting neighborhoods. Diversity. These are all reasons I prefer St. Paul over Minneapolis. I'd hate to see it yuppified.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

Highrises are fine downtown. It just looks weird when they are in other parts of the city. If you've ever been to Atlanta or Dallas, you'll know what I mean.

Also, expansion in Minneapolis is fine, but I don't really want to see high-rise development in St. Paul. I like STP how it is, a big city that feels like a small town. It reminds me of my hometown in Michigan. Dense without being packed with skyscrapers. Interesting neighborhoods. Diversity. These are all reasons I prefer St. Paul over Minneapolis. I'd hate to see it yuppified.

So you're generalizing that all of Minneapolis is yuppified now? Have you ever been in Minneapolis outside of uptown and downtown? "Yuppy" is one of the last words I'd use to describe the Phillips/Powderhorn part of the city. I would say the same for the northside, northeast and the University area.

[Kid Cann]

I would like to see some nice 10-15 storey developments specaled throughout the city. There have been TONS of these built since the early 90s, but I think that's what makes an urban center really great, is it's high-rises. People want to live in the sky, especially the vistas a large city give off.

I would like to see some high-rises in the backdrop of Target Field. Hopefully some private developers realize the potential for residential and commercial space that overlooks target field.

[northstar22]

Originally Posted by Slig

So you're generalizing that all of Minneapolis is yuppified now? Have you ever been in Minneapolis outside of uptown and downtown? "Yuppy" is one of the last words I'd use to describe the Phillips/Powderhorn part of the city. I would say the same for the northside, northeast and the University area.

Of course not, but, in general, Minneapolis is more yuppy than St. Paul.

[City eYes]

I am all for density, but I am so use to project housing in Chicago and don't want to see that happen here. It has to be done right.

[tijlover]

500,000?

If the Fargo-minded NIMBY's of Nimby-apolis had their way, shrinking the population to 250,000 would make all their dreams come true!

These anti-density, anti-development snobs, many of which are hypocritically, environmentally conscious, will deride those that live in suburbs as savages, yet won't lift a green finger to stop the endless criminal sprawl of the Twin Cities by not allowing more attractive options for surburnites/savages to return to the city, like a ring of 30-40 story high rises around Uptown or Calhoun or anywhere else in the city.

Gee whiz! I've heard it all now, as a former Minneapolitan: opposition to the construction of the Carlyle downtown Minneapolis.

[smith21]

i cant stand the people in minneapolis who oppose tall buildinds in uptown and other urban neighborhoods. if you want to have a suburban feel move to the suburbs its ridiculous how far the twincities metro is spread out.